Associate Director, Strategic Forecasting Respiratory & Rare Disease

Job description

**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** - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - Capability Building and Transformation Drive standardization and continuous improvement of forecasting methodologies and frameworks **Lead efforts to** - Simplify processes - Increase automation and scalability - 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 environm