Job Description

Associate Director – Strategic Forecasting Respiratory & Rare Disease

Associate Director – Strategic Forecasting Respiratory & Rare Disease is a senior leadership role responsible for delivering forward-looking, data-driven insights that shape key business decisions across the pharmaceutical asset lifecycle.

This role serves as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, integrating deep therapeutic area expertise, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled methodologies to inform portfolio strategy, investment decisions, and market planning across inline and pipeline assets.

 

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

 

1. Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Define and drive the future state of forecasting, including methodologies, tools, and integration of advanced analytics and AI
• Evolve forecasting from a reporting function to a strategic advisory capability, focused on decision impact
• Lead cross-functional initiatives that enhance forecasting capabilities and business outcomes

2. Forecasting and Strategic Insight Generation

Lead development and delivery of strategic forecasts and insights across multiple complex assets or therapy areas

Deliver:

• Scenario planning and simulation (what-if analysis, sensitivities, risk/opportunity assessment)
• Portfolio-level insights spanning inline products, pipeline assets, and business development opportunities
• Robust assumption frameworks, incorporating internal and external data sources (epidemiology, competitive intelligence, market dynamics)

Inform:

• Launch and commercialization strategy
• Lifecycle management
• Long-range and portfolio planning

3. Therapeutic Area and Pharmaceutical Expertise

Develop and apply deep therapeutic area expertise (e.g., oncology, vaccines, specialty pharma or other disease areas) to inform forecasting assumptions and insights

Incorporate understanding of:

• Disease epidemiology and patient flow
• Treatment paradigms and evolving standards of care
• Competitive landscape and pipeline dynamics
• Pricing, access, and reimbursement considerations

Translate scientific and clinical developments into quantitative forecast implications and strategic recommendations

Partner with stakeholders to interpret complex clinical, regulatory, and market signals across asset lifecycles

4. Advanced Analytics and AI Integration

Embed advanced analytics and AI/ML techniques into forecasting workflows to enhance accuracy, robustness, and insight generation

Champion the use of:

• Simulation-based forecasting (probabilistic models, scenario engines)
• Driver-based and dynamic forecasting models
• Data-driven approaches to reduce bias and improve decision quality
• Partner with analytics, data science, and digital teams to scale innovative forecasting approaches

5. Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

Act as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders across Marketing, Finance, R&D, Market Access, and Regional teams

Lead alignment on:

• Key assumptions, uncertainties, and forecast drivers
• Strategic implications of forecast outputs

Provide an independent, objective perspective, constructively challenging inputs and guiding decision-making

Navigate complex stakeholder environments to drive data-informed consensus

6. Capability Building and Transformation

Drive standardization and continuous improvement of forecasting methodologies and frameworks

Lead efforts to:

• Simplify processes
• Increase automation and scalability

7. Team Leadership and Talent Development

Lead and develop a high-performing team delivering forecasting and analytics solutions

Build capability in:

• Strategic thinking
• Advanced analytics and modeling
• Stakeholder engagement

Provide coaching, feedback, and structured development opportunities

Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability

 

Qualification and Skills:

 

Experience & Educational Background :

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Business, or related field (MBA/PhD preferred)
• 8+ years of relevant experience, including experience in pharmaceutical forecasting, analytics, or consulting
• 4+ years of People management experience
• Demonstrated experience in strategic forecasting across the asset lifecycle (inline, pipeline, and/or business development)

 

Pharmaceutical & Domain Expertise:

Strong understanding of:

• Disease area dynamics and therapeutic landscapes
• Epidemiology and patient-based forecasting approaches
• Clinical development, regulatory milestones, and commercialization pathways
• Pricing, access, and payer dynamics across key markets

Ability to translate clinical, scientific, and market developments into quantitative forecast implications

 

Analytical & Technical Capabilities :

Deep expertise in:

• Advanced forecasting methodologies (e.g., driver-based models, scenario planning, sensitivity analysis)
• Simulation techniques (e.g., Monte Carlo, probabilistic forecasting)

Experience leveraging:

• Advanced analytics and statistical techniques
• AI/ML applications in forecasting and decision support (preferred)

Strong ability to manage uncertainty, triangulate multiple data sources, and build robust assumptions

 

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional engagements and influence senior stakeholders across diverse functions
• Experience working in global, highly matrixed environments, navigating complexity and ambiguity
• Demonstrated ability to challenge assumptions constructively and provide an independent, objective perspective

 

Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to:
• Structure ambiguous business problems
• Synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Connect analytics to strategic business decisions

Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, evolving environments

 

Communication & Storytelling

Excellent communication skills with the ability to:

• Translate complex analyses into clear, compelling narratives for senior leadership
• Influence decision-making across multiple levels of the organization

Required Skills:

Business Analysis, Business Decisions, Business Development, Epidemiology, Financial Decision Making, Forecasting Models, Human Diseases, Marketing, Numerical Analysis, Problem Solving, Scenario Planning, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Relationship Management, Strategic Forecasting, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Planning, Waterfall Model

Preferred Skills:

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Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:

No

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

NA

Job Posting End Date:

07/31/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.