Business Unit Director - Vaccines

Position Overview

Based in Riyadh, this pivotal role reports directly to the Managing Director for Saudi Arabia and is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of our company’s Vaccines portfolio. The Business Unit Director will hold full accountability for the business and P&L, driving sustainable growth across both public and private vaccine markets while advancing inclusion, access strategies, and vaccination policies. This position plays a critical role in shaping the vaccination landscape in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 and public health objectives, collaborating closely with regional and global stakeholders, health authorities, and strategic partners. As a key member of the Saudi Leadership Team, you will embody and champion our company’s values, culture, and Ways of Working to foster a high-performance environment.

Key Responsibilities

Business Strategy and Execution

• Develop and execute a robust Vaccines business strategy to achieve sustainable growth and meet annual financial commitments, ensuring full accountability for revenue growth, profitability, market share, and forecasting.
• Drive successful execution across public and private market segments, optimizing performance for both pediatric and adult vaccine portfolios.
• Lead the strategic direction of the vaccine portfolio, including launch readiness and lifecycle management for existing and future assets.
• Identify and pursue innovative opportunities to enhance vaccine uptake through customer-centric and patient-focused approaches.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Market Access, Policy, Medical Affairs, Commercial Operations, and Strategic Accounts to strengthen access and utilization of vaccines.
• Develop and implement inclusion, tender, procurement, and implementation strategies within national immunization programs and public-sector opportunities.
• Monitor healthcare trends, competitive dynamics, and regulatory developments to identify future business opportunities and shape strategic plans.
• Design and implement long-term strategic initiatives aligned with our company’s growth ambitions and Saudi Vision 2030 healthcare priorities.

Team Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the Saudi Arabia Leadership Team, modeling our company’s Ways of Working and leadership principles.
• Provide visionary leadership to the Vaccines organization, encompassing sales, marketing, Vaccine Information Management (VIM), and cross-functional teams.
• Establish a clear strategic direction for the Vaccines business, fostering accountability, collaboration, innovation, and execution excellence.
• Influence internal and external stakeholders beyond direct reporting lines to achieve business objectives and drive impactful outcomes.

Talent Management and Development

• Attract, retain, and develop a diverse and high-performing talent pool within the Vaccines business unit.
• Build a robust succession pipeline and leadership bench for critical roles to ensure long-term organizational resilience.
• Provide coaching and development opportunities through meaningful learning initiatives, stretch assignments, and tailored career development plans.
• Cultivate a psychologically safe, inclusive, and high-performance culture that empowers teams to excel.
• Manage performance effectively by recognizing excellence and addressing underperformance with a constructive and solution-oriented approach.

External Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and nurture strategic partnerships with key healthcare stakeholders, including governmental and regulatory bodies.
• Represent our company as a trusted advocate for vaccination priorities and public health outcomes, advancing our mission in disease prevention and vaccine innovation.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to integrate best practices and strategic insights into the Saudi market, ensuring alignment with global standards and local needs.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy is required.
• Advanced degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, or a related discipline is preferred.
• MBA or equivalent business qualification is a plus.

Experience

• Significant leadership experience within the pharmaceutical, vaccines, biotechnology, or healthcare industry.
• Proven track record of leading a commercial business unit with full P&L accountability.
• Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, market development, and stakeholder engagement within the healthcare sector.