Senior Director, Market Access

Description:
Onsite in Foster City, CA

Our client seeks a Senior Director of U.S. Market Access to lead pricing, payer strategy, and execution for rare disease therapies. The role will define and advance market access strategies across commercial and government payers, convert payer insights into actions, and guide cross-functional planning. The leader will influence brand strategy and commercialization while ensuring access readiness and compliance.

This is a full-time, permanent opportunity, offering a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. Qualified applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis.

Salary: $280,000 - $315,000/ yr. w2

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of market access strategies that drive coverage expansion, policy optimization, and quality of access improvements across commercial and government payers for inline and pipeline assets.
• Identify key differentiators critical to payers for rare disease products in competitive environments and translate into actionable strategy.
• Anticipate and shape payer dynamics in rare disease to craft clear, differentiated value narratives that resonate in competitive markets for both in-line and pipeline assets.
• Translate clinical and economic evidence into practical, payer-ready tools that influence coverage and reimbursement decisions.
• Lead pre-launch payer engagement, value evidence planning, and access readiness to ensure optimal coverage pathways, especially in competitive markets.
• Partner cross-functionally with medical and marketing to ensure evidence generation is targeted, efficient, and aligned to access impact.
• Engage directly with payer stakeholders to uncover actionable insights and convert them into strategic access decisions.
• Align with the US Head of Payer Accounts on strategic account planning and escalation for high-impact access challenges.
• Act as the enterprise voice of access, influencing decisions across brand strategy, pricing, and commercialization planning workstreams.
• Collaborate with Government Pricing on policy implications including Medicaid best price, 340B, and IRA/GUARD considerations.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements.

Experience Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience in market access, payer marketing, or reimbursement, with rare disease experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success in launching and optimizing access for specialty or rare disease therapies, including pricing strategy.
• Deep understanding of commercial and government payer dynamics.
• Deep understanding of prior authorization, appeals, and reimbursement pathways.
• Successful experience in leading and developing a team within the market access function.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior leadership in agile, small biotech or rare disease environments.
• Strong analytical, strategic, and communication skills.
• Resilient and adaptable with experience navigating complex payer dynamics with confidence.
• Hybrid schedule expected at 2 to 3 days per week onsite in Foster City, CA.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.