Director, Innovation & Business Transformation

Vertex Inc. • Boston, MA

1d • $186,400 - $279,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director, Innovation and Business Transformation leads execution across multiple complex, interconnected, technology-enabled transformation initiatives within Medical Writing Science (MWS). The role converts established transformation priorities into a coordinated slate of initiatives, integrating business, solution, implementation, and adoption approaches and aligning MWS leaders with enterprise technology partners. The Director manages dependencies, risks, resources, and trade-offs to move initiatives through the transformation lifecycle and deliver sustainable business outcomes.

The position directs initiatives spanning clinical regulatory document development, scientific and medical publications, knowledge management, data utilization, and related scientific workflows. It partners with MWS subject matter experts to shape business needs, redesign workflows, define future-state processes, and translate requirements for digital, AI, machine learning, analytics, automation, and emerging technology solutions. The Director also oversees responsible governance, organizational readiness and adoption, performance monitoring, and value realization, while providing leadership and coaching to cross-functional teams.

Vertex describes itself as a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. The role is hybrid-eligible or on-site eligible: employees may choose to work remotely up to two days per week or on-site five days per week, with ad hoc flexibility for the on-site option. The role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. The stated base salary range is $186,400–$279,600.

Requirements

• Significant experience leading business transformation, digital innovation, AI enablement, advanced analytics, process reinvention, or technology-enabled operating model change within a complex, regulated organization.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategic priorities into coordinated transformation initiatives, integrated implementation approaches, and measurable outcomes.
• Strong understanding of the life sciences environment and the application of AI, data, digital platforms, analytics, automation, and emerging technologies to scientific and operational workflows.
• Experience leading complex, interconnected initiatives involving business stakeholders, subject matter experts, and technology teams from opportunity assessment through implementation, adoption, and value realization.
• Ability to understand technical capabilities and constraints, evaluate business and user implications, and facilitate informed decisions without serving as the technical solution owner.
• Experience ensuring consistent application of governance, responsible AI, risk management, privacy, security, compliance, and human-oversight principles.
• Strong analytical and strategic judgment, including the ability to manage dependencies, risks, resource constraints, organizational readiness, and significant trade-offs.
• Proven matrix leadership, including aligning cross-functional teams, influencing without direct authority, coaching project contributors, and creating accountability for results.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and influence skills, including the ability to align diverse stakeholders, navigate ambiguity, resolve execution challenges, and communicate decisions, risks, and outcomes to senior leaders.
• Bachelor's degree in life sciences, computer science, engineering, or an equivalent discipline.
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, life sciences, technology-enabled transformation, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 3 years of leadership experience building, leading, and developing teams and/or transformation capabilities in complex, matrixed organizations.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree.

Responsibilities

• Translate MWS transformation priorities into executable initiatives with clear outcomes, sequencing, resource requirements, decision pathways, and success measures.
• Direct complex, interconnected technology-enabled transformation initiatives across clinical regulatory document development, scientific and medical publications, knowledge management, data utilization, and related scientific workflows.
• Partner with MWS subject matter experts to integrate business needs, redesign workflows, establish future-state processes, and translate requirements for digital, AI, machine learning, analytics, automation, and emerging technology solutions.
• Oversee initiatives through the transformation lifecycle, ensuring appropriate rigor in analysis, experimentation, implementation, adoption, and transition to sustained operations.
• Ensure consistent application of governance and responsible AI requirements, including risk assessment, human oversight, documentation, and accountability.
• Manage cross-initiative dependencies, execution risks, resource constraints, and trade-offs; resolve delivery challenges.
• Lead organizational readiness, change, and adoption activities to embed new capabilities into business processes, roles, standards, training, and ways of working.
• Monitor initiative performance, address barriers to adoption and value realization, and provide execution insights to inform future priorities.
• Lead, coach, and guide cross-functional project teams, strengthening execution, collaboration, decision-making, and transformation capabilities.

Benefits

• Annual bonus eligibility.
• Annual equity awards eligibility.
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Generous paid time off, including a week-long company shutdown in the summer and winter.
• Educational assistance programs, including student loan repayment.
• Commuting subsidy.
• Matching charitable donations.
• 401(k).

What This Job Offers

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