Associate Director, Contract Development

Alkermes; California (MO); On-site; USD 165,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Alkermes is seeking an Associate Director, Contract Development to lead contract development for Medicaid and Federal channels and partner with Market Access, Sales, Marketing and Legal.

In this role you will oversee the GTN-driven contract language, analyze financials, ensure terms are operationalizable, and guide a small team while aligning contracts with brand objectives and company financial goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business/science/healthcare; Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical payer and/or trade contracting experience.
• Experience hiring, developing and leading a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead the contract development process ensuring all contracts strategically align to brand objectives, provide appropriate value based on GTN investment and minimize risk through robust contract language
• Work cross-functionally with Market Access and Legal in the development of offers, agreements and amendments
• Oversee the financial analysis performed by members of the Contracts, Pricing and Value team to ensure senior leadership is well informed of the risks and opportunities of proposed contracts
• Collaborate with the Contract Operations and Government Pricing teams to ensure proposed contract terms can be operationalized and meet the business needs
• Oversee the development and implementation of performance metrics to support optimal pull-through of contracts
• Monitor existing customer contracts for contract compliance; includes identifying and recommending opportunities for improvement
• Maintain an executive summary of their assigned channel’s landscape which highlights key customers, current contract terms and contract performance
• Stay abreast of macro trends in the healthcare environment that potentially impact current and/or future product pricing, contracting and associated strategies across product portfolio
• Support and guide development of direct report(s) in contracts and pricing expertise, organizational awareness, exposure and career development

Skills

Managed care trends

Pricing understanding

Healthcare reimbursement

Government price reporting

Stakeholder collaboration

Analytical/problem-solving

Leadership

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business/science/healthcare

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

The Associate Director, Contract Development, is a key business partner working with Market Access, Sales, Marketing, Legal, and other internal strategic partners in the development of contracts to achieve product access aligned with Company financial objectives.

The position will be the Lead, Contract Development, for the Medicaid and Federal channel, and be the channel’s subject matter expert within the Contracts, Pricing and Value team. The position will report to the Sr. Director, Contract Development and Value.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the entire contract development process ensuring all contracts strategically align to brand objectives, provide appropriate value based on their Gross-to-Net (GTN) investment and minimize risk through robust contract language
• Work cross-functionally with Market Access and Legal in the development of offers, agreements and amendments
• Oversee the financial analysis performed by members of the Contracts, Pricing and Value team to ensure senior leadership is well informed of the risks and opportunities of proposed contracts
• Collaborate with the Contract Operations and Government Pricing teams to ensure proposed contract terms can be operationalized and meet the business needs
• Oversee the development and implementation of performance metrics to support optimal pull-through of contracts
• Monitor existing customer contracts for contract compliance; includes identifying and recommending opportunities for improvement
• Maintain an executive summary of their assigned channel’s landscape which highlights key customers, current contract terms and contract performance
• Stay abreast of macro trends in the healthcare environment that potentially impact current and/or future product pricing, contracting and associated strategies across product portfolio
• Support and guide development of direct report(s) in contracts and pricing expertise, organizational awareness, exposure and career development

Minimum Education & Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business/science/healthcare. Master’s degree preferred
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical payer and/or trade contracting experience

Preferred Skills And Knowledge Requirements

• Knowledge/understanding of managed care trends, pricing, healthcare reimbursement, managed care customers and the distribution channels relevant to pharmaceutical/biotechnology organizations
• Knowledge/understanding of pharmaceutical government price reporting requirements
• Ability to develop effective / collaborative working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to understand business requirements, propose solutions, gain alignment and execute
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, a demonstrated ability to gather, understand, and evaluate information from various sources
• Strong commitment to providing excellent customer service
• Ability to prioritize and manage concurrent and, occasionally, competing initiatives
• Understanding of industry code of conduct and ethics
• Experience hiring, developing and leading a team

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $165,000 to $180,000. In addition, this position is eligible for an annual performance pay bonus. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, training, knowledge, and experience. Alkermes offers a competitive benefits package. Additional details can be found on our careers website: www.alkermes.com/careers#working-here

About Us

Alkermes applies its decades of deep neuroscience expertise to develop medicines designed to help people living with complex and difficult-to-treat psychiatric and neurological disorders. A global biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Ireland with U.S. locations in Massachusetts and Ohio, we seek to make a meaningful difference in the way people manage their diseases. We have a portfolio of proprietary commercial products for the treatment of alcohol dependence, opioid dependence, schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder and narcolepsy, and a pipeline of clinical and preclinical candidates in development for various psychiatric and neurological disorders.

Why join Team Alkermes?

We are proud to have been recognized as an employer of choice by many national organizations. In 2024 and 2025, we were certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S. and named one of Massachusetts’ Top Places to Work by the Boston Globe, a Best Place to Work in Greater Cincinnati by the Cincinnati Business Courier and recognized as a Best Place to Work in BioPharma by Fortune Magazine.

Alkermes, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any qualified applicant or employee because of race, creed, color, age, national origin, ancestry, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression and identity, disability, genetic information, veteran status, military status, application for military service or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. Alkermes also complies with all work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Alkermes is an E-Verify employer.