Associate Director, US Value & Access

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

$190K — $216K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree required; health sciences or business/marketing preferred; MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
  • At least 12 years in bio/pharmaceutical sector with 3+ years in payer/access marketing preferred.
  • Expertise in market access, reimbursement, and payer marketing, integrating policy, clinical, and commercial aspects.
  • Experience shaping functional and brand strategy, contributing insight-driven access solutions.
  • Regarded as a subject matter expert in market access/reimbursement, proficient in influencing cross-functional stakeholders.
  • US product launch experience is essential, with a preference for specialty drug launches.
  • Familiarity with Pharmacy/Medical Benefit products, with expertise in rare disease markets desirable.
  • Experience collaborating with agencies on material creation and review processes.

Responsibilities

  • Lead analysis of access landscape, assessing coverage dynamics, payer needs, and competitive strategies.
  • Act as the access marketing lead in brand planning, guiding tactical execution for a new HAE therapy.
  • Develop communication strategies and tools for formulary decision makers, including value narratives and training.
  • Set and oversee access material development for healthcare professionals and patients to ensure brand alignment.
  • Provide strategic guidance to Marketing, Patient Services, and other partners on access messaging and materials.
  • Design promotional plans and communication tactics for market access strategies and field sales integration.
  • Anticipate market dynamics and synthesize information to shape proactive access strategies and risk mitigation plans.
  • Manage key agency partners for executing market development strategies and tactical plans.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance package.
  • Retirement savings plan with company match.
  • Generous paid time off and holidays.
  • Flexible work environment, with remote work options.
  • Professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement.
Full Job Description
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, US VALUE & ACCESS

SUMMARY:

The Associate Director, US Value & Access will play a critical role in shaping US value and access strategy for Ionis' innovative products, supporting the company's transformation into a fully integrated biotechnology organization. This individual will be responsible for leading development of payer and access marketing materials, developing and conducting training for field teams, and working with the US payer account team, Field Reimbursement and Sales Force to navigate reimbursement issues and enable timely patient access for Ionis' launch products. This position will report to the Director, US Value & Access and will serve as the strategic access lead for launch and inline brands, translating complex payer and market dynamics into clear direction for cross-functional teams.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The ideal candidate will

  • Lead comprehensive analyses of the access landscape including channel mix, current coverage, competitive dynamics, payer unmet need and willingness to pay, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implications, and consideration of the impact of different future payer management strategies
  • Serve as the access marketing strategic lead in brand planning, owning access-related strategic input and decision-making, and guiding market access marketing tactical execution plans for new to market HAE therapy for customer-facing field teams
  • Own the development and evolution of the communication strategy and tools for formulary decision makers (Payers, PBMs, Institutions, etc.) including value narratives, core access platforms, training strategy, and pull-through tools
  • Set strategy and provide oversight for development of access materials for HCPs and Patients, ensuring alignment to brand strategy, regulatory standards, and customer insights
  • Provide strategic leadership and influence cross-functional partners including Marketing, Patient Services, HEOR, Medical Affairs, and Trade & Distribution on access-related messaging, materials, and field readiness
  • Design and lead the promotional plan, programs, multi-channel communications platform and tactics to pull-through market access strategy (training materials, selling resources/tools, and field sales integration)
  • Anticipate evolving market and policy dynamics and synthesize complex market, payer, and competitive data to proactively shape access strategy, identify material risks, and recommend mitigation plans at the brand and portfolio level
  • Lead and be accountable for management of key agency partners in the execution of market development strategy and tactical plans, including strategic direction, performance management, and budget stewardship
  • Provide strategic guidance on navigating materials through the Promotional Review Committee (PRC) process, anticipating risk, shaping discussions, and enabling timely approvals
  • Establish and sustain advanced cross-functional partnerships and formal networks with peers in key functions, including Brand Marketing, HEOR, Field Medical Directors, Sales, Medical Affairs, and PRC, to align access strategy, evidence needs, and execution priorities
  • Own vendor strategy, including setting strategic direction, providing input into contract negotiations, and overseeing implementation and performance against agreed-upon service levels, budgets, and timelines


REQUIREMENTS:

  • Undergraduate bachelor's degree required, ideally in health sciences or business/marketing; MBA or other advanced degree preferred
  • At least 12 years of bio/pharmaceutical experience with previous experience in payer and/or access marketing of 3+ years preferred
  • Applies expertise in market access, reimbursement, and payer marketing, with the ability to integrate policy, clinical, and commercial considerations
  • Shapes functional and brand-level strategy, contributing to the development of company objectives through insight-driven, innovative access solutions
  • Recognized as an internal subject matter expert in market access and reimbursement, with a track record of influencing senior and cross-functional stakeholders
  • New product launch experience in the US required, preference for specialty drug launch
  • Experience with both Pharmacy and Medical Benefit products, with knowledge of rare disease, orphan, or ultra-orphan product experience highly desirable
  • Experience working with agencies on creation of materials and obtaining approvals with promotional material review committees
  • Ability to partner / effectively collaborate across functions to gain alignment on approach, responsibilities, material development, and timelines
  • Demonstrated ability and proven history of driving projects and initiatives to completion
  • Highly organized and detail oriented, with strong project management and presentation and writing skills, proactive communications


Please visit our website, http://www.ionis.com for more information about Ionis and to apply for this position; reference requisition # IONIS003916

Ionis offers an excellent benefits package! Follow this link for more details: Ionis Benefits

Full Benefits Link: https://ionis.com/careers#:~:text=Highly%20competitive%20benefits

The pay scale for this position is $190,000 to $ 216,000

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY.

#LI-Remote

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