Vaccines Category Lead - Middle East

ROLE SUMMARY
The Vaccines Category Lead - Middle East is a strategic member of the Middle East Leadership Team, accountable for the end-to-end strategy, performance and long-term value of Pfizer's vaccines portfolio across the cluster. The role translates enterprise vaccine priorities into differentiated market strategies, balances current portfolio delivery with future growth, and ensures disciplined choices across brands, markets, customer segments and investments.
The role leads the vaccines marketing organization and orchestrates new launches, commercial opportunities aligned with public-health immunization priorities and priority vaccine accelerators. Working across Commercial, Medical, Access & Value, Policy & Public Affairs, Regulatory, Supply, Finance and market teams, the role creates the conditions for successful launch adoption, broader immunization access and sustainable category growth across diverse Middle East healthcare systems.
CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES
1. CATEGORY STRATEGY & PORTFOLIO LEADERSHIP
• Own and translate the Middle East vaccines strategy into clear portfolio, brand, market and customer priorities aligned with the cluster operating plan and growth agenda.
• Lead end-to-end portfolio planning across established vaccines, growth assets, new indications and future launches, balancing near-term delivery with long-term category value.
• Set differentiated market strategies reflecting local epidemiology, immunization pathways, customer needs, access conditions and competitive dynamics.
• Establish category governance, operating rhythms and performance reviews that connect regional strategy with market execution.
2. BUSINESS & P&L LEADERSHIP
• Own category business performance and provide clear direction on revenue, market share, investment, profitability and resource-deployment priorities.
• Lead annual operating plan and long-range planning for the vaccines portfolio, ensuring robust assumptions, scenarios, risks and growth choices.
• Prioritize A&P and commercial investments across assets and markets, reallocating resources toward the highest-impact opportunities.
• Monitor performance and intervene early where launch, demand, access, supply or execution risks threaten category objectives.
3. NEW LAUNCHES & PIPELINE READINESS
• Lead integrated launch strategy and readiness for new vaccines, indications and presentations across Middle East markets.
• Define launch ambition, sequencing, market archetypes, customer strategy, investment requirements and critical success factors.
• Build cross-functional launch plans spanning regulatory, medical, access, policy, supply, marketing, sales and customer engagement.
• Track launch readiness and post-launch performance through clear milestones and governance; accelerate decisions and remove execution barriers.
4. Commercial Opportunities aligned with & PUBLIC-SECTOR GROWTH
• Identify and prioritize potential commercial opportunities for Pfizer vaccines arising from the inclusion, expansion or optimization of the public- health immunization programs and coordinate appropriate internal assessment and execution in accordance with Pfizer policies and procedures.
• Partner with Access & Value, Medical and Policy & Public Affairs to develop evidence-based value propositions and coordinated stakeholder engagement plans supporting commercial opportunities aligned with public-health immunization needs, in accordance with Pfizer policies and procedures.
• Shape market-specific pathways that address public-health needs, evidence requirements, funding considerations, procurement processes and implementation readiness.
• Maintain an enterprise view of commercial opportunities and associated risks across public-health immunization programs, supporting consistent strategic decision-making and responsible market engagement in accordance with Pfizer policies and procedures.
5. VACCINE ACCELERATORS
• Define and lead vaccine accelerators that unlock growth beyond core brand execution, including adult immunization, life-course vaccination, disease-awareness and priority ecosystem initiatives.
• Select a focused set of high-impact accelerators, establish sponsorship and governance, and define measurable business, access and public-health outcomes.
• Scale proven practices and reusable models across markets while allowing adaptation to local healthcare systems and customer realities.
• Use market, customer and performance insights to test, learn and redirect accelerator investments toward the strongest opportunities.
6. MARKETING & CUSTOMER EXCELLENCE
• Lead, coach and develop the Middle East vaccines marketing team, setting clear accountabilities across portfolio strategy, brand planning, launch management and accelerator execution.
• Ensure high-quality, insight-led brand plans and differentiated customer strategies for healthcare professionals, institutions, policymakers and immunization stakeholders.
