Director, Market Access Strategy & Operations (Hybrid - Acton, MA / San Diego, CA)

Job Summary

This is a highly visible, high-impact leadership opportunity to serve as the strategic backbone and operational driver of a critical Market Access function. As Director, Market Access Operations & Strategy, this role offers a unique blend of executive partnership and hands-on leadership—working side-by-side with the VP of Market Access to shape strategy while ensuring flawless execution across pharmacy, reimbursement, contracting, and analytics. Ideal for a proven leader who thrives in complex, fast-paced environments, this role provides the chance to influence cross-functional alignment, drive business-critical initiatives, and directly impact patient access and revenue performance in a growing organization.

The Director, Market Access Operations & Strategy serves as both the operational engine and strategic integrator for the Market Access function. This role combines leadership of core access operations of pharmacy, reimbursement, contracts, and analytics, with a Chief of Staff–style mandate to drive cross-functional alignment, strategic execution, and organizational effectiveness across Market Access.

Acting as a trusted partner to the VP of Market Access, this role ensures priorities are clearly defined, initiatives are executed with discipline, and the function operates with strong connectivity to Commercial, Finance, Patient Services, and executive leadership.

Key Responsibilities

Market Access Strategy Execution & Chief of Staff Support

• Partner directly with the VP of Market Access to translate strategic priorities into executable plans

• Drive annual and multi-year planning, including goal setting, prioritization, and roadmap development

• Own executive-level deliverables including business reviews, board materials, access strategy updates

• Track and report progress on key initiatives, ensuring accountability and visibility across leadership

• Act as a central point of coordination across market access sub-functions 

Cross-Functional Leadership & Governance

• Establish and lead operating cadence such as QBRs, access reviews, cross-functional steering committees

• Drive alignment across Market Access, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and Operations

• Identify risks, dependencies, and trade-offs, and proactively escalate and resolve issues

• Serve as a “connect-the-dots” leader across teams to ensure cohesive strategy execution

Market Access Operations

• Lead end-to-end operational execution of market access strategies across: 

  • PBMs and payer contracts

  • Pharmacy and specialty distribution channels

  • Patient services and reimbursement support programs

• Translate contracting strategies into scalable, compliant workflows

• Support new product launches, payer expansions, and access initiatives

Pharmacy & Channel Performance

• Support operations of specialty pharmacy and distribution partners

• Partner with Trade channel to optimize key metrics, e.g., fill rates, time to therapy, abandonment, adherence.

• Collaborate with Patient Services to ensure seamless patient onboarding and therapy initiation

Operations, Data, Insights & Performance Management

• Define and track KPIs across access, reimbursement, and channel performance

• Build and deliver executive dashboards and insights to inform strategic decisions

• Identify opportunity areas to improve access, reduce leakage, and drive revenue optimization

• Partner with Finance on GTN forecasting, accruals, and performance tracking

Process Excellence & Organizational Effectiveness

• Drive continuous improvement across all market access processes

• Establish scalable infrastructure, SOPs, and governance models

• Enhance organizational clarity across Market Access in areas such as roles, decision rights, workflows, etc.

• Support headcount planning, capability building, and vendor strategy

Leadership & Team Development

• Serve as a force multiplier for the VP of Market Access, enabling broader impact without adding organizational complexity

• Foster a culture of accountability, agility, and transparency

Skills and Competencies

• Strong experience in pharmacy/PBM environment and patient access models

• Demonstrated ability to operate in: 

  • Strategic planning + execution roles

  • Cross-functional leadership environments

  • High-growth, evolving organizations

• Strategic Thinkin