Associate Director, CMC Quality Compliance and Inspection Readiness (Hybrid)
Vertex Pharmaceuticals · Boston, MA
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Quality
- Base pay
- $148k–$221k
- Travel
- 20%
- Degree
- Required (or equivalent experience)
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Recently
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level quality role at Vertex Pharmaceuticals (pharma & life sciences) in Boston, MA.
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required (or equivalent experience)
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Automation
- Base pay
- $148k–$221k
- Day to day
- about 20% travel
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026
Quality Engineer roles in Massachusetts: typical posted base $107k–$149k. This one lists $148k–$221k.
Median of the low and high ends of 50 live postings that list pay, out of 70 quality engineer openings in Massachusetts, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Massachusetts plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 69 other live quality postings in Massachusetts.
- Base pay
- About 55% above similar roles
- Experience asked
- More than usual (8+ vs 5+)
Typical $100k–$138k, from 39 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 69%
- FDA / GMP 60%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 51%
- CAPA 50%
- ISO 13485 46%
- FMEA 37%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Quality team at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
We found 3 people at this company and state: 1 in this kind of role, 2 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Alexander → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Which standards drive the work here: ISO 13485, IATF 16949, AS9100?
- How much of the job is customer complaints versus prevention?
- The posting says about 20% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Vertex Pharmaceuticals in Boston
16 other open roles at this site · 3 people we found in quality roles at Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
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- Operational Excellence & Business Analytics Associate Director · Lean / CI · Director+
- Senior Director Cell & Genetic Therapies Quality - Personalized Medicine · Quality · Director+
- Associate Director, GMP Operational Quality (Biologics and Devices) · Quality · Director+
Full description from Vertex PharmaceuticalsAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Responsible for inspection readiness and compliance programs for external operations. Works cross-functionally and cross-company to ensure sites achieve and maintain a state of inspection readiness.
- ◆Drive identification and resolution of issues, gaps and risks through collaboration with operational areas, assessments, audits, and evaluation of trends.
- ◆Support and oversee inspection execution including responses and closure of CAPAs.
- ◆Collaboration and Integration: Serve as an integrator across multiple functions, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing. Develop trusted partnerships with external sites.
- ◆Drive optimization, continuous improvement, and operational excellence to enhance processes.
- ◆Report inspection readiness status including risks to leadership and governance forums
requirements
and inspection expectations globally
- ✓Experience in multiple modalities preferred
- ✓Strong technical knowledge including but not limited to: inspection management and risk management
- ✓Continuous improvement experience such as six sigma or lean
- ✓Proven ability to lead improvement projects and project teams and organize various teams and forums
- ✓Superb facilitation, Communication, and Coaching/influencing skills with proven ability to lead teams
- ✓Proven ability to identify and analyze performance indicators.
Education and Experience
- ✓Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline, or allied health field or equivalent degree
- ✓8+ years of relevant experience
Travel requirement: up to 10-20% including international travel possible
Hybrid-Eligible Roles
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Job Description
General Summary
The Associate Director, CMC Quality Compliance and Inspection Readiness, is responsible for inspection readiness and compliance of external sites including evaluating, improving, and monitoring commercial level quality compliance and quality culture.
Knowledge and Skills
- •Knowledge of regulatory
In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as
Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select On-Site : work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.
At Vertex, we embrace continuous learning and encourage employees to stay informed on advances in AI, technology, automation, and industry trends. We seek talent who bring an external perspective, demonstrate curiosity and sound judgment, and thoughtfully adopt new capabilities that improve decision-making, drive innovation, increase efficiency, and help deliver better outcomes for patients.
Pay Range
$147,500 - $221,300
Disclosure Statement
The range provided is based on what we believe is a reasonable estimate for the base salary pay range for this job at the time of posting. This role is eligible for an annual bonus and annual equity awards. Some roles may also be eligible for overtime pay, in accordance with federal and state requirements. Actual base salary pay will be based on a number of factors, including skills, competencies, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law.
At Vertex, our Total Rewards offerings also include inclusive market-leading benefits to meet our employees wherever they are in their career, financial, family and wellbeing journey while providing flexibility and resources to support their growth and aspirations. From medical, dental and vision benefits to generous paid time off (including a week-long company shutdown in the Summer and the Winter), educational assistance programs including student loan repayment, a generous commuting subsidy, matching charitable donations, 401(k) and so much more.
Flex Designation
Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible
In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as
1. Hybrid : work remotely up to two days per week; or select
2. On-Site : work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.
Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.
Company Information
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.
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