Director, Forecasting

Job Description

Our Human Health Digital Data and Analytics (HHDDA) team is innovating how we appreciate our patients and their needs. Working cross functionally we are inventing new ways of engaging, interacting and measuring with our customers and patients leveraging digital, data and analytics. We are seeking a Director, Strategic Forecasting Insights, who will be accountable for leading the development of strategic forecasts for a range of products and indications, as well as interpreting implications, developing insights, and co these to the conveying business to help action the marketing strategy.

The person in this role will work closely with other DD&A functions, including Market Research, Data Science, and Payer Analytics to build a strong perspective on the market and asset situation and thus the inputs to the strategic forecast. They will also work very closely across a range of commercial stakeholders, including Global and Regional Marketing, Market Access, and Finance. The colleague will be both an independent contributor as well as lead a team and, together, will act as the primary point of contact for our commercial teams regarding development of product and indication forecasts and forecast-related insights.

The ideal candidate will have deep appreciation of and knowledge across a range of forecasting methodologies, as well as a strong understanding of their respective business area (oncology, pharma, or vaccines). They will have demonstrated the ability to quarterback highly cross-functional teams across forecasting, market research and data science, as well shown an aptitude for partnering closely with business and finance teams. They will also have an entrepreneurial spirit, consultative mindset, and strong realization of the available data landscape and sources of insight. This person will help scope, design, and deliver well-defined forecasting projects (including periodic forecasting cycles) and insights.

This role will require interfacing and collaborating with many teams. The candidate will have demonstrated consistently strong management skills, an ability to work objectively and to lead a team and work extensively with larger cross functional teams. The person will be required to have a growth mindset and embody a culture of continuous learning. Strong communication skills are essential for a candidate to be successful in this role.

Colleagues in this role should have demonstrated ability to mentor, coach, and guide teams (direct line management as well as indirect management of individuals with a dotted reporting line). The peer will be accountable to develop the next generation of strategic forecasting leaders within HHDDA by creating a culture of empowerment, and continuous learning, have a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Individuals with prior knowledge leading high performing and successful teams with strong team first mindset, appreciation and compassion is highly desired.

Primary Assignments:

• Establish appropriate forecast modeling approaches, tools, and techniques for your respective asset(s) and/or indication(s).
• Partner closely with BEA, Market Research, Data Science, Payer Analytics, and other HHDDA functions on a continual basis to develop appropriate insights strategies and plans to have the necessary inputs for strategic forecasting.
• Direct your team in running the forecasting cycles aligned with the company's enterprise forecasting process.
• Ability to use Forecasting digital tool , guide coding experts to implement forecasting flow and explain the results to stakeholders.
• Promote ongoing comprehension of and engagement with the business regarding actual performance against forecast, including what is driving it.
• Engage closely with the business (Marketing, Market Access) and Finance in aligning on inputs, outputs, and the overall forecasting insights for each cycle.
• Bring a range of forecasting capabilities to bear in addressing business strategy and decision-making, including trend-based forecasting, scenario analysis, Monte Carlo analysis, and others.
• Build a team of high-performing strategic forecasters, promoting and enabling their continued development across business knowledge, forecasting techniques, and stakeholder engagement / consultative skills.
• Partner and influence others in a highly matrixed organization including across large teams across both US and India-based colleagues, ensuring we always operate as One Team.
• Drive frequent, clear communication around the forecasting process, inputs, insights, and other related topics to ensure all stakeholders are aligned.
• Enable interconnected problem-solving with other HHDDA functional colleagues and business colleagues around targeted business questions.
• Be a thought leader and strategic partner for our business partners via the establishment of close, trust-based relationships.
• Appreciate business stakeholders' priorities and help develop strategic forecasting-related solutions that support business objectives in partnership with the broader commercial insight teams.
• Travel may be required (