National Account Director

About This Role

This role will lead the U.S. market access strategy for national and large regional commercial payers, focusing on building relationships and securing favorable coverage for gene editing therapies. It's a high-impact, field-based position crucial for the upcoming launch.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic engagement with UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Emisar, Humana, and large Independent Blues Plans
• Build and manage relationships with key decision-makers across payer organizations
• Analyze the competitive landscape and coverage policies to anticipate payer needs and barriers
• Develop and execute early account engagement plans, educating payer stakeholders on gene editing science, disease burden, and anticipated value proposition
• Partner with internal teams (Market Access Strategy, Contracts and Pricing, HEOR, Medical Affairs, Clinical, Regulatory) to develop and tailor payer-facing materials
• Drive payer insight generation to inform pricing strategy, contracting models, and patient access programs
• Collaborate with internal launch team to support pull-through planning, distribution strategy, and affordability/access solutions
• Identify, shape, and lead negotiation of value-based or outcomes-based contracting opportunities
• Monitor and influence payer policy development relevant to gene editing and high-cost cell & gene therapies
• Serve as the internal voice of the payer and provide strategic guidance to senior leadership
• Ensure all engagements and materials are fully compliant with legal, regulatory, and corporate standards

Requirements

• Proven track record of managing national commercial payer accounts, including pre-launch and launch readiness for specialty or rare disease products
• Experience with innovative reimbursement models, especially value-based or indication-based contracting
• Strong grasp of payer decision-making processes, formulary management, medical policy development, and specialty pharmacy dynamics
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in early-stage or launch environments, operating with agility and strategic foresight
• Excellent communication skills to convey complex scientific and economic data to non-scientific audiences
• Strong project management and cross-functional leadership skills
• Excellent negotiation skills and analytical capabilities
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity with a strong bias for action and accountability

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or other graduate degree preferred
• 10+ years of pharmaceutical or biotech market access experience, payer account management, or managed markets strategy

Nice to Have

• MBA or other graduate degree

Benefits