COVID-19 Vaccines, Medical Evidence Strategy Lead

Pfizer • New York City, NY

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Medical Evidence Strategy Lead within Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine franchise oversees and supports the strategy for generating and interpreting medical evidence, including evidence on COVID-19 disease burden, vaccine effectiveness, and other real-world COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 epidemiologic studies. The role has a global remit and supports and collaborates with regional medical teams.

In collaboration with BioNTech and internal partners, the Lead helps develop and oversee an integrated global evidence strategy to inform regulatory submissions, vaccine recommendations, label expansions, and commercial decisions, while promoting consistent methodological rigor across studies and geographies. The position works with Vaccines Medical Affairs leadership to develop and execute strategic goals for the COVID-19 vaccine program, applying best practices in epidemiologic methods.

The role also provides epidemiologic and vaccine-safety expertise across study teams and functions; oversees study design and execution; supports regulatory, scientific publication, and congress strategies; and contributes to evidence-generation planning, budgets, surveillance dashboards, and vaccine-effectiveness trackers. The position is hybrid, may require travel up to 15%, and requires permanent U.S. work authorization. U.S. work visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

• PhD with expertise in analytic epidemiology and experience with vaccine database analyses, such as surveillance, safety, or effectiveness analyses; alternatively, an MPH or another relevant master’s degree with at least 7 years of similar experience.
• At least 5 years of experience in vaccine-related or epidemiologic topics involving medical or scientific activities, such as research, clinical development, epidemiology, safety monitoring, or immunization programs, for candidates with a PhD.
• Credible expertise in epidemiologic analyses of vaccine or other medical product data, supported by lead or senior authorship of at least 5 peer-reviewed publications or book chapters, or service as lead investigator for at least 2 major projects.
• Experience in respiratory pathogen epidemiology and population-based epidemiologic studies.
• Demonstrated experience working within a matrixed team and leading across diverse cultures and geographies.
• Cross-functional leadership experience and demonstrated ability to manage projects to completion.
• Record of advancing epidemiologic projects from conception through completion, including study design, protocol and analytic plan development, operational implementation, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Ability to review, evaluate, interpret, and present complex data on COVID-19 vaccine safety and effectiveness.
• Understanding of critical data elements for assessing the public health value of COVID-19 and seasonal vaccines, and ability to oversee or conduct public health analyses of COVID-19 vaccine impact.
• Ability to interpret data and identify limitations for Pfizer and competitor vaccines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity and some experience using AI platforms integrated with work streams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including scientific writing; lead authorship of at least 5 peer-reviewed publications in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to influence and succeed through others and build relationships with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Strong work ethic and a track record of delivering high-quality work within accelerated timelines.
• Willingness to travel up to 15%.
• Fluent in written, spoken, and read English.
• Permanent authorization to work in the United States; U.S. work visa sponsorship is unavailable.

Nice To Haves

• Previous COVID-19 work experience.
• Experience overseeing post-authorization epidemiologic studies.
• Experience with adverse-event assessments as part of vaccine-effectiveness studies.
• Experience with regulatory agency interactions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and support medical evidence strategy for COVID-19 disease burden, vaccine effectiveness, and other real-world COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 epidemiologic studies.
• Ensure COVID-19 studies are appropriately conducted and prioritized based on current disease information and epidemiologic best practices, and align study work with program strategic goals.
• Work with cross-functional teams to ensure post-authorization epidemiology studies are designed to address vaccine indications, including post-licensure vaccine effectiveness.
• Ensure methods and outcomes are harmonized across the COVID-19 vaccine franchise.
• Provide expertise on vaccine safety and risk-benefit assessments, particularly for COVID-19 vaccine studies.
• Ensure regulatory considerations for COVID-19 vaccine-effectiveness studies are incorporated and addressed in regulatory interactions.
• Provide tactical oversight and coordination of COVID-19 epidemiology and vaccine-effectiveness studies, maintaining timely and methodologically rigorous execution.
• Serve as a lead or integral member of study teams and committees.
• Provide epidemiologic methods and outputs for other assets in the Seasonal and Pipeline Viral Vaccines unit.
• Collaborate across functions on COVID-19 study design, development, and review, consistent with portfolio strategy and informed by expertise in epidemiology and respiratory pathogens.
• Support identification, establishment, and maintenance of relationships with external partners on high-priority global studies.
• Oversee study design elements, including methodology, protocols, and analytic plans, for high-priority epidemiologic and scientific studies.
• Provide inputs to other functions regarding COVID-19 diagnostics, vaccine development, and commercial considerations.
• Troubleshoot scientific and epidemiologic issues during study implementation, including travel to study sites as appropriate.
• Work with internal and external experts to publish data in peer-reviewed manuscripts; lead or oversee manuscript writing as needed.
• Support strategy for scientific congress abstracts and presentations, coordinated with key opinion leader engagement and medical education plans.
• Support strategy for collecting and analyzing epidemiologic and scientific data to inform vaccine label indications and recommendations.
• Lead or oversee initial writing of original manuscripts each year, such as conceptual manuscripts, position manuscripts, and systematic reviews.
• Coordinate with leadership and operational support to develop and track budgets for COVID-19 evidence-generation studies.
• Provide strategic guidance on systematic collation of published epidemiologic evidence for regulatory submissions and vaccine recommendation body decisions.
• Oversee the use, maintenance, and updates of internal surveillance dashboards and vaccine-effectiveness trackers to support business functions and responses to queries.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and personal days.
• Paid caregiver, parental, and medical leave.
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision coverage.
• Eligibility to participate in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan, with a bonus target of 20% of base salary.
• Eligibility to participate in a share-based long-term incentive program.
• Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
• Comprehensive benefits and programs intended to support colleagues’ health and life needs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior