Associate Director, US Value & Access

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; Carlsbad (CA); Hybrid; USD 190,000 - 216,000; Full time

Job summary

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in Carlsbad, CA seeks an Associate Director, US Value & Access to shape US value and access strategy for innovative products, leading payer materials, training field teams, and coordinating with KAMs, FAMs, and Sales.

This role will drive cross-functional collaboration to enable timely patient access across launch and inline brands. The position reports to the Director, US Value & Access and requires a strong track record in market access, payer marketing, and

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years in bio/pharmaceuticals with specialty/payor access marketing experience.
• At least 3 years in access marketing for products or launches.
• Experience navigating payer networks and formulary processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead US access strategy for Ionis’ products and align with brand goals.
• Develop payer marketing materials and train field teams.
• Collaborate with KAMs, FAMs, DNAs, Sales and cross-functional partners.
• Oversee agency partners and PRC processes for compliant materials.
• Support launch and in-market access initiatives.

Skills

Market access

Payer marketing

KAM collaboration

Cross-functional leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in health sciences or business

Job description

Headquartered in Carlsbad, California, and with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Dublin, Ireland, Ionis has been at work for more than three decades discovering medical breakthroughs that have redefined life for people with serious diseases. We’re pioneers in RNA-targeted medicines, and our platform continues to revolutionize drug discovery and transform lives for patients with unmet needs. With multiple marketed medicines and a leading pipeline in neurology, cardiology and select areas of high patient needs, we continue to drive innovation in RNA therapies in addition to advancing new approaches in gene editing to provide greater value to patients and are well positioned financially to deliver on our strategic goals.

At Ionis, we pride ourselves on cultivating a challenging, motivating and rewarding environment that fosters innovation and scientific excellence. We know that our success is a direct result of the exceptional talents and dedication of our employees.

With an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of human health, we look to add diverse individuals, skill sets and perspectives to our exceptional team. We continue to invest time, money and energy into making our onsite, hybrid and remote work environments a place where solid and lasting relationships are built and where our culture and employees can thrive.

We’re building on our rich history, and we believe our greatest achievements are ahead of us. If you’re passionate about the opportunity to have meaningful impact on patients in need, we invite you to apply and join us. Experience and contribute to our unique culture while you develop and expand your career!

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, US VALUE & ACCESS

Summary

The Associate Director, US Value & Access will play a critical role in shaping US value and access strategy for Ionis’ innovative products, supporting the company’s transformation into a fully integrated biotechnology organization. This individual will be responsible for leading development of payer and access marketing materials, developing and conducting training for field teams, and working with the US Key Account Managers (KAMs), payer account team, Field Access Managers (FAMs) and Sales Force to navigate access and enable timely patient access for Ionis’ products. This position will report to the Director, US Value & Access and will serve as the KAM access lead for launch and inline brands, translating complex payer and market dynamics into clear direction for cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

The ideal candidate will

• Set strategy and provide oversight for the development of access materials, tools, and resources that enable KAMs to effectively engage institutional healthcare decision-makers, ensuring alignment with brand strategy, customer insights, and regulatory requirements
• Drive alignment of KAM communication strategy and tools with broader formulary decision maker (Institutions, Payers, PBMs, etc.) channel, including value narratives, core access platforms, training strategy, and pull-through tools
• Strategize training and development needs for KAMs, as well as for other field organizations, including Directors of National Accounts (DNAs), FAMs, and Sales, and lead the development and execution of targeted learning strategies and programs to build capabilities, drive performance, and support business objectives
• Lead comprehensive analyses of the access landscape including channel mix, current coverage, competitive dynamics, payer unmet need and willingness to pay, Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implications, and consideration of the impact of different future payer management strategies
• Serve as an access marketing strategic lead in brand planning, owning access-related strategic input and decision-making, and guiding market access marketing tactical execution plans for new to market therapy for customer-facing field teams
• Support the strategy and development of access materials, tools, and resources for other field members such as FAMs, DNAs, Sales
• Anticipate evolving market and policy dynamics and synthesize complex market, payer, and competitive data to proactively shape access strategy, identify material risks, and recommend mitigation plans at the brand and portfolio level
• Lead and be accountable for management of key agency partners in the execution of KAM strategy and tactical plans, including strategic direction, performance management, and budget stewardship
• Provide strategic guidance on navigating materials through the Promotional Review Committee (PRC) process, anticipating risk, shaping discussions, and enabling timely approvals
• Establish and sustain advanced cross-functional partnerships and formal networks with peers in key functions, including Brand Marketing, Patient Services, HEOR, Field Medical Directors, Sales, Medical Affairs, and PRC, to align access strategy, evidence needs, and execution priorities

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required (health sciences or business/marketing); MBA or other advanced degree is preferred
• At least 12 years of bio/pharmaceutical experience with previous experience in specialty, payer, key accounts/institutions, and access marketing of at least 3 years preferred
• Demonstrated ability to assess organizational capability gaps and training needs across diverse field roles, including KAMs, FAMs, DNAs, and Sales
• Knowledge of the institutional healthcare landscape, including IDN and Organized Medical group (OMG) governance structures, P&T committee processes, formulary management, hospital financial management, and the operational dynamics of large health systems including EHR systems and pathways
• Applies expertise in market access, reimbursement, and formulary decision-maker marketing in the institutional setting, with the ability to integrate policy, clinical, and commercial considerations
• Shapes functional and brand-level strategy, contributing to the development of company objectives through insight-driven, innovative access solutions
• Recognized as an internal subject matter expert in market access and reimbursement, with a track record of influencing senior and cross-functional stakeholders
• New product launch experience in the US required, preference for specialty drug launch
• Experience with Pharmacy Benefit products required

The pay scale for this position is $190,000 to $216,000

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE. PRINCIPALS ONLY.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and all its subsidiaries are proud to be EEO employers.