Vertex Pharmaceuticals · 2 weeks ago
External Innovation Executive Director
Boston, MA
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$264K/yr - $396K/yr
15+ years expVertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. The External Innovation Executive Director will lead the identification and evaluation of external opportunities to strengthen Vertex’s R&D pipeline, managing cross-functional analyses and presenting recommendations to governance committees.
BiotechnologyHealth CareMedicalPharmaceutical
Responsibilities
Enterprise‑wide scouting & horizon scanning: Lead systematic, data‑driven surveillance of assets, platforms, and enabling technologies irrespective of modality, with explicit linkage to Vertex strategy and sandbox criteria
Integrated opportunity assessments: Stand up and manage cross‑functional workstreams (research, clinical, regulatory, CMC, commercial, legal/finance) to pressure‑test fit, feasibility, and impact; distill the 3–5 pivotal scientific/clinical questions and drive to an objective answer
Diligence leadership and deal readiness: Direct rigorous scientific/clinical diligence; structure work plans, KOL outreach, competitive/CI/IP reads; and ensure seamless hand‑offs to Transactions with complete transfer of findings, risks, and proposed deal constructs
Governance & decisioning: Prepare decision memos and present at EI Science/BDSC; align on sandbox nominations and program recommendations for EC review and decisions
Team leadership & operating model: Manage and coach an analyst team; deploy fungible resources in a scrum‑like model to priority evaluations; set standards for analysis quality, storyline, and executive‑level communications
External ecosystem & relationship management: Be a trusted interface with VCs, biotech/pharma, academia, and founders to create proprietary access, early looks, and company‑creation options
Portfolio gap analysis & DST partnership: Conduct unbiased gap analyses vs. EC‑aligned strategies; partner with DSTs to define options, risks, and timing, and to ensure external opportunities advance program success
Operating excellence & continuous improvement: Codify playbooks, templates, and metrics for throughput, cycle time, and decision quality; institutionalize learnings across EI and BD Ops
Culture & talent: Foster an environment consistent with EI competencies (business‑minded leader, insight generator, influential communicator, trusted partner, change enabler, technical expert)
Qualification
Required
PhD (or equivalent advanced degree) and 15+ years of biotech/pharma experience spanning discovery and/or early development; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Breadth across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities with a track record of leading complex evaluations from scouting through governance decision
Demonstrated success influencing executive‑level decisions (BDSC/EC or equivalent) with crisp, quantitative, and evidence‑based recommendations
Proven ability to build and manage high‑performing analyst teams and to operate an integrated analysis model
Scientific depth + learning agility: Rapidly master novel mechanisms, disease biology, and platform technologies; challenge assumptions using causal‑biology thinking and translational rigor
Business acumen: Valuation literacy; option‑value framing; scenario and risk modeling; ability to articulate value drivers and deal concepts (from partnerships to company creation/M&A)
Program & portfolio judgment: Gap/risk assessment vs. strategy; sandbox criteria application; sensitivity to manufacturability, regulatory path, and global market feasibility
Influential communication: Executive‑quality narratives and visuals; clear storyline from problem framing to recommendation; ability to lead with facts and secure alignment
Stakeholder leadership: Credible engagement with VCs, KOLs, and external partners; strong internal partnership with Transactions and Alliance Management for execution continuity
Operating discipline: Drive throughput with a scrum‑like resource model; set standards, templates, and review cadences to improve decision speed and quality
Benefits
Medical, dental and vision benefits
Generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter)
Educational assistance programs including student loan repayment
A generous commuting subsidy
Matching charitable donations
401(k)
Company
Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is focused on the discovery and development of small molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Vertex Pharmaceuticals has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (188)
2024 (150)
2023 (111)
2022 (164)
2021 (112)
2020 (80)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$657.31MKey Investors
Janssen Belgium
2024-07-10Post Ipo Secondary· $1.11M
2022-05-17Post Ipo Equity· $50M
2009-12-03Post Ipo Equity· $443M
Leadership Team
Reshma Kewalramani
CEO and President
Nina Devlin
Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer
Recent News
2026-01-13
2026-01-12
Company data provided by crunchbase