Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement (ADAR) CV - Thousand Oaks, CA

Novartis Group Companies; Bakersfield (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,300 - 297,700; Full time

Job summary

Novartis Group of Companies seeks an Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement (ADAR) to be field‑based in Thousand Oaks, CA, with remote work flexibility and extensive travel. You will educate providers and staff on patient access programs, reimbursement pathways, and buy‑and‑bill processes across complex health systems.

Walk-through of local coverage decisions and policy updates will be critical as you partner with cross‑functional teams to optimize access for specialty products; travel up to

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required; business and/or biological science preferred.
• Advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Interact with large, complex accounts to support patient access and provide education on programs to providers and staff.
• Collaborate with executives, administrators, billing staff, and revenue cycle teams to support patient access.
• Analyze reimbursement issues and advise on patient reimbursement and payer policies at the provider level.
• Support local coverage decisions to improve patient access and communicate policy changes to affected teams.
• Maintain expertise in regional access landscapes and act as reimbursement expert for the product area.
• Coordinate with hub and Access & Reimbursement managers on case management and education for offices.

Skills

Strategic account management

Market access

Patient services

Reimbursement pathways

Specialty products

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement (ADAR) is a field‑based role based in the Thousand Oaks, CA geography that works remotely and on the field. The ADAR proactively provides in‑person (or virtual as needed) education to defined accounts within their assigned geographies on a wide range of access and reimbursement topics and needs to support aligned product strategy. ADARs focus on accounts with increased process and workflow complexity, including centralized and decentralized systems of care, integrated delivery networks, academic medical institutions, large multi‑provider specialty practices, and alternate sites of care.

Key Responsibilities

• Interact with large, complex accounts to support patient access within their aligned therapeutic area products and proactively provide face‑to‑face education on programs to providers and staff.
• Work with key members of therapeutic area offices (executives, providers, administrators, billing and coding staff, claims departments, revenue cycle managers) to support patient access to products.
• Analyze problems and offer solutions, understand patient reimbursement specifics, and support questions associated with patient reimbursement and third‑party payer issues at the provider level.
• Support pull‑through on local coverage decisions to enable meaningful patient access within the system and proactively communicate policy changes or issues that could affect other departments.
• Maintain expertise in regional and local access landscape, anticipate changes in the healthcare landscape, and act as the reimbursement expert for the aligned therapeutic area product(s).
• Interface with the Patient Support Center (hub) and Access & Reimbursement Managers on patient case management matters, including case tracking, issue resolution, reimbursement support, and office staff education.
• Collaborate with aligned cross‑functional associates within NPC to share insights on customer needs and barriers related to access and reimbursement.

Buy and Bill Specific

• Assess access situation within the assigned geography and develop an appropriate Plan of Action (POA). Communicate the POA to the relevant personnel.
• Educate HCPs using approved materials on acquisition pathways for Novartis products, including buy‑and‑bill end‑to‑end processes, workflows, and facility pull‑through in complex accounts.
• Educate relevant stakeholders on logistics related to ordering, payment, inventory, and product returns & replacements.
• Analyze reimbursement issues, anticipate changes in the healthcare landscape, and act as the designated reimbursement expert for offices and field teams.
• Accountable for engagement with non‑prescribers regarding Novartis medicines, such as pharmacy, system leadership, financial counselors, office administrators, and revenue cycle managers.

Minimum Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required. Business and/or biological science education preferred. Advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in the pharmaceuticals/biotech industry focused on Patient Services, Market Access, Sales, and/or account management, with at least 2 years in a Patient Services practice support role for a specialty product.
• Experience working with highly complex practices and/or health systems to establish access and acquisition pathways.
• Strategic account management experience using a proactive approach to anticipate access hurdles impacting accounts and patient access.
• Deep expertise in integrating manufacturer‑sponsored patient support programs.
• Experience with specialty products acquired through Specialty Pharmacy networks.
• Knowledge of reimbursement pathways (specialty pharmacy, buy‑and‑bill, retail).
• Candidate must reside within territory or within a reasonable daily commuting distance of 60 miles from the territory border. Ability to travel 60–80% across a broad geography is required, with the ability to drive and/or fly within the territory. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Novartis Compensation Summary

Salary range: $160,300 – $297,700 per year.

Final salary offered is determined based on relevant skills, experience, and will be reviewed periodically. Compensation includes a performance‑based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility for annual equity awards.

US‑based eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a generous time‑off package including vacation, personal days, holidays, and other leaves.

Driving is an Essential Function of this Role

Because driving is an essential function, a fully valid and unrestricted driver’s license is required. The company provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified individuals with medical restrictions if accommodation can be provided without eliminating the essential function of driving.

COVID‑19 Vaccine Policy (customer‑facing roles only)

Novartis does not require COVID‑19 vaccination or a recent negative test. Employees in customer‑facing roles must comply with customers’ credentialing guidelines, which may require vaccination. Requests for reasonable accommodation by those unable to be vaccinated are considered as required by applicable law. Please send accommodation requests to [e-mail].

For Field Roles with a Dedicated Training Period

The individual hired for this role must successfully complete initial training, including home study, eight (8) or fewer hours per day and forty (40) or fewer hours per week.

EEO Statement

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process or to perform essential functions, please e‑mail [e-mail] or call +1(877)395‑2339 and include the job requisition number.

Skills Desired

Access And Reimbursement Strategy, Agility, Analytical Skill, Analytical Thinking, Cross‑Functional Collaboration, Customer‑Centric Mindset, Employee Development, Finance, Go‑to‑Market Strategies, Healthcare Policies, Healthcare Sector Understanding, Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Innovation, Inspirational Leadership, Market Access Strategies, People Management, Process Management, Project Management, Public Affairs, Real World Evidence (RWE), Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, Value Propositions.