Associate Director, Field Access Manager - Central

MSD Malaysia; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 142,000 - 224,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, is seeking an Associate Director, Field Access Management to lead a team of field access professionals. The role focuses on payer Coverage, patient access education, and collaboration with Sales, Market Access, and Public Affairs to optimize therapy access.

The ideal candidate will manage SOPs, navigate HIPAA and compliance, and drive a hybrid work model with 30–35% travel.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree; 5+ years in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in patient support, healthcare sales or operations, project management, or reimbursement support.
• Strong knowledge of health insurance structures (Medicare Part B, Medicaid, commercial) and related access processes.
• Expertise in pharmaceutical compliance and HIPAA regulations regarding patient confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to engage and influence multiple stakeholders across teams.
• Exhibit competent understanding of hub and patient support activities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a hybrid environment with 30-35% travel; Must reside in the assigned territory/metro area.

Responsibilities

• Train, educate, coach, and lead a team of Field Access Managers (FAMs).
• Execute the field access strategy and oversee the success of the Field Access Management Team for which you are responsible.
• Understand Regional Payor and Medicaid coverage and provide market access education via approved materials to the Field Access Management team.
• Assist with ongoing maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding Hub, specialty pharmacy, field access managers, and appropriate interactions with field sales teams to support appropriate access to therapy.
• Provide proactive field-based access education to internal and external stakeholders by identifying and educating around access issues and sharing successes.
• Educate and communicate technical knowledge of patient enrollment process, payer coverage policies, prior authorization process, appeals process, patient support programs, and Hub operations to Field Access Management team.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings with sales, market access, and marketing to ensure alignment and understanding of the access landscape, issues, and field access strategy.

Skills

Customer focus

Data Analysis

Pricing Strategy

Direct Marketing

Healthcare Policies

Interpersonal Skills

Market Access

Market Research

Operational Marketing

People Leadership

Pricing Processes

Product Management

Stakeholder Mgmt

Strategic Thinking

Transfer Pricing

Job description

Job Description The Associate Director, Field Access Management serves as the leader to a team of subject-matter experts on access processes, reimbursement issues, and patient assistance programs for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and healthcare organizations (HCOs). In this role, you will work cross-functionally with Field Sales, Marketing, Market Access, Public Affairs, State and Government Affairs, Trade and Specialty Pharmacy Accounts while abiding by all corporate and industry policy and procedures. As a people leader, you will cultivate an environment where collaboration, growth, and professional development are at the forefront. Your leadership will enable your team to leverage access expertise, build trusted relationships, and serve as the primary point of contact for FAMs in your region. Join a mission-driven organization to help coach, mentor, and inspire others.

Key Responsibilities

• Train, educate, coach, and lead a team of Field Access Managers (FAMs).
• Execute the field access strategy and oversee the success of the Field Access Management Team for which you are responsible.
• Understand Regional Payor and Medicaid coverage and provide market access education via approved materials to the Field Access Management team.
• Assist with ongoing maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding Hub, specialty pharmacy, field access managers, and appropriate interactions with field sales teams to support appropriate access to therapy.
• Provide proactive field-based access education to internal and external stakeholders by identifying and educating around access issues and sharing successes.
• Educate and communicate technical knowledge of patient enrollment process, payer coverage policies, prior authorization process, appeals process, patient support programs, and Hub operations to Field Access Management team.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings with sales, market access, and marketing to ensure alignment and understanding of the access landscape, issues, and field access strategy.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree; 5+ years in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in patient support, healthcare sales or operations, project management, or reimbursement support.
• Strong knowledge of health insurance structures (Medicare Part B, Medicaid, commercial) and related access processes, including benefit verification, prior authorization, and appeal processes.
• Expertise in pharmaceutical compliance and HIPAA regulations regarding patient confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; demonstrated ability to engage and influence multiple stakeholders across teams and disciplines.
• Exhibit competent understanding of hub and patient support activities.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a hybrid environment with 30-35% travel; Must reside in the assigned territory/metro area.

Required Skills

• Customer-Focused
• Data Analysis
• Developing Pricing Strategies
• Direct Marketing
• Healthcare Policies
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Market Access Strategies
• Market Research
• Operational Marketing
• People Leadership
• Pricing Processes
• Product Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Strategic Thinking
• Transfer Pricing Documentation

Preferred Skills

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only: Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit: EEOC Know Your Rights EEOC GINA Supplement We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively. Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

The salary range for this role is $142,400.00 - $224,100.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An employee’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, government requirements, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate will be eligible for annual bonus and long-term incentive, if applicable. We offer a comprehensive package of benefits. Available benefits include medical, dental, vision healthcare and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, including 401(k), paid holidays, vacation, and compassionate and sick days. More information about benefits is available at https://jobs.merck.com/us/en/compensation-and-benefits.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status: Regular Relocation: No relocation VISA Sponsorship: No Travel Requirements: 25% Flexible Work Arrangements: Remote Shift: Not Indicated Valid Driving License: Yes Hazardous Material(s): n/a

Job Posting End Date: 09/7/2026 *A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.