Patient Engagement Associate Director, LATAM

Job Description

The Associate Director, International Patient Engagement, Latin America at Vertex Pharmaceuticals reports to the Director, International Patient Engagement, Distributor Markets and is responsible for supporting the company’s goals by creating and executing patient engagement strategy for Latin America. This position will work closely with the Director, International Patient Engagement, Distributor Markets and the Senior Director, Northern Europe, Canada, Australia and Distributors to help lead the company’s ongoing efforts to build and sustain meaningful relationships and collaborations to support the needs of patients and advance our company’s goals in Latin America. The role focuses on Cystic Fibrosis.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between the patient community and Vertex; developing and leveraging high-level relationships with patient advocacy groups in Cystic Fibrosis at national and local levels in Latin America to achieve Vertex goals, bring value to patients and enhance the company’s standing and reputation.
• Collaborate with Business Unit Leads and cross-functional teams: sit on the country leadership team, partner with Market Access, Communications, GAPP, Medical, Regulatory, Compliance, Legal to identify barriers to access, represent the patient perspective.
• Work and align with IPE international disease‑focused team to discuss and execute tactics and deliver company’s goals.
• Develop programming within Cystic Fibrosis in partnership with the patient community on the patient community’s agenda.
• Build long‑term, sustainable relationships with Cystic Fibrosis patient groups and the broader Latin American community.
• Partner with Grants and Donations committee for effective and compliant management of the grants and donations process.
• Accurate financial management of allocated budgets in collaboration with Distributor Markets and financial partners.
• Ensure timely, appropriate and legally approved communication with the patient community.
• Appoint and manage patient engagement consultants in Latin America to deliver on business objectives while maintaining compliance with VRTX policies.
• Integrate Vertex’s communications objectives with the patient advocacy strategy and identify additional communications opportunities.
• Provide strategic input into the development and resource prioritization for the Company’s annual patient advocacy plan and local business plan in each country within the geography.
• Identify and pursue additional opportunities to advance our company’s business objectives.
• Serve as an early warning to identify threats and opportunities that may affect the business and patient community.
• Exemplify Vertex’s core values and the Vertex phenotype in fulfilling these job duties, especially the commitment to patients.

Key Requirements

• Strong and relevant experience in the pharmaceutical industry in patient advocacy, market access, public health policy, government relations.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Outstanding strategic planning, communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel within assigned region and globally as required.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Very good understanding of a local healthcare system in Latin America with focus on HTA systems, policy environment, and reimbursement.
• Experience working with patient communities and compliant engagement with PAGs within PMCPA code.
• Experience working with cross‑functional teams across market access, communications, policy, medical affairs, compliance, legal.
• Ability to navigate seamlessly in a matrixed environment, operating independently in ambiguous situations.
• Deep understanding of HTA/pricing/access systems relevant to the geography and therapy area.
• Working knowledge of drug development process and regulatory requirements.
• Understanding of patient and caregiver lived experience in Cystic Fibrosis.
• Detail‑oriented, self‑initiating, well‑organized and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Location & Working Conditions

This role is based in Mexico City with a minimum of 3 days working in the office. Flexible work options: Hybrid‑Eligible or On‑Site Eligible. In the Hybrid‑Eligible role, employees may work remotely up to two days per week or work on‑site five days per week with ad‑hoc flexibility. Flex status is subject to Vertex’s Flex program policy and may change at any time.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that 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 should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at Ver el correo electrónico en click.appcast.io.