Associate Director, Market Access Engagement - Rare Disease

Associate Director, Market Access Engagement Rare Disease

Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is a global pharmaceutical company based in Japan with operations in the U.S. (Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.), focused on addressing patient needs in oncology, urology, women's health, rare diseases, cell & gene therapies and CNS. With several marketed products and a diverse pipeline of early- to late-stage investigational assets, we aim to accelerate discovery, research, and development to bring novel therapies to patients sooner.

Job Overview

We are currently seeking a dynamic, highly motivated, and experienced individual for the position of Associate Director, Market Access Engagement Rare Disease, who will act as the face of SMPA to key payer accounts, policymakers, qualified treatment center (QTC) staff, and market access partners, while focusing on meeting and exceeding their performance goals to ensure appropriate patients receive RETHYMIC in a timely manner. This person will deliver product, disease state and resource education to payers and policymakers to expand their understanding of congenital athymia and the value of RETHYMIC. This role requires a unique set of skills that demands excellent customer engagement & communication skills, strategic planning & execution, clinical expertise, collaboration, consistent compliant behaviors, and a commitment to the patients and their families. This person must enjoy working within a high-functioning team with the goal to help everyone succeed for the benefit of the patients we serve. The ideal candidate will effectively identify, develop, and maintain collaborative relationships and communicate information across many different internal / external stakeholders to drive alignment on decisions and help remove barriers to access.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Payer Strategy and Engagement

• Develop and implement strategies aligned with franchise commercial and market access strategy across all payer stakeholders to ensure SMPA Rare Disease products to ensure access for patients through various payers (commercial and government payers to include FFS and Managed Medicaid) and remove reimbursement barriers to treatment
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key payers to facilitate successful contracting, access and reimbursement - including fostering strong relationships with payers and driving collaboration to achieve mutual goals
• Conduct formal and informal presentations and convey complex scientific, reimbursement, and business information fluently to assigned targets by employing excellent customer centric selling skills in a compliant and ethical manner
• Gain formulary / pathway positioning for RETHYMIC and establish process for providers to access RETHYMIC.

Foster External Relationships / Partnerships to Reduce Barriers to Access

Who You Are

You are a highly motivated, engaging and team-oriented individual with a passion for problem solving and supporting clinicians and patients. You can lead without authority and organize impactful business meetings with the intent to develop and execute our strategy.

Qualifications

8+ years of progressive business experience in the healthcare, pharma or biotech industry, inclusive of field payer and access / commercial experience. Rare disease experience is preferred

Excellent virtual / remote customer engagement skills along with verbal and written communication skills

A successful track record in field reimbursement, clinical education or in pharmaceutical sales / management of products that required significant payer and reimbursement involvement

Knowledge of applicable regulations and standards affecting the pharmaceutical industry

Adaptable to changing priorities and market dynamics including payer-reimbursement challenges

Buy and Bill and specialty pharmacy vendor management experience highly preferred; experience in supporting Cell and Gene therapy administered by a designated health care professional in a surgical inpatient setting

Expertise in navigating payer environments, reimbursement systems, and distribution channels for rare disease therapies

Experience working with government agencies, payer organizations, and advocacy groups in rare diseases, particularly in policy development and government relations

Knowledge of the regulatory, pricing, and contracting landscape within the rare disease space

Comprehensive understanding of field / patient reimbursement, non-profit organizations, and patient advocacy groups

Must be comfortable spending 60% of time traveling; some overnight travel required

Education

Master's degree & 6 years of collective field payer and access / commercial experience (education in science or business a plus) OR Bachelor's degree & 8 years of collective field payer and access / commercial experience (education in science or business a plus)