Associate Director - New Product Planning

We anticipate hiring for this role in mid-Q4. The preferred location for this role is in Boston, MA with an onsite requirement of Monday-Wednesday every week.

Your impact:

The Associate Director, New Product Planning is a key member of cross-functional program teams, providing market insights, research, and analysis to inform the commercial strategy for pipeline assets from early discovery and clinical development through launch readiness. This individual will conduct market research and build rigorous forecasts, lead commercial opportunity assessments, and translate clinical, scientific, and market data into actionable strategic recommendations for senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. The ideal candidate combines strong analytical and financial modeling skills with strategic business judgment, and thrives in ambiguous, fast-moving environments typical of early-stage assets.

Your day-to-day:  

Forecasting & Analytics

• Build, maintain, and continuously refine multi-year commercial forecasts (epidemiology-based and analog-based) for pipeline assets across multiple indications and geographies
• Develop patient flow, market share, and pricing/access models to support investment decisions, licensing evaluations, and portfolio prioritization
• Stress-test forecast assumptions through sensitivity analyses and scenario planning; clearly communicate key drivers, risks, and uncertainty ranges

Commercial Opportunity Assessment

• Lead end-to-end opportunity assessments for early- and mid-stage pipeline assets, including market sizing, competitive landscape analysis, unmet need evaluation, and target product profile (TPP) development through combination of primary and desktop research, and manage primary market research (physician, patient, payer) to inform positioning and forecast assumptions; manage relationships with external vendors/consultants
• Partner with Discovery, Medical, Clinical Development, Regulatory, and Market Access to evaluate indication sequencing, target population definition, and differentiation strategy
• Synthesize primary and secondary market research (KOL interviews, payer/provider surveys, syndicated data) into clear quantitative and qualitative outputs to guide investment and program-level decisions

Strategic Planning & Decision Support

• Support in-licensing, out-licensing, and M&A due diligence with commercial assessments and valuation inputs
• Prepare materials for governance forums (portfolio reviews, program committees, board updates), presenting complex analyses in a clear, concise, and decision-ready format
• Contribute to long-range portfolio planning, identifying lifecycle opportunities, and informing R&D prioritization. Subject matter expert on market dynamics, TPP, and associated revenue opportunity for assigned programs.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner closely with R&D program teams to provide commercial input into program-level decision models (e.g., go/no-go criteria, indication sequencing, trial design trade-offs, target product profile refinement), ensuring commercial assumptions and market realities are reflected in development strategy
• Represent the commercial perspective on program teams and governance forums, translating clinical development scenarios into commercial implications (revenue impact, competitive positioning, market access considerations) to inform R&D investment decisions
• Serve as a thought partner to Discovery, Development, Finance, and future Commercial teams throughout asset lifecycle planning
• Experienced in managing relationships with external vendors and consultants supporting market research and forecasting workstreams

Travel: Ability to travel approximately 20% or more depending on business needs, and congress attendance

Must-Haves:

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA, MPH, or advanced life sciences degree is a plus
• 5+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical/biotech commercial strategy, new product planning, or life sciences management consulting
• Demonstrated expertise in building and defending complex forecasting models (Excel-based; familiarity with forecasting software a plus)
• Strong track record of leading or contributing to commercial opportunity assessments, market sizing, and competitive intelligence analyses
• Life science consulting experience (e.g., strategy consulting, commercial due diligence, or pharma-focused advisory) strongly preferred
• Excellent analytical, quantitative, and financial modeling skills
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate complex data clearly to senior leadership
• Experience working cross-functionally across R&D, Medical, Commercial, and Finance
• Therapeutic area experience in neurology and/or psychiatry is a plus

What makes Rapport special:

• Every role has meaning. We’re determined to discover a better way for patients, and you’ll feel the passion from the start.
• We are driven to innovate. Exciting science that pushes boundaries and opens new possibilities.
• Your perspective matters. Stick your neck out, share your ideas – we work as a team.
• We have FUN. We hire smart, dedicated, down-to-earth people that you’ll enjoy spending time with.
• Leadership that CARES – about you, your growth + development.
• We're bicoastal. Whether you're in the lab full-time in San Diego or taking advantage of a more hybrid work schedule in Boston – we make the most of our time together.
• Competitive benefits. Including unlimited PTO, a lifestyle spending account, commuting reimbursement, and much more!
• You get to be YOU! Show up as you are and make every day count.

Your Compensation:

We get it. Compensation is an important part of your offer. You shouldn’t be surprised at the end of the recruiting process, and you should know that your offer is fair and equitable. How do we do this?  We tell you about our hiring range now - we expect the hiring range for the role to be $205,000 to $225,000. Our actual offer will reflect a lot of factors including your relevant skills, experience, location, salary market data, and internal equity. In addition to a competitive salary, we also offer a pretty great benefits package. We don’t stop here - if you join Rapport, we go to the next level. We share our full salary ranges for every level across our company. 

Hybrid Work Environment:

We prioritize in person connection with our fellow Rapptors! Our team members come together onsite at our Boston office Monday-Wednesday to create more opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and connection.