Associate Director, Coverage & Access - Remote

National Black MBA Association; United States; Remote; USD 126,000 - 234,000; Full time

Job summary

A major pharmaceutical company is seeking an Associate Director of Coverage & Access to oversee the Coverage & Access Specialist team. The role requires strong leadership and compliance with Novartis policies. Candidates should have significant experience in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly in patient support offerings, and should possess a Bachelor's degree with management experience. The position offers a competitive salary range of $126,000 to $234,000 per year, along with comprehensive benefits.

Benefits

401(k) eligibility

Paid time off

Sign-on bonus potential

Qualifications

• 5+ years of pharmaceutical industry or related consulting experience.
• 2+ years of people management/leadership experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of patient support offerings.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the Coverage & Access Specialist team.
• Problem solve operational and customer service issues.
• Collaborate with brand-specific Associate Directors.

Skills

Analytical acumen

People management

Knowledge of patient support offerings

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Knowledge of HIPAA regulations

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Advanced business degree (MBA)

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Overview

This position can be based remotely anywhere in the U.S. (there may be some restrictions based on legal entity). The role does not include relocation. The expected working hours and travel (domestic and/or international) will be defined by the hiring manager.

Associate Director, Coverage & Access will oversee a designated team of Coverage & Access Supervisors, monitor performance against enterprise SLAs, KPIs, and agent metrics, and serve as a subject matter expert on enterprise Coverage & Access activities. This role ensures the designated team complies with Novartis policies and collaborates with other Associate Directors and teams (e.g., Case Management, Central Operations, Performance Excellence).

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the daily operations of the Coverage & Access Specialist team, including performance, engagement, people management (growth/coaching/motivation), policy/process adherence, and acting as a Salesforce and Coverage & Access SME for direct and indirect reports.
• Problem solve operational and customer service impacts to provide clear, concise direction for all Coverage & Access Specialists and Supervisors.
• Oversee Supervisors who directly manage 10–14 Coverage & Access Specialists each, ensuring operational excellence and alignment with SLAs, KPIs, and agent metrics. Focus areas include Benefits Investigation, Coverage Exceptions, and Annual Reverification, with the ability to lead any/all areas.
• Serve as a Coverage & Access SME for Learning & Development and Documentation teams on design, documentation, and administration of role-, process-, and system-based trainings, including simulations and certifications.
• Provide oversight to ensure coaching addresses trends identified during audits and calibrations.
• Collaborate with brand-specific Associate Directors, Case Management, and other PSC leaders to address reimbursement functions within the patient journey.
• Partner with Central Operations for CRM system operations, technical escalations, and optimization.
• Work with Director, Coverage & Access to identify operational and technical opportunities; maintain knowledge of industry trends and best practices.
• Collaborate with Performance, Quality, and Excellence (PQE) to monitor call and system performance, ensure outcomes are addressed at individual and team levels, and schedule coaching and other sessions to improve performance and compliance.
• Identify and report adverse events via established Novartis systems according to applicable processes.

Essential Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced business degree (MBA) preferred
• 5+ years of pharmaceutical industry or related consulting experience
• 2+ years of people management/leadership experience
• Comprehensive knowledge of patient support offerings including benefits verification (pharmacy and/or medical) and payer coverage exception strategies (Prior Auth/Appeal)
• Knowledge of HIPAA regulations, patient privacy, and Novartis policies
• Strong analytical acumen and ability to apply data-driven insights for operational improvements
• Understanding of US healthcare economics and drivers of pharmaceutical demand
• Strategic thinker able to adapt and grow with the evolving Novartis Patient Support landscape
• Proficient in Microsoft Office tools (PowerPoint, Excel) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce)

Desirable Requirements

• Previous management of a Coverage & Access hub or manufacturer team
• Experience obtaining benefits for rare/orphan, gene therapy, or radiopharmaceutical products

Compensation and Benefits

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $126,000 and $234,000 per year. Salary ranges are effective from 1/1/25 through 12/31/25; adjustments may occur based on market conditions. Final pay determinations depend on factors including geographical location, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The total compensation package may include a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, discretionary awards, and a full range of benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and paid time off). Details will be provided if an offer is extended. If hired, the position is at-will and the company reserves the right to modify base salary and other compensation programs at any time, including for performance and market factors.

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

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please email [e-mail] or call [phone] and include the job requisition number in your message.