Obesity Commercial Lead (Pre-Launch), ICO
Pfizer Uk
Obesity Commercial Lead (Pre-Launch), ICO
Hiring strategy: Establish the International Commercial Office Obesity team through a limited number of broadly scoped senior hires, with role definition to evolve as the business is shaped and the operating model matures.
ROLE SUMMARY
The Obesity Commercial Lead (s) (Pre-Launch) is a senior, high-impact commercial leadership role accountable for shaping the International pre-launch strategy and setting up Pfizer’s emerging Obesity portfolio for sustained growth across diverse markets. As part of the International Commercial Office (ICO) and in close partnership with US and Country teams, this role defines where to play and how to win—making clear, data and insight-based choices that direct investment, sequencing, and execution priorities across International to build a winning Obesity category. This role will lead with AI and demonstrate the potential of this technology to transform all phases of our launch.
As assets progress through late-stage development, the role translates clinical evidence into differentiated value propositions, anticipates competitor and market dynamics, and builds an integrated International commercial strategy. This includes defining internal strategic positioning frameworks and unbranded disease‑state narratives, launch sequencing, and scalable go‑to‑market frameworks, with all external‑facing materials subject to Medical, Legal, and Compliance approval. Success requires a strong commercial mindset—grounding strategy in deep understanding of unmet needs, motivations, barriers to adoption and persistence, and the full treatment experience—while balancing HCP, self-pay/payer/access, and policy realities to maximise long-term portfolio value.
Act as the primary International commercial partner to China for the upcoming GLP‑1 launch, supporting strategy, positioning, launch readiness and execution for Pfizer’s first entry into the Obesity category.
The role requires senior-level strategic and transformational leadership—integrating evidence, insights and stakeholder needs into enterprise-aligned recommendations and decisive, prioritised plans. In a highly matrixed environment, the individual demonstrates strong judgement, constructs clear decision narratives, and drives alignment across countries and US/Comm Dev Obesity —ensuring that the right decisions are made at the right time. The role leads cross-functional integration across Marketing, Sales, Access, Medical, Supply and Operations to convert strategy into executable, winning plans.
This role is currently one of four critical leadership positions in ICO responsible for ensuring Pfizer’s Obesity assets enter International markets with clear differentiation, strategic coherence, and executional readiness. The Obesity Commercial Lead elevates and aligns key pre-launch decisions — including prioritisation, investment trade-offs, evidence generation implications, and launch sequencing—with pace and rigor. Given the scale and complexity of the Obesity category, we seek agile leaders who thrive on accountability, apply creative problem solving, and consistently make winning choices rooted in patient/consumer insight, market realities, and enterprise value.
All responsibilities are executed in accordance with Pfizer policies on pre‑launch and pre‑approval and communication guidance.
ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
Lead development of International pre‑launch internal marketing and brand strategy frameworks, focused on disease awareness, market development, and launch readiness.
Champion a patient mindset by building deep insight into unmet need, motivations, barriers to adoption and persistence, and the end-to-end treatment experience; embed these insights into positioning, messaging, and journey design.
Use integrated competitive intelligence, market research, real-world insights and KOL/customer input to drive decision quality and sharpen differentiation across International markets.
Assess market potential and headroom for growth of new brands to accelerate launch uptake across International, defining where to play and the implications for sequencing and resourcing.
Define customer segmentation and targeting across stakeholder groups (patient self-pay, HCP, payer/access, policy), ensuring strategy and execution reflect local market realities while remaining globally coherent.
Lead development of foundational International brand strategic frameworks, including channel and content strategy, investment/spend guidance and internal governance for HCP and patient engagement, with Medical Affairs owning scientific exchange and external content delivery during pre‑approval phases.
Develop scenario-based analyses to inform International decisions on launch readiness, prioritisation, and investment trade-offs; explicitly articulate assumptions, risks, and triggers for course-correction.
Lead strategic integration across Commercial, Medical, Access, Supply, Policy and Operations to ensure launch strategies are coherent, feasible, and set up to win in market.
