Associate Director, Market Access Strategy

AstraZeneca; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

AstraZeneca is seeking an Associate Director, Market Access Strategy to shape and implement access strategies for the Inhaled Respiratory Portfolio. You will coordinate with Marketing, Sales, Medical Affairs, Finance, and Insight teams to align on payer engagement and branded messaging.

In this role you will lead affordability initiatives, develop contracting strategies, and translate insights into actionable market access plans, while managing budgets and external partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 3–5 years progressive experience in pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical market including payer marketing, brand marketing, contracting, account management, or health economics.
• Strong understanding of US market access landscape and regulatory environment for pharmaceuticals/biopharmaceuticals.
• Ability to translate strategy into tactical implementation across a complex matrix organization.
• Demonstrated leadership to gain consensus and motivate colleagues at all levels.
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally up to 20%.
• MBA in relevant field is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify market insights informing access strategies and messaging.
• Develops compelling product value propositions and customer education materials.
• Partners on contracting strategy and payer communications to achieve access goals.
• Designs affordability programs ensuring patient access while managing brand budget.
• Leads field access communications with National/Regional Payer Customers and Health Systems.
• Manages budgets and agency relationships to deliver programs on time and within budget.
• Performs all business in accordance with regulations and company policies.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Financial acumen

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

MBA (Desirable)

Job description

At AstraZeneca, we turn ideas into life changing medicines. Working here means being entrepreneurial, thinking big and partnering with colleagues and customers to make the seemingly impossible a reality. We're focused on the potential of science to address the unmet needs of patients around the world!

Reporting to the Senior Director Market Access Strategy, the Associate Director, Market Access Strategy (AD) will be responsible for shaping and implementing Market Access Strategies for the Inhaled Respiratory Portfolio. The incumbent will contribute to the development and implementation of a communication strategy and support negotiations with national payers, regional payers and health systems. The incumbent will be tasked with developing and managing the affordability strategies and programs. Additionally, this incumbent will develop insights and recommendations on access and affordability messages to support the overall HCP & Consumer communication strategy and promotional assets. This candidate will work closely with the Market Access, Marketing, Sales, Medical Affairs, Finance, Sales, and Insight teams to ensure seamless customer experience and alignment toward the overall brand objectives.

Typical Accountabilities

• Collaborates with cross-functional team (Marketing, Insights, Medical Affairs, Field Sales) as well as Market Access customer-facing teams to identify rich market insights across patients, providers, and payers to inform comprehensive market access strategies and aligned messaging across segments
• Develops compelling and differentiated product value propositions and builds associated customer education materials
• Partners with Value Strategy Team to develop effective contracting strategy and payer communication tools that achieve access and contribution goals
• Collaborates with US Market Access field personnel to complete segment market access strategies and communications with National Payer Customers, Regional Payer Customers, and Health Systems
• Leads in the design and implementation of affordability programming that ensures patient access while carefully stewarding brand budget and gross to net impact
• Develops pharmacy engagement and distribution strategies and tactics that support the overall access strategy
• Accountable for Field Sales Market Access pull-through strategies including communication of market access landscape, development of HCP messages, and collaboration with sales representatives/leadership to troubleshoot access challenges encountered in the field
• Effectively manages agency relationships ensuring promotional programs are delivered on-time and within budget
• Develops and manages associated budgets in compliance with AZ finance and accounting requirements
• Performs all company business in accordance with regulations and company policies and procedures

Essential

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• Minimum of 3-5 years progressive experience within the pharmaceutical/biopharmaceutical market including one of the following: payer marketing, brand marketing, contracting, account management, and/or health economics
• Strong understanding of the US market access landscape and the legal/regulatory environment for pharmaceuticals/biopharmaceuticals
• Ability to think strategically across the full business and to translate strategy into tactical implementation
• Demonstrated ability to motivate colleagues at all levels to complete strategy
• Teamwork and leadership skills, including the ability to gain consensus and act within ambiguous, complex matrix organization
• Results oriented with excellent communication and collaboration skills and financial competence
• Thorough understanding of customer and industry marketing practices, trends, and financial priorities
• Demonstrated drive, and desire to grow career beyond the Market Access Associate Director Role
• Willingness to travel domestically and internationally (up to 20%)

Desirable

• MBA in relevant field
• Experience developing and accomplishing strategy
• Customer facing experience
• Managed care/payer experience

Date Posted

06-Oct-2026

Closing Date

19-Oct-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive environment where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees. In furtherance of that mission, we welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their protected characteristics. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please complete the corresponding section in the application form.