Director of Portfolio and Program Management for Cystic Fibrosis

Role Summary

The Director of Portfolio and Program Management (PPM) for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) plays a critical leadership role within the COO organization at Vertex. This individual will drive the strategic execution of CF assets from development through commercialization. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in early- and late-stage clinical development and commercial launch planning. By partnering with program leads and cross-functional teams, the Director will ensure alignment, accountability, and delivery of program objectives that support Vertex’s mission to transform the lives of people with serious diseases.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Program Team Leads to define cross-functional strategies and decision-making frameworks that align with program goals.
• Lead the development and execution of integrated program plans, identifying critical path activities, interdependencies, and potential bottlenecks.
• Facilitate high-impact meetings, ensuring clear communication, stakeholder alignment, and timely follow-through on decisions and action items.
• Translate complex scientific and business topics into compelling narratives and presentations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate across clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, commercial, and market access functions to ensure cohesive program execution.
• Guide the development of asset-level assumptions for long-range planning and annual budgeting.
• Proactively identify and mitigate program risks, escalating issues as needed to maintain momentum and alignment.
• Monitor and manage resource allocation, identifying synergies and resolving constraints across programs.
• Establish and reinforce team operating norms to drive high performance and continuous improvement.
• Mentor and develop junior team members, fostering growth in program management capabilities.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership for programs in late-stage clinical development, ensuring readiness for regulatory submission and approval.
• Partner with commercial and launch readiness teams to align development timelines with go-to-market strategies and ensure successful product launches.

Qualifications

• Typically requires 10+ years of experience managing cross-functional drug development teams, with demonstrated success in early- and late-stage clinical development and commercial launch execution.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences or a related field required; advanced degree preferred.

Skills

• Deep expertise in project and portfolio management principles, tools, and methodologies.
• Proven leadership in managing complex, cross-functional drug development programs, including early- and late-stage clinical trials and commercial launch preparation.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to assess program scenarios across financial, timeline, and resource dimensions.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Comprehensive understanding of the pharmaceutical development lifecycle, from discovery through commercialization.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Collaborative mindset with a track record of building strong partnerships across functions.