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. For more information on SMPA, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn. **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** + Collaborate with treatment center financial teams to support in access issue resolution and escalations as needed to ensure timely access for patients + Engage with government stakeholders, including state and federal health agencies, to ensure alignment with healthcare policies and reimbursement mechanisms for rare disease therapies + Collaborate with external advocacy groups and policy organizations to drive policy changes that improve access to innovative treatments for rare diseases + Collaborate with Patient Services, specialty pharmacies, and specialty distributors to streamline access to treatment and ensure timely product availability and efficient distribution to Qualified Treatment Centers (QTCs) while identifying and resolving potential barriers in the supply chain to ensure treatment is accessible to all patients + Partner with Customer Engagement and Commercial Lead to co-develop a comprehensive funnel strategy and reduce barriers to access + Effectively utilize all available resources and programs including peer-to-peer education and cross-functional partners within the company (Market Access, Account Directors, Trade and Distribution, Field Reimbursement, etc.) to address identified knowledge gaps + Develops and maintains a high-level, in-depth disease and therapeutic clinical and scientific knowledge + Utilize the CRM System to maximize efficiency and effectiveness  + Execute all the above with a strong understanding and adherence to compliance and corporate policies including appropriate documentation and reporting **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) The base salary range for this role is $180,800 to $226,000. Base salary is part of our total rewards package which also includes the opportunity for merit-based salary increases, short incentive plan participation, eligibility for our 401(k) plan, medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances and leaves provided in line with your work state. Our robust time-off policy includes flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays plus additional time off for a shut-down period during the last week of December, 80 hours of paid sick time upon hire and each year thereafter. Total compensation, including base salary to be offered, will depend on elements unique to each candidate, including candidate experience, skills, education and other factors permitted by law. Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed. **Confidential Data** : All information (written, verbal, electronic, etc.) that an employee encounters is considered confidential. **Compliance** : Achieve and maintain Compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal and operational rules and procedures, by ensuring that all plans and activities for and on behalf of Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) and affiliates are carried out with the "best" industry practices and the highest ethical standards. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. **Mental/Physical Requirements** : Fast paced environment handling multiple demands. Must be able to exercise appropriate judgment as necessary. Requires a high level of initiative and independence. Excellent written and oral communication skills required. Requires ability to use a personal computer for extended periods of time. **Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA)** **is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer** Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; creed; religion; national origin; age; ancestry; nationality; marital, domestic partnership or civil union status; sex, gender; affectional or sexual orientation; disability; veteran or military status or liability for military status; domestic violence victim status; atypical cellular or blood trait; genetic information (including the refusal to submit to genetic testing) or any other characteristic protected by law. 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. For more information on SMPA, visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn. Sumitomo Pharma America (SMPA) endeavors to make its application process accessible to all. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process, please contact SMPA at [email protected] This contact information is for accommodation requests only and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications. At Sumitomo Pharma America, our work is guided by the Sumitomo Pharma mission, vision and values, which tie closely to our company's cultural pillars. **Our** **Mission** _To broadly contribute to society through value creation based on innovative research and development activities for the betterment of healthcare and fuller lives of people_ _worldwide_ **Our** **Vision** _For Longer and Healthier Lives, we unlock the future with cutting edge technology and_ _ideas_