Job Description

Vertex is seeking an experienced and talented commercial leader to join the US Pain Business Unit. The Area Director, Strategic Accounts will be responsible for leading the Strategic Accounts Team that supports the largest health systems in the Western US, with the adoption of Journavx, an oral non-opioid, inhibitor of NaV1.8 in the treatment of acute pain. We are seeking candidates with a strong track record of exceptional results, establishing a culture of performance that aligns with Vertex values, while expanding deep relationships across target health systems. The Area Director, Strategic Accounts, will lead a team of Strategic Account Leaders and report to the Senior Director, Lead of Strategic Accounts Pain BU.

The West Region covers the states of TX, CA, CO and AZ.

The preferred candidate ideally will reside in one of the West states and have access to a major airport.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Strategic Account Management team in the Western US, including securing advocacy and product access while developing and retaining a high performing team

• Partner with Strategic Account Leaders (SALs) at the account level to establish clear and actionable strategic business plans, tactics and performance metrics to achieve goals and expansion of Journavx use across service lines
• Effectively collaborates and aligns with the commercial sales organization to execute pull through tactics in Health Systems while living into the Vertex, “We Wins” values
• Engage and expand relationships across Health Systems account leadership, pharmacy teams, formulary decision makers, and population health stakeholders to ensure product uptake to the adoption of Journavx
• Coordinate account engagement activities compliantly across the internal matrix team, including Regional Field Leaders, pain territory account managers, payer account directors, HEOR colleagues, medical, health systems marketing and virtual sales representative team members
• Monitor area and account performance and business results, proving feedback, best practices and direction to optimize and foster consistent execution
• Role model ethics and integrity in the work that you do to support our culture of compliance and earn trust with external stakeholders

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years of experience in healthcare/biopharmaceuticals in market access, strategic accounts, sales, or an equivalent combination of experience and education
• 3+ years of supervisory/management experience, or the equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5 + years of experience in account management with IDNs, including deep knowledge of key IDN accounts and existing relationships at top IDNs
• Experience in Acute and Ambulatory Care, Ambulatory Surgery Centers, Pain Management or Medical Device with a history of GPO contract pull-through
• Experience successfully navigating large Health System P&T formulary process across multiple service lines

Required Skills

• Fosters the highest level of teamwork, collaboration and execution
• Minimum 5 years of Strategic Account Management Experience working with IDNs / Health Systems; with knowledge of how to influence both access and demand
• Minimum of 5 years’ leading people experience, including coaching, developing and leading high-performance teams
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross functional initiatives within a matrix organization. 
• High clinical and business acumen
• Excellent professional and strategic account management skills
• Understanding of clinical and economic trends driving decision making in current healthcare market, specific to health systems including payer dynamics, reimbursement, contracting, formulary or service line expansion, health economics and reimbursement models in the inpatient and outpatient settings

At Vertex, we embrace continuous learning and encourage employees to stay informed on advances in AI, technology, automation, and industry trends. We seek talent who bring an external perspective, demonstrate curiosity and sound judgment, and thoughtfully adopt new capabilities that improve decision-making, drive innovation, increase efficiency, and help deliver better outcomes for patients.

Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's 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.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at ApplicationAssistance@vrtx.com