Act as a senior strategic advisor to International leadership during pre-launch and early launch phases to support investment decisions and cross-portfolio resource trade-offs, maintaining focus on mid/long-term International value.
Role model enterprise leadership, collaboration, and long-term value creation; drive alignment through clear decision narratives and governance-ready recommendations.
Lead initiatives to solve for International opportunities and challenges related to manufacturing/inventory allocation, IP, regulatory, pricing, legal, political, access and affordability, tender and contracting.
Communicate complex strategic topics with clarity and credibility to senior stakeholders across diverse geographies, influence decisions and outcomes without direct authority.
Create and sustain a team culture that values high performance, patient centric innovation, learning agility, and constructive challenge to the status quo.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree with significant pharmaceutical industry experience in one or more of the following disciplines: Commercial Development, Marketing, Strategy, New product launch, new business assessment or Analytics. MBA is preferred.
Experience: Significant commercial leadership experience demonstrated experience shaping and executing pre-launch strategy. Deep understanding of clinical, access, and policy dynamics. Obesity/cardiometabolic experience preferred.
Skills & Competencies: Strong analytical rigor, strategic and enterprise mindset, and commercial acumen. Demonstrated expertise in assessing market trends, competitive landscapes, and identifying growth opportunities. Demonstrated ability to make high-quality, choiceful recommendations (prioritization and trade-offs) and to translate them into executable plans.
Patient Insight: Track record of applying deep patient insight to shape positioning, messaging, channel strategy and experience/journey design (including adherence and persistence drivers), ideally within complex, multi-stakeholder healthcare markets.
Leadership & Collaboration: Senior Level executive presence and emotional intelligence, with a track record of influencing beyond direct areas of accountability. Exceptional stakeholder management skills, able to influence and align cross-functional and cross-regional teams in a matrixed environment. Demonstrates a capacity to champion new ideas and influence strategic direction through impact and thought leadership.
AI Fluency: Proficient in leveraging artificial intelligence tools and technologies to drive commercial insights, optimize decision-making, and support innovation. Able to navigate emerging AI trends and integrate them effectively into strategic business processes and execution.
Communication: Excellent communication skills, able to translate complex insights into clear strategic recommendations.
Personal Attributes: Highly motivated, proactive, and adaptable. Demonstrates integrity, resilience, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
A key partner to US and Comm Dev leaders, representing International markets, along with International countries and the wider cross functional team who will all contribute to our success.
Supervision
Direct reports will be added to these roles as the pre-launch team is built. It is anticipated that each lead will manage a team of Marketing colleagues for their specific area.
This role supports international markets and requires flexibility to collaborate effectively across time zones.
This description indicates the general nature and level of work expected. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be asked to perform other duties as required.
The closing deadline for applications is April 12th.
All applicants must have the relevant authorisation to live and work in the UK / EU as applicable.
Purpose
Breakthroughs that change patients' lives... At Pfizer we are a patient centric company, guided by our four values: courage, joy, equity and excellence. Our breakthrough culture lends itself to our dedication to transforming millions of lives.
Digital Transformation Strategy
One bold way we are achieving our purpose is through our company wide digital transformation strategy. We are leading the way in adopting new data, modelling and automated solutions to further digitize and accelerate drug discovery and development with the aim of enhancing health outcomes and the patient experience.
Flexibility
We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace culture which encourages employees to achieve work life harmony, attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Let’s start the conversation!
Equal Employment Opportunity
We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to building a successful business. As an employer, Pfizer is committed to celebrating this, in all its forms – allowing for us to be as diverse as the patients and communities we serve. Together, we continue to build a culture that encourages, supports and empowers our employees.
DisAbility Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and we encourage you to put your best self forward with the knowledge and trust that we will make any reasonable adjustments necessary to support your application and future career. Our mission is unleashing the power of our people, especially those with unique superpowers. Your journey with Pfizer starts here!
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