Associate Director, Patient Access

ferring; Parsippany-Troy Hills (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Ferring seeks an Associate Director, Patient Access to lead cross-brand patient access programs and ensure operational excellence across portfolios. The role oversees patient assistance, affordability, hub capabilities, and vendor relationships, aligning with brand strategies.

You will drive program launches, KPI monitoring, and budgeting while ensuring safety, legal, and regulatory compliance across all programs. Strong collaboration with internal teams is essential.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience in pharmaceutical/biotech industry, patient services, market access, or hub/service provider environment.
• Strong knowledge of patient access, reimbursement support services, hubs, and patient support programs.
• Experience leading patient assistance, affordability, and/or free-goods programs.

Responsibilities

• Program development: Lead cross-brand patient access programs including patient assistance, affordability, and hub capabilities, ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory rules.
• Lead patient assistance programs across brands, including PAP pharmacy relationships and case approvals.
• Vendor management: liaise with patient access vendors, monitor KPIs, and conduct reviews.
• New programs and capabilities: implement new patient access programs, vendors, and capabilities; support product launches.
• Patient affordability program: develop strategies for co-pay, foundation support, and assistance programs.
• Reporting and performance: establish performance framework and partner with data teams for timely reporting.
• Budgeting: manage budgets and forecasts; monitor vendor spend and financials.
• Governance and compliance: ensure programs meet legal, regulatory, and pharmacovigilance requirements.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Data-driven decisions

Program management

Education

BA/BS degree in Life Sciences or related field

Job description

As a privately-owned, biopharmaceutical company, Ferring pioneers and delivers life-changing therapies that help people build families and live better lives. Our independence helps us cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and long-term perspective that enables us to achieve growth and scale, while remaining agile and true to our 'people first' philosophy. Built on a 70-year plus commitment to science and research, Ferring is relentless in its pursuit of science that drives powerful discoveries and therapies to help people build families, stay healthy, and stand up to the world's oldest enemy: disease.

The Associate Director, Patient Access, will report to the Senior Director, Patient Access & Services and will manage patient access programs and supporting infrastructure across the Ferring portfolio. The Associate Director will drive consistency, operational excellence, and best-in-class service across these programs. A key focus will be leading patient assistance, affordability, and replacement programs, including oversight of supporting vendors, while contributing to broader patient access strategy. Responsibilities will include overseeing program operations, leading new launches and implementations, monitor of KPIs and budgets, and ensuring compliance with legal, regulatory, and pharmacovigilance requirements. The Director will also partner closely with brand teams and other internal functions to ensure patient access execution is aligned with business strategy.

With Ferring, you will be joining a recognized leader, identified as one of "The World's Most Innovative Companies" by Fast Company, and honored by Fortune with inclusion on its "Change the World List," for addressing society's unmet needs. Ferring US is also Great Places to Work® Certified, distinguishing it as one of the best companies to work for in the country.

Responsibilities

• Program development: Lead development and management of cross-brand patient access programs, including patient assistance, affordability and hub capabilities. Ensure that programs are designed and operating in accordance with business rules and all safety, legal and regulatory requirements.
• Patient assistance programs: Lead Ferring patient assistance programs across all brands, including oversight of the PAP pharmacy relationship, PAP business rules, case approval processes and escalations. Partner with internal stakeholders and vendors to ensure consistent and effective program execution across brands.
• Vendor management: Serve as primary liaison for patient access vendors and service providers. Establish performance expectations, monitor KPIs and service levels, lead business reviews, and anticipate and address program challenges.
• New programs and capabilities: Lead implementation of new patient access programs, vendors and capabilities. Support new product launches, RFPs and vendor selection, and define business requirements for new or expanded patient access services.
• Patient affordability program: Develop and manage patient affordability strategy for co-pay, foundation support and patient assistance programs. Oversee program design and vendor execution and collaborate with brand teams to develop appropriate program offerings.
• Reporting and performance: Establish the patient access performance framework and work with operations and data partners to ensure key program data are reported accurately and on time. Use program performance and insights to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Budgeting: Develop, maintain and manage patient access program budgets and forecasts. Monitor vendors spend and program financial performance and provide timely visibility to the Sr. Director, Patient Access & Services.
• Governance and compliance: Ensure patient access programs and vendors operate in accordance with applicable legal, regulatory, compliance, safety and quality requirements. Serve as an escalation point for significant program, vendor and operational issues.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 5+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry, patient services, market access, or a Hub/service provider environment
• Demonstrated knowledge depth in patient access, reimbursement support services, hubs, and patient support programs
• Experience leading patient assistance, affordability, and/or free-goods programs
• Experience leading new program launches, implementations, or significant program changes
• Strong understanding of legal, regulatory, compliance, and pharmacovigilance requirements associated with patient support programs
• Familiarity with buy-and-bill and specialty pharmacy models
• Ability to translate data, operational performance, and insights into recommendations and action
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to advance and complete projects on time and within budget
• Anticipate and address challenges to ensure smooth operations of patient access programs
• Strong business ac