Access Field Head - States

IN10 (FCRS = IN010) Novartis Healthcare Private Limited; Maharashtra; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Healthcare Private Limited in India seeks an Access Field Head – States to lead state-level market access strategies and field engagement to improve patient access and affordability across priority state government accounts.

You will build partnerships with external stakeholders, translate national priorities into actionable field plans, and work cross-functionally to deliver sustainable access solutions aligned with business and patient needs. 10+ years in pharma and MBA preferred.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in pharma with state government accounts experience.
• MBA or equivalent qualification preferred.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead execution of state access strategies across priority states.
• Develop partnerships with state-level accounts and government bodies.
• Translate national priorities into actionable field plans.
• Build and manage stakeholder ecosystems with policymakers and providers.
• Drive data-driven access decisions with cross-functional teams.
• Identify barriers and unlock funding to improve affordability and access.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Medical, Policy, Public Affairs, Compliance.
• Develop state account plans with defined KPIs and outcomes.
• Lead and develop the access field team with coaching and goals.

Skills

Access Strategy

Agility

Analytical Thinking

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Customer-Centric Mindset

Employee Development

Go-To-Market Strategy

Health Economics

Health Policy

HTA

Innovation

Leadership

Market Access Strategy

Negotiation Skills

People Management

Project Management

Public Affairs

RWE

Regulatory Compliance

Risk Management

Value Propositions

Education

Graduation (Any Stream)

MBA preferred

Job description

Job Description Summary

Job Description Summary As Access Field Head – States, will lead the execution of state-level market access strategies and field engagement plans to improve patient access, affordability, and adoption of Novartis therapies across priority state government accounts. You will build strategic partnerships with external stakeholders, shape access opportunities in key states, and work closely with cross-functional teams to deliver sustainable access solutions aligned to business and patient needs.

Job Description Key Responsibilities

• Lead execution of state access strategy across priority states and public accounts to drive patient access, formulary inclusion, and uptake of Novartis brands.
• Develop and scale innovative partnership models with state-level accounts, government bodies, and key stakeholders to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem and enable sustainable patient access.
• Drive state-level patient access strategies by translating national priorities and insights into actionable, high-impact field execution plans.
• Build and manage stakeholder ecosystems, including structured stakeholder mapping, prioritization, and engagement plans to establish strong relationships with key influencers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and public sector authorities.
• Leverage cross-functional insights and market intelligence to shape access strategies and support data-driven decision-making at state account level.
• Identify and address access barriers, while unlocking partnership and funding opportunities to improve affordability, inclusion, continuity of care, and penetration across key state accounts.
• Collaborate cross-functionally (Commercial, Medical, Policy, Public Affairs, Compliance Legal) to design and implement compliant, scalable access initiatives.
• Develop and execute state account plans, including stakeholder prioritization, engagement cadence, partnership roadmap, and clearly defined access KPIs and outcomes.
• Lead and develop the access field team, driving performance, capability building, and engagement through coaching, clear goal setting, and fostering a high-performance, customer-centric culture aligned to Novartis values.

Essential Requirements

• Graduation (Any Stream).
• Candidate with MBA will be preferred.
• 10+ Years working experience in pharma sector with previous or existing experience of managing State Government Accounts.
• Previous People management is required
• Candidates with proven track record in state access will be preferred
• Able to understand changing dynamics of Pharmaceutical industry
• Proficient and fluent in English (spoken and written), with good interpersonal and communication skills.

Why Novartis

Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll receive

You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Join our Novartis Network

If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network.

Skills Desired

• Access And Reimbursement Strategy
• Agility
• Analytical Skill
• Analytical Thinking
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Customer-Centric Mindset
• Employee Development
• Finance
• Go-To-Market Strategy
• Healthcare Sector Understanding
• Health Economics
• Health Policy
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA)
• Innovation
• Inspirational Leadership
• Market Access Strategy
• Negotiation Skills
• People Management
• Process Management
• Project Management
• Public Affairs
• Real World Evidence (RWE)
• Regulatory Compliance
• Risk Management
• Value Propositions

Improving the lives of people living with disease takes more than innovative science. It takes a focus on the needs of people and a community committed to meeting them. It takes a team of people like you. Working together. Learning together. Thriving together. Discover how you can join us in changing people’s lives.