Director, Payer National Accounts - Government

The Company:
With deep expertise in chemistry, Nuvalent is working to create selective medicines designed with the goal to address the needs of patients with cancer.  Nuvalent is an exciting early-stage company, bringing together experienced scientists and industry veterans with a proven track record in drug discovery, oncology drug development, and company building. 

The Role:

Reporting to the Senior Director, Payer & Reimbursement, the Director, Payer National Accounts, Government plays a critical role in shaping Nuvalent's overall market access strategy and is directly responsible for securing appropriate coverage and reimbursement for the company's targeted oral oncology portfolio. 

This position is one of two national payer leads and owns strategic account management and contracting for a portfolio of government payers and one of the three major Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—Express Scripts, CVS Caremark, or OptumRx, aligned to the candidate’s experience.

This highly visible role requires deep knowledge of U.S. payer ecosystems, particularly government and PBM channels, strong business acumen and the ability to synthesize clinical and health economic evidence into compelling value narratives.  The Director, Payer National Accounts, Government will lead engagement strategies across federal and state agencies, develop tailored access solutions, and support commercial readiness for pipeline launches.

 

Responsibilities:

Strategic Account Management & Contracting

• Serve as lead for portfolio of federal and state government payers, including:
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): National formulary and VA medical center access
• Department of Defense (DoD): TRICARE and military treatment facility strategy
• State Medicaid & MCOs: Priority states and managed care organizations
• Develop and execute integrated payer engagement plans to drive appropriate on-label coverage and contracting strategies
• Negotiate value-based contracts and rebate structures aligned with company goals and compliance requirements
• Serve as lead for one of the major PBMs, assignment based on candidate experience

Evidence-Based Strategy & Value Communication

• Partner cross-functionally with Medical Affairs, HEOR, and Marketing to develop payer-facing evidence packages
• Customize government-specific value propositions and outcomes-driven presentations to support formulary and coverage decisions
• Deliver clear and persuasive communications incorporating clinical differentiation, health economics, and real-world evidence

Policy Intelligence & Regulatory