Director, Patient Support Strategy & Operations (Hybrid)

Denali Therapeutics Inc; South San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 204,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k

Healthcare coverage

ESPP

Job summary

Denali Therapeutics Inc. is seeking a Director of Patient Support Strategy & Operations to build scalable patient access capabilities for launches and ongoing commercialization.

The role leads the Patient Access Hub, PAP eligibility criteria, copay assistance, and provider support pathways to minimize access barriers and streamline therapy initiation. You will work cross-functionally with Market Access, Marketing, Sales, Medical, Legal, and Compliance to align access strategies with commercial

Qualifications

• BS/BA + 10+ years in pharma/biotech patient support, access, reimbursement, or HUB operations.
• Experience launching and managing patient support programs and affordability programs.
• Knowledge of US payer systems (Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare Part B/D).

Responsibilities

• Design and operate patient access hub services including PA support, appeals, case management.
• Develop and refine patient assistance and affordability programs.
• Define provider support pathways to reduce access barriers and speed therapy initiation.
• Monitor KPIs like time-to-therapy, onboarding timelines, and hub performance.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and legal requirements; collaborate cross-functionally.

Skills

Patient support strategy

Payer systems knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Analytical mindset

Communication

Vendor management

Travel readiness

Education

BS/BA with 10+ years in pharma/biotech patient support

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Vendor management tools

Job description

Overview

Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the largest medical challenges of our time. Denali Therapeutics is a biotechnology company dedicated to developing breakthrough therapies for neurodegenerative diseases through our deep commitment to degeneration biology and principles of translational medicine. Denali is founded on the collaboration of leading scientists, industry experts, and investors who share the vision that scientific discovery energetically applied to translational medicine is the key to delivering effective therapies to patients. We invite you to consider an opportunity with Denali to help achieve our goal of delivering meaningful therapeutics to patients.

Role Overview

The Director, Patient Support Strategy & Operations will play a critical role in building and scaling patient support and access capabilities for upcoming product launches and ongoing commercialization efforts. This individual will lead the design and execution of patient support programs, including the establishment and optimization of the Patient Access Hub, affordability programs, and provider support pathways. This role requires a strong blend of strategic thinking and operational execution to ensure seamless patient onboarding, efficient therapy initiation, and a high‑quality patient and provider experience. The Director will work cross‑functionally to align access strategies with commercial goals while ensuring compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements.

Key Accountabilities / Core Responsibilities

• Patient Support Strategy & Program Development: Lead the development and execution of strategies to support product launches and lifecycle management; design and operationalize Patient Access Hub services, including benefits investigation, prior authorization (PA) support, appeals, and case management; establish and refine Patient Assistance Program (PAP) eligibility criteria and access frameworks; develop and implement patient affordability programs, including copay assistance and financial support resources; define provider support pathways to reduce access barriers and streamline therapy initiation.
• Operations & Vendor Management: Oversee day‑to‑day Patient Access Hub operations and vendor performance, ensuring high service quality and compliance; manage relationships with patient support program vendors and specialty pharmacy partners; establish standards for case triage, turnaround times, and quality metrics; provide oversight for complex access cases, including free drug programs, in partnership with Medical, Legal, and Compliance as appropriate.
• Performance Management & Continuous Improvement: Establish and monitor key performance indicators including time‑to‑therapy, patient onboarding timelines, HUB performance and compliance metrics, and effectiveness of patient support programs; drive continuous improvement initiatives; leverage data and analytics to inform decisions and optimize program performance.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure all patient support programs operate in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements; contribute to the development of SOPs, policies, and governance frameworks for patient support and access; partner with Legal and Compliance to manage risk and ensure appropriate program design.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Market Access, Marketing, Distribution, Payer Strategy, Sales, Medical Affairs, Legal, Compliance, and Commercial teams; collaborate with the patient services team and Sales leadership to identify provider education needs related to access and reimbursement; represent patient support and access in cross‑functional forums and contribute to broader commercial strategy discussions.

Qualifications / Skills

• Education & Experience: Typically requires a BS/BA and 10+ years of experience in pharmaceutical/biotech patient support, access, reimbursement, hub operations, or specialty pharmacy; advanced degree preferred.
• Experience: Launching and managing patient support programs, particularly hybrid field/HUB models; designing and managing patient affordability programs (copay, PAP); managing external vendors and service providers.
• Sector: Experience in specialty or rare disease therapeutic areas preferred.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities: Strong expertise in patient support strategy, reimbursement, and HUB operations; demonstrated ability to design and operationalize scalable, patient‑centric programs.
• Compliance: Working knowledge of compliance regulations related to copay and patient assistance programs.
• Payer Systems: Strong understanding of U.S. payer systems, including Commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare (PartB and PartD), and medical vs. pharmacy benefit design.
• Collaboration: Proven cross‑functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Analytical: Analytical mindset with ability to leverage data and insights to inform decision‑making and continuously optimize program performance.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills with ability to influence across functions.
• Management: Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment, with strong attention to detail and execution.
• Travel: Willing and able to travel 25‑30%.

Compensation

Salary Range: $204,000.00 to $265,000.00. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Denali offers a competitive total rewards package, which includes a 401k, healthcare coverage, ESPP and a broad range of other benefits.

EEO Statement

Denali is committed to its core company value of unity by creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, basis of disability, or any other federal, state, or local protected class.