Director, Distribution & Trade
Rigel Pharmaceuticals Inc.
August 22, 2026
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
Operations
Position Summary:
The Director of Distribution & Trade provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the distribution network (3PL providers, specialty distributors, and specialty pharmacies), including inventory planning to support commercial demand. Reports to the Executive Director, Patient Services & Distribution. Hybrid (HQ on-site collaboration); remote candidates considered.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute trade and distribution strategy across commercial and pipeline products.
- Create scalable distribution models for product launches and long-term growth.
- Partner with Commercial, Market Access, Patient Services, and cross-functional teams to align distribution initiatives.
- Build relationships with specialty pharmacies, distributors, and 3PL partners.
- Lead contract negotiations and oversee agreements with external trading partners.
- Monitor partner performance to meet SLAs and KPIs.
- Collaborate with Patient Services, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and Commercial Operations to ensure efficient distribution.
- Oversee daily vendor performance and drive continuous improvement.
- Facilitate quarterly business reviews with internal and external partners.
- Establish reporting/dashboard requirements; analyze channel data to improve inventory management and decisions.
- Ensure timely receipt/reporting of transactional data (EDI 852/867, dispensing reports).
- Ensure compliance with DSCSA, 340B, GPO, and related standards; govern SOPs and policies (returns/chargebacks).
Qualifications & Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA/advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years pharmaceutical/biotech experience; 5+ years in trade/distribution/channel strategy.
- Experience managing specialty pharmacies/distributors, 3PL, and rare/orphan oncology.
- Strong contract negotiation, vendor management, cross-functional leadership.
- Excellent communication/relationship management.
- Strong analytical and project management; proficient with trade/performance metrics.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.).
- Travel up to 25%.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary: National $195,000–$235,000; Premium (SFBA/NYC/Boston Area) $215,000–$260,000.
- Eligible for annual bonus program and equity incentive awards; not commission-based.
- Benefits include medical/dental/vision; life/disability; flexible spending accounts; 401(k); paid time off and holidays.
The Director of Distribution & Trade provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the distribution network (3PL providers, specialty distributors, and specialty pharmacies), including inventory planning to support commercial demand. Reports to the Executive Director, Patient Services & Distribution. Hybrid (HQ on-site collaboration); remote candidates considered.
Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute trade and distribution strategy across commercial and pipeline products.
- Create scalable distribution models for product launches and long-term growth.
- Partner with Commercial, Market Access, Patient Services, and cross-functional teams to align distribution initiatives.
- Build relationships with specialty pharmacies, distributors, and 3PL partners.
- Lead contract negotiations and oversee agreements with external trading partners.
- Monitor partner performance to meet SLAs and KPIs.
- Collaborate with Patient Services, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, and Commercial Operations to ensure efficient distribution.
- Oversee daily vendor performance and drive continuous improvement.
- Facilitate quarterly business reviews with internal and external partners.
- Establish reporting/dashboard requirements; analyze channel data to improve inventory management and decisions.
- Ensure timely receipt/reporting of transactional data (EDI 852/867, dispensing reports).
- Ensure compliance with DSCSA, 340B, GPO, and related standards; govern SOPs and policies (returns/chargebacks).
Qualifications & Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA/advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years pharmaceutical/biotech experience; 5+ years in trade/distribution/channel strategy.
- Experience managing specialty pharmacies/distributors, 3PL, and rare/orphan oncology.
- Strong contract negotiation, vendor management, cross-functional leadership.
- Excellent communication/relationship management.
- Strong analytical and project management; proficient with trade/performance metrics.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.).
- Travel up to 25%.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Salary: National $195,000–$235,000; Premium (SFBA/NYC/Boston Area) $215,000–$260,000.
- Eligible for annual bonus program and equity incentive awards; not commission-based.
- Benefits include medical/dental/vision; life/disability; flexible spending accounts; 401(k); paid time off and holidays.