Trading Operations Associate Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

As a privately-owned, biopharmaceutical company, Ferring pioneers and delivers life-changing therapies that help people build families and live better lives. Our independence helps us cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and long-term perspective that enables us to achieve growth and scale, while remaining agile and true to our 'people first' philosophy. Built on a 70-year plus commitment to science and research, Ferring is relentless in its pursuit of science that drives powerful discoveries and therapies to help people build families, stay healthy, and stand up to the world's oldest enemy: disease.

With Ferring, you will be joining a recognized leader, identified as one of "The World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company, and honored by Fortune with inclusion on its "Change the World List," for addressing society's unmet needs. Ferring US is also Great Places to Work Certified, distinguishing it as one of the best companies to work for in the country.

Position Overview

The Associate Director of Trade serves as a key contributor across Ferring's full therapeutic area (TA) portfolio, driving cross-functional trade strategy, distribution excellence, and trade improvement initiatives that span multiple channels and customer segments. This role requires a versatile, analytically driven professional who can operate fluidly across Trade, Market Access, and commercial business unit functions -driving profitability and executing with precision across a complex and evolving distribution landscape. You will drive channel strategy, contract execution, and analytics across Specialty Pharmacy, Specialty Distributor, Wholesale, and emerging distribution channels - all while delivering executive-ready insights that influence strategic decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and continuously refine channel strategies across all Ferring therapeutic areas (Reproductive Medicine, Urology, Gastroenterology, Orthopedics, and emerging portfolios), ensuring each strategy is tailored to the unique distribution dynamics, customer segments, and access requirements of each TA
• Design and implement distribution and stocking strategies for both established products and new product launches across Specialty Pharmacy, Specialty Distributor, Wholesale, and emerging channel models
• Build and maintain TA-specific and enterprise-wide channel outputs providing critical KPIs and marketplace intelligence to internal stakeholders, BU leadership, and executive functions
• Create and manage exception reporting frameworks, monthly executive reports, and performance analytics in collaboration with 3PL partners and BI to drive high levels of customer service, contract compliance, operational accuracy, and supply chain efficiency
• Identify, develop, and operationalize new business opportunities across the distribution network
• Serve as a key contributor and collaborative partner within the Offer Development process - transforming market intelligence, customer insights, and TA dynamics into frameworks for compelling, financially sound contract structures and program designs
• Evaluate and pursue business opportunities with new distribution partners, GPOs, IDNs, and specialty channel entities to expand Ferring's commercial reach and portfolio access
• Negotiate, execute, and manage significant dollar-value contracts across Specialty Distribution (Buy and Bill), Specialty Pharmacy, Wholesale, and emerging channel partners - ensuring alignment with corporate financial objectives, TA brand strategies, and compliance requirements
• Lead contract maximization reviews across all distribution channels to identify opportunities to optimize financial terms, performance metrics, and operational requirements
• Utilize trading partner data (867/852), HUB data, SP dispensed data, HEART program analytics, and ICS reporting to optimize contract performance, monitor patient access, forecast buying behaviors, and identify actionable opportunities
• Monitor and analyze DIOH (Days Inventory on Hand), OTIF (On Time In Full), morgue inventory trends, and returns data to drive proactive supply chain decision-making and reduce financial exposure
• Create high-quality, executive-facing presentations and performance reports that translate complex trade and distribution data into clear, compelling, and actionable insights for senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
• Develop and maintain TA channel and Trade performance scorecards designed to provide visibility into marketplace dynamics, distributor execution, and contract performance across all therapeutic areas
• Collaborate to build internal capability and trade fluency across functions by developing educational resources, training materials, playbooks, and frameworks that elevate and exhibit Trade's impact and understanding across the organization
• Represent the Trade function in cross-functional forums with Sales, Marketing, Market Access, IT, Pricing, and Offer Development to ensure seamless communication, strong execution, and strategic alignment across all channels
• Develop and leverage internal and external resources - including representatives, consultants, and third-party vendors - to extend the reach and impact of Trade across the market

Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree required
• MBA or relevant advanced degree strongly preferred

Experience

• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in pharmaceutical Trade, Distribution, Managed Care, or Commercial functions, with demonstrated success managing multi-channel, multi-TA, or national-scope distribution responsibilities
• Proven track record in business development, contract negotiation, and offer development within a complex pharmaceutical distribution environment
• Experience working across multiple therapeutic areas strongly preferred; ability to quickly develop fluency in new TA required
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing Specialty Pharmacy, Specialty Distributor, and Wholesale customer relationships

Skills & Competencies

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel required (manipulating data, pivot tables, scenario analysis, etc.)
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint with demonstrated ability to create executive-quality presentations
• Experience with typical trade data (867/852, chargeback data, internal HUB data, Specialty Pharmacy data) and ability to synthesize multiple data sources into actionable insights

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate market dynamics, competitive intelligence, and data insights into executable trade strategies
• Solutions-oriented with advanced problem-solving skills and the ability to drive results in ambiguous, evolving environments
• Exceptional oral, written, and executive presentation skills with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority across a matrixed organization and strong negotiation skills
• Proven ability to work effectively across Sales, Marketing, Market Access, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and Supply Chain functions
• Experience partnering with Offer Development and Pricing teams to develop and execute commercially sound trade programs and contracts
• Proven flexibility with proven ability to adapt priorities, assume new responsibilities, and contribute across functions as business needs evolve
• A detail-oriented individual with demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously across a diverse therapeutic area portfolio
• Position requires significant travel (more then 50% of the time)

Ferring + you

At Ferring, we offer competitive total compensation along with an exceptional range of flexible benefits, personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work. From working hours that respect your lifestyle, a culture that is welcoming and equitable, and the chance to work with the industry's most impressive people, these are just some of the ways we live our "People First" philosophy.

Our Compensation and Benefits

At Ferring, base salary is one part of our competitive total compensation and benefits package and is determined using a salary range. The base salary range for this role is $180,000 to $210,000, which is the reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount paid may differ based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education and primary work location. Additional compensation for this role will be provided based on competitive annual incentive compensation targets in the form of an annual bonus - payouts are based on individual and company performance.

Benefits for this role include: comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, and vision) with a premium differential, inverse to base salary, to be paid by employees; a 401k plan and company match; short and long-term disability coverage; basic life insurance; wellness benefits; reimbursement for certain tuition expenses; sick time frontloaded yearly of 40 hours, or higher if state or local law requires; vacation time for full time employees to accrue between 112.5 and 150 hours yearly in the first four (4) years of employment, and additional accruals starting in the fifth (5th) year of employment; and 12 to 13 paid holidays per year. We are proud to offer 20 weeks of paid parental leave, learn more about the parental leave offering in our benefits package here. For roles that are not field-based, Ferring has a hybrid work policy that is four days in the office, with the option to work one day remotely.

Ferring is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local laws.

Join our team and your voice will be heard, and your contributions will be valued. If you love to come up with new ways to make a positive difference and see them through, you will fit right in.

We are proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (including Disability/Protected Veterans). We maintain a drug-free workplace.