Senior Director, US Market Access

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the US market access strategy for Kailera's portfolio, including ribupatide injectable and oral spanning commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, employer, and self-pay channels
• Build and lead market access launch efforts individually with agility while preparing to grow the US Market Access with direct reports over time
• Partner with Market Access team to foster a culture of innovation, accountability, flexibility, and collaboration
• Lead pricing, contracting, and gross-to-net strategy with PBMs, health plans, and employers, balancing broad access, net price, and long-term commercial success, in partnership with Finance, Legal, and Compliance
• Shape employer and benefit consultant engagement and evaluate emerging access channels, including direct-to-patient and self-pay models, as the obesity coverage landscape evolves
• Collaborate with clinical development, regulatory, medical affairs, HEOR/RWE, marketing, and finance teams to ensure access strategies align with corporate objectives and market dynamics, including input to launch planning and forecasting
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including national and regional payers, PBMs, integrated delivery networks, employers, benefit consultants, and key opinion leaders (KOLs)
• Use payer research, competitive intelligence, and business analytics to inform access strategy, pricing, and contracting decisions
• Partner with Policy and Government Affairs to track and assess federal and state policy developments (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid coverage, the IRA, CAA, etc.)
• Ensure payer and contracting activities comply with applicable laws and regulations

Required Qualifications

• 12+ years in Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Market Access
• Expertise in US market access, pricing, and contracting, including in-depth knowledge of the US payer environment: coverage, reimbursement, formulary management, rebating, and gross-to-net across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid
• At least 5 years of people leadership experience
• Has led at least one major US launch within Market Access, from pre-launch strategy through market uptake, including working through the problems that come up after launch
• Has built and run an integrated market access launch plan in partnership with brand across functions
• Recent, hands-on experience with payer and PBM engagement, including PIE & value proposition discussions, contract negotiations, and trade decisions
• Significant experience developing and implementing US contracting strategies with PBMs and health plans
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative US access strategies
• Proven success translating strategy into actionable plans and delivering successful product launches
• Strong skills in collaborating with marketing, development, regulatory, medical affairs, HEOR/RWE, finance, legal, and trade teams
• Experience building, leading, and mentoring high-performing teams, including in a hybrid environment
• Expertise in using complex clinical data, payer research, competitive intelligence, and business analytics to inform access strategy, contracting, and pricing models
• Capable of navigating the complexities of a fast-growing biotech environment while maintaining focus on US launch readiness and long-term value creation
• Ability to adapt to change and manage competing demands effectively

Preferred Qualifications

• Launch experience in obesity, diabetes or related cardiometabolic areas
• Experience with incretins (GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP) is a strong plus
• Proven experience building and leading market access functions within a new organization, company, or product, including establishing foundational strategies and structures in a startup or high-growth environment
• Experience developing and executing access strategies for consumer-driven brands, including self-pay and direct-to-patient models
• Working knowledge of Medicare Part D and Medicaid dynamics and the evolving policy environment affecting obesity therapies, including the Inflation Reduction Act

Education

A bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in business, life sciences, pharmacy, health policy, or a related field is required.