• Partner with Commercial Excellence & AI to strengthen omnichannel engagement, analytics, content excellence and marketing effectiveness.
• Ensure marketing activities, claims, content and customer engagement meet Pfizer standards for quality, compliance and scientific integrity.
7. CROSS-FUNCTIONAL & MARKET LEADERSHIP
• Partner with market and sales leaders to translate category strategy into executable local plans, with clear ownership and performance expectations.
• Work with Medical to align evidence generation, scientific engagement and education priorities with portfolio and launch needs.
• Collaborate with Access & Value and Policy & Public Affairs to strengthen access pathways, value communication and the enabling environment for immunization.
• Align with Regulatory and Supply to anticipate approvals, demand, allocation and continuity risks, protecting launch and in-line portfolio performance.
8. ORGANIZATION & PEOPLE LEADERSHIP
• Build a high-performing, inclusive vaccines organization with strong capability in portfolio strategy, launch excellence, insight generation and matrix leadership.
• Develop talent through meaningful experiences, coaching, feedback, succession planning and exposure to enterprise priorities.
• Create clarity, accountability and collaboration across marketing, vaccine accelerators, markets and functions.
• Promote a culture of courage, excellence, equity and joy, with strong standards of ethics, compliance and responsible business leadership.
DECISION RIGHTS
• Sets the strategic direction and portfolio priorities for the Middle East vaccines category within approved enterprise and cluster governance.
• Recommends category operating-plan assumptions and determines allocation of approved marketing resources across brands, launches, accelerators and markets.
• Approves category brand plans, launch strategy, launch-readiness governance and success measures.
• Prioritizes NIP opportunities and vaccine accelerators for senior sponsorship and cross-functional investment.
• Holds the vaccines marketing organization accountable for execution quality, compliance, capability and measurable business impact.
CAPABILITIES & QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences, Pharmacy, Medicine, Public Health, Business or a related field; an advanced degree such as MBA, MPH or MSc is preferred.
• Meaningful senior-level pharmaceutical or healthcare experience, with demonstrated leadership in vaccines, specialty care, portfolio management, marketing or commercial roles.
• Proven success leading complex portfolios, new launches and cross-functional business priorities across multiple markets.
• Strong understanding of vaccine markets, immunization systems, public-sector decision making and diverse customer and access pathways.
• Demonstrated business and financial acumen, including operating planning, investment prioritization, forecasting and performance management.
• Ability to shape NIP and ecosystem opportunities in partnership with Medical, Access & Value, Policy & Public Affairs and market teams.
• Strong marketing leadership, customer-insight orientation and experience building differentiated omnichannel strategies.
• Enterprise mindset and ability to influence senior leaders and external stakeholders in a complex matrix.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation and executive-presentation skills; fluency in English is required and Arabic is highly desirable.
• High standards of ethics, compliance, governance and responsible stakeholder engagement.
CRITICAL LEADERSHIP BEHAVIORS
Enterprise Leadership
Connects public-health, portfolio, market and enterprise priorities to create sustainable category value.
Growth & Innovation
Turns launches, commercial opportunities aligned with public health vaccination plans opportunities and accelerators into focused growth platforms with measurable outcomes.
Strategic Judjement
Balances evidence, access, investment, supply, customer needs and business value across diverse markets.
Team Builder
Builds strong marketers and matrix leaders, creating clarity, accountability and collaboration
KEY ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
• Middle East Cluster Lead and Middle East Leadership Team
• Market, sales and commercial leaders across Middle East markets
• Access & Value, Medical, Regulatory, Policy & Public Affairs, Finance, Supply, Legal and Compliance
• Commercial Excellence & AI and regional/global Vaccines and Marketing teams
• Health authorities, healthcare institutions, professional and public-health organizations, within approved engagement responsibilities
SUPERVISION & OPERATING MODEL
Direct reports: Middle East vaccines marketing organization, with accountability for portfolio and brand strategy, new-launch leadership and vaccine accelerator execution. Final team size and reporting lines remain subject to the approved organization design.
Location: Cairo, Egypt, with travel across Middle East markets as business needs require.
Pfizer is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction in which it operates.
To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers .
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