Alliance Management Associate Director

Role Overview

Alliance Management Associate Director at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Company Overview

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation and builds strategic partnerships to transform patients' lives.

Role Purpose

Lead alliance governance and partner management activities across the GCC region, ensuring partnerships are structured, managed, and optimized to deliver strategic and operational value. Serve as a key connector across internal teams and external partners to establish effective governance, support market expansion, manage risk, and foster long-term relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Alliance Governance & Partnership Lifecycle

• Lead alliance governance and partner management across the full partnership lifecycle, from partner identification and contracting through implementation, onboarding, ongoing management, and off-boarding.
• Act as the primary alliance contact for internal stakeholders and external partners, ensuring clear communication, strong coordination, and effective issue resolution.
• Build trusted, collaborative relationships with partners to support long-term success and mutual value creation.
• Ensure internal stakeholders understand and meet their contractual commitments and responsibilities.

Cross-Functional Strategy & Operations

• Work closely with Commercial, Legal, Market Access, Medical, Finance, and other cross-functional stakeholders to align partnership strategy and execution.
• Help design and optimize operating models for new and existing markets across the GCC region.
• Translate critical success factors and insights into effective initiatives and tactics that support business goals.

Risk & Performance Management

• Identify, assess, escalate, and mitigate operational, contractual, and relationship risks.
• Monitor alliance performance and health, identify improvement opportunities, and implement action plans as needed.
• Support alliance transitions or terminations in line with contractual obligations and best practices, while protecting Vertex's reputation and partner relationships.

Governance & Oversight

• Lead governance forums, launch meetings, business reviews, and other alliance touchpoints to ensure strong oversight and follow-through.

Brand Planning & Market Insights

• Lead the brand planning process, including development, implementation, and evaluation of brand plans aligned to business priorities.
• Generate and consolidate market and partner insights to support planning, decision-making, and partnership effectiveness.
• Define meaningful KPIs, monitor performance against plan, and recommend adjustments based on results and evolving market insights.

Financial & Compliance

• Contribute to financial planning activities, including budgeting and forecasting related to alliance operations and brand plans.
• Ensure all activities are conducted in compliance with Vertex Standard Operating Procedures, the Vertex Code of Conduct, and all applicable local laws and regulations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Business, or a related field.
• MBA or other postgraduate business qualification preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Experience in alliance management, strategic partnerships, or governance within pharmaceutical and/or biotech organizations.
• Experience in brand planning, commercialization, or strategic marketing within the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.
• Experience in a competitive therapeutic area; Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT) experience is a plus.
• Sound understanding of pharmaceutical market dynamics, business practices, and cultural considerations across the Middle East.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated success working across cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong experience managing complex partnerships, governance structures, and contractual relationships.
• Strong business judgment, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Solid financial, analytical, project management, and forecasting capabilities.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and spoken English and Arabic.

Additional Information

• Willingness to travel as needed.
• Flex Designation: Hybrid-Eligible or On-Site Eligible. In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as Hybrid (work remotely up to two days per week) or On-Site (work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility). The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex's Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.
• Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law.
• Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.
• Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities in accordance with applicable law. Applicants requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position should contact the recruiter, hiring manager, or Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com.