Senior Director, US Sales Incentive Compensation

Introduction to role

The Senior Director, US Sales Incentive Compensation will play a significant role in driving the success of the US Sales and overall Commercial organization through the provision of strategic direction and by leading the planning, design, and execution of effective Incentive Compensation (IC) plans and policies while leading a senior team of Incentive Compensation professionals. This individual will be a highly visible and hands-on commercial leader who must be an exceptionally strong collaborator able to work within a cross-functional team environment and at all levels within the organization to lead, influence, and deliver significant results for our patients. They must be flexible, self-motivated, and thorough. This leader will partner closely with senior Business Unit and Sales leadership, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, and Compliance for all operational aspects of our sales incentive processes.

Accountabilities

• Consistently demonstrating a strong executive presence while providing senior leadership and the Incentive Compensation Governance Committee with deep subject matter expertise, ongoing thought leadership, and expert analysis and insight leading to innovative recommendations for shaping and executing the company’s incentive compensation strategy and driving commercial results.
• Developing a long-term vision of the US Incentive Compensation needs for Alexion, anticipating the impact of business trends and competitive entries, and preparing to accommodate business changes while meeting the overall goals of the organization.
• Integrating complex business factors to build internal capabilities and drive business change efforts, leveraging competitive market analysis and benchmarking to influence the company’s incentive compensation practices and ensure they remain competitive and aligned with industry standards, and application of technology solutions that will contribute to greater IC efficiency and effectiveness.
• Building support and strong internal relationships with other key senior management personnel while partnering with key stakeholders, including Business Unit Leadership, Sales Leadership, Brand Leadership, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and HR, to ensure the effective development and execution of incentive compensation programs that motivate the Sales organization to achieve results.
• Recruiting, leading, mentoring, and developing a growing team of IC professionals across geographies and levels, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture to enable the design, implementation, administration, and evaluation of incentive compensation programs, policies, practices, and procedures ensuring alignment with strategic goals and compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements while driving results for the organization.
• Owning the growth and evolution of the IC function including:
  • Designing organizational structure, scope of responsibilities, and focus
  • Translating over-arching business goals into specific objectives for team members
  • Ensuring growth opportunities and 1-1 coaching and development of IC team members
  • Managing team member performance and the quality of all outputs
  • Encouraging Alexion’s culture within the team and demonstrating our core values!
• Leading the end-to-end Incentive Compensation process including IC plan philosophy, design of bespoke IC Plan options that reflect unique and complex market dynamics, goal setting, modeling, plan administration, IC plan performance health checks and monitoring, reporting, communication, awards/contests, data integrity and accuracy, compliance, and IC governance.
• Ensuring timely and accurate monthly accruals for IC expenses.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant field.
• 10+ years of commercial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including functional areas such as sales and sales management, sales operations, and at least 5 years of sales incentive compensation experience including incentive compensation plan design and administration.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data and communicate it in a clear, actionable manner to engage and influence senior leadership.
• High level of attention to detail paired with the ability to effectively assess and diagnose business needs and develop impactful solutions while responding to rapidly changing demands, priorities, and business needs in a high pressure environment.
• Ability to quickly establish relationships of trust and credibility with internal stakeholder-partners and to be seen as a partner to the business with deep expertise in Incentive Compensation.
• In-depth strategic thinking and creative problem-solving skills
• Deep understanding of sales processes, methodologies, and best practices.
• A passion for people leadership and development with a track record of success.
• Extensive knowledge of sales incentive theory and practical application in the pharmaceutical industry, including standard processes.
• Experience with IC plan design across all stages of product lifecycle (e.g., launch vs mature brands).
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize and lead multiple projects simultaneously.
• The duties of this role are generally conducted in an office environment. As is typical of an office-based role, employees must be able, with or without an accommodation to: use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem-solving and non-linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Experience in Rare or Ultra-Rare therapeutic areas preferred.
• Master’s degree in Business or related field.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we fuel bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our outstanding and ambitious world.

Joining Alexion means embracing an opportunity where work isn’t ordinary. We are a beacon in the global Biopharmaceutical landscape. Our closeness to patients brings us closer to our work and each other. Combined with our brave groundbreaking spirit – we are truly unique in R&D and healthcare. At Alexion, grow and innovate in a business with a rapidly expanding portfolio. Enjoy the entrepreneurial spirit of a leading biotech. You’ll join an energizing culture where people build connections to explore new ideas. As an important member of our commercial team, you'll meet the needs of some of the most under-served patients in the world. You will be empowered with tailored development programs designed not just for skill enhancement but for encouraging a deep understanding of our patient's journeys. You’re supported by outstanding leaders ready to lift you in marketing, compliance, and beyond.

Ready to make an impact? Apply now!

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.