Market Access Head BBU

AstraZeneca; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 337,000 - 450,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global biopharmaceutical company in Saudi Arabia seeks a Market Access Head for its innovative portfolio. The role involves shaping and executing market access strategies, driving pricing recommendations, leading cross-functional teams, and ensuring sustainable patient access. The ideal candidate has 7+ years in the pharmaceutical industry, with a strong background in payer environments and experience in the Saudi market. A Bachelor's in Pharmacy is required. This position offers a unique opportunity to impact healthcare in KSA.

Benefits

Empowerment to innovate

Commitment to diversity

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience with consistent success in the pharmaceutical industry.
• 3+ years of experience in a payer environment, preferably in market access/health economic related role.
• Experience in Saudi Market is a must.

Responsibilities

• Lead and shape the market access strategy for the AZ Biopharma innovative portfolio.
• Set direction for Market Access strategies aligned with brand and country strategies.
• Drive pricing analysis and recommendations.

Skills

Leadership

Communication Skills

Analytical Thinking

Collaboration

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent

Job description

Market Access Head Biopharma – KSA

Market Access Head – Biopharma (KSA) – Lead and shape the market access strategy for AZ Biopharma innovative portfolio in Saudi Arabia, ensuring sustainable reimbursement, patient access and long‑term value realization.

About AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a global, science‑led, patient‑focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. AstraZeneca is more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

Site Description

AstraZeneca is experiencing a significant transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, driven by a commitment to advancing healthcare, innovation, and sustainable growth. Building on our global legacy, AZ KSA is rapidly evolving its operations to better serve patients, collaborate with healthcare stakeholders, and contribute to the ambitious goals outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030. We are investing in talent, digital solutions, and new ways of working; all designed to enhance our impact on patient outcomes and reinforce our leadership in therapeutic areas. This dynamic environment calls for visionary, agile professionals who thrive in change and are motivated to help shape the future of healthcare in KSA.

Role Summary

• Leads and shapes the market access strategy for AZ Biopharma innovative portfolio in Saudi Arabia, ensuring sustainable reimbursement, patient access, and long‑term value realization.
• Provides leadership across the market access organization, ensuring strategic alignment, execution excellence, and strong people capability.
• Based in Saudi Arabia.
• Reports directly to the Market Access Director.

What you’ll do

Market Access Strategy & Execution

• Set direction and priorities for Market Access strategies, objectives, and tactical plans in alignment with brand and country strategies.
• Lead the development and execution of early access strategies for existing brands and new launches, ensuring sustainable adoption within the Saudi healthcare system.
• Enable and guide teams to execute formulary listing processes and brand expansion plans through effective cross‑functional collaboration.
• Drive pricing analysis and recommendations by overseeing competitive landscape assessments, customer insights, and alignment with brand value propositions.
• Shape stakeholder‑informed market access strategies by anticipating stakeholder priorities, identifying partnership opportunities and business risks, and translating insights into actionable recommendations.
• Anticipate shifts in the external environment, translate insights into strategic guidance, and ensure timely organizational response.
• Work in close partnership with cross‑functional teams to shape and implement market access strategies across the product lifecycle, including pre‑launch readiness and launch execution.
• Partner with cross‑functional teams to develop pricing and contracting strategies that optimise product positioning and enable effective pricing and contracting execution.
• Drive value‑based engagement with key stakeholders to address access barriers and support informed access decision‑making.
• Ensure payer‑relevant evidence strategies are defined and executed, including clinical, economic, and real‑world evidence.
• Guide the development of robust, localised value propositions supported by evidence, ensuring consistency and scientific rigor across teams.
• Sponsor and enable innovative projects and partnerships that address customer needs and create sustainable, win‑win outcomes.

Stakeholder Strategy & External Engagement

• Shape and sustain strategic partnerships with Health Authorities through high‑impact health initiatives aligned with national priorities.
• Set direction for stakeholder engagement strategies, ensuring alignment with the Country President and Market Access Director.
• Ensure disciplined execution and visibility of stakeholder plans by monitoring progress and communicating status to internal stakeholders.
• Foster strong, trust‑based relationships with key customers and stakeholders, ensuring consistency and quality of engagement across teams.

Pricing Strategy & Reimbursement Leadership

• Partner with the Market Access Director and pricing teams to shape pricing and reimbursement strategies that optimise the lifetime value of AstraZeneca’s products.
• Set pricing direction required to enable brand and market access strategies.
• Guide assessment of the competitive pricing landscape, ensuring insights are translated into clear, defensible pricing recommendations.
• Anticipate and assess the business impact of current and evolving market access environments and price regulation changes, supporting proactive decision‑making.
• Enable the development of innovative pricing approaches, including managed entry agreements and alternative contracting models, to support sustainable access.
• Collaborate closely with the Market Access Director and Commercial leadership to define pricing strategies and optimal prices that maximise access and winning potential.

People Leadership & Performance Management

• Build and sustain strong Market Access capability by developing leaders and teams, strengthening critical skills, and enabling progression to advanced and leadership roles.
• Set clear performance expectations and standards, and ensure consistent performance management and coaching practices across teams.
• Identify and accelerate high‑potential talent, actively building succession pipelines and supporting long‑term leadership continuity.
• Lead meaningful career and development conversations, ensuring clarity on career paths, expectations, and development actions.
• Work with team members to define challenging and aligned goals across accounts, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities.
• Promote strong decision‑making discipline, guiding teams to assess impact, manage risk, and make effective trade‑offs that maximise business and access outcomes.

Collaboration & Influence

• Foster strong cross‑functional collaboration across Market Access, Commercial, Medical, and Government Affairs, leveraging diverse expertise to achieve shared objectives.
• Influence outcomes without direct authority by aligning stakeholders, shaping perspectives, and motivating action through credibility, partnership, and effective communication.

Corporate Responsibility & Compliance

• Uphold and role‑model the highest ethical standards, acting in line with AstraZeneca’s Code of Ethics and all applicable corporate policies.
• Ensure compliance across all activities with local legislation, regulatory requirements, and corporate standards, fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.
• Ensure timely and accurate reporting, in accordance with established procedures, of health, environment, and wellbeing incidents; adverse events; and any changes in conflict of interest status.

Essential for the role

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry‑leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy or equivalent.
• 7+ years of experience with consistent success in pharmaceutical industry.
• 3+ years of experience in a payer environment, preferably in market access / health economic related role.
• Experience in Saudi Market is a must.
• Demonstrated strong oral, written and group communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills – Influencing, negotiation, collaboration and teamwork.
• Leadership & autonomy to initiate & execute responsibility under minimum guidance.
• People management experience.
• Effective analytical thinking, problem solving and decision making.
• Planning and organization skills.

Desirable Capabilities

• Post graduate university degree in health economics, epidemiology, public health, or health policy.
• Strong commercial background.
• Previous experience in different functional areas of the business.
• Previous experience in different portfolios with relevance to AstraZeneca’s portfolio.

Why AstraZeneca?

At AstraZeneca we’re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work. Where you are empowered to push the boundaries of science and unleash your entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference to medicine, patients, and society. An inclusive culture that champions diversity and collaboration, and always committed to lifelong learning, growth, and development. We’re on an exciting journey to pioneer the future of healthcare.

So, what’s next?

• Are you already imagining yourself joining our team? Good, because we can’t wait to hear from you.
• Are you ready to bring new ideas and fresh thinking to the table? Brilliant! We have one seat available, and we hope it’s yours.

Where can I find out more?

Our Social Media: Follow AstraZeneca on LinkedIn

Follow AstraZeneca on Facebook

Follow AstraZeneca on Instagram

Date Posted: 22-Dec-2025

Closing Date: 30-Dec-2025

We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non‑discrimination in employment and work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.