Back to jobs

Head of Commercial Operations

Cambridge, MA

Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on the development of innovative therapies to treat serious diseases of the eye with high unmet need. Based in Cambridge, Mass., Alkeus was founded in 2010, and since that time has been developing its lead compound, gildeuretinol acetate (ALK-001). Designated as a breakthrough therapy and granted orphan drug status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, gildeuretinol is being evaluated in multiple clinical trials for the treatment of Stargardt disease and geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.

Position Summary:

We are seeking a Head of Commercial Operations to manage the commercial launch strategy and field effectiveness for our first launch in Stargardt disease. The candidate will also be responsible for the creation and optimization of our go-to-market model. This will include developing a customized model through benchmarking and cross functional collaboration, analyzing and implementing a data strategy plan, MLR processes, business intelligence, targeting and field sizing/deployment. This will also cover but not be limited to forecasting, business analytics, training, fleet services and key drivers such as sales compensation, geographical coverage, and span of control.  

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of our mission and make a significant impact on the growth and direction of Alkeus Pharmaceuticals.  

Primary Responsibilities:

  •  Customer Insights: qualitative and quantitative market research, and competitive intelligence
  • Develop 3rd party data strategy across Customer and Patient data
  • Implement data infrastructure strategies including data sources, master data management and data warehouse in collaboration with IT
  • Refine revenue forecasts through expanded business intelligence capabilities, and coordinate forecasting processes including management of quarterly planning process and forecast updates
  • Implement CRM system, field and home office reporting capabilities (dashboards and data visualization capabilities
  • Create field go-to-market strategy in coordination with commercial team leaders
  • Design field sales incentive compensation (“IC), national and regional sales targets and build ongoing IC operations
  • Possesses a deep understanding of department level processes and policies.  Maintains a broad understanding of departmental business rules, data sets, and business processes and interdependencies
  • Monitor and analyze launch performance and work with various stakeholders to develop, improve, and deploy processes and systems to enhance commercial success – including targeting, resources optimization, sales performance drivers, coverage, activities management, etc.
  • Leverages in-depth knowledge of bio / pharma industry data sources and critical thinking skills to resolve business problems more efficiently and effectively
  • Develop and optimize appropriate performance metrics, KPI’s prior to and through product launch
  • Manage field fleet and field training
  • Support as required distribution network from a commercial standpoint

Skills and Qualifications:

  • Minimum of 8 - 10 years’ pharmaceuticals/biotechnology experience in commercial or commercial leadership roles
  • Sound business acumen
  • Problem-solving orientation; ability to work independently
  • Strong history of interdepartmental collaboration and project management
  • Experience working with management personnel to solve problems and identify/sell/implement solutions
  • A proven track record of success in transforming data into powerful information for sales/marketing/market access required
  • Results-oriented, self-organized, proven track record
  • Strong written and verbal communications skills, solid presentation skills
  • Keen analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Bachelor’s degree required, MBA preferred
  • Working knowledge and hands-on experience in commercial processes, training, and deployment
  • Excellent financial acumen, expertise in financial modeling and business valuation
  • Proven leadership skills

Skills and Key Success Factors: 

  • Highly organized and detail oriented with a passion to deliver quality results
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with experience translating complex concepts for various audiences
  • Demonstrated record of intellectual curiosity, innovation and creative problem solving with an entrepreneurial spirit
  • Ability to lead fast-paced projects with a keen sense of urgency to get the job done well
  • Evidence of "hands-on" experience and expertise
  • Proven and successful track record as a team-player and collaborator in small working environments
  • Highest levels of professionalism, confidence, personal values and ethical standards

Other Relevant Information:

Alkeus Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in Alkeus Pharmaceuticals ’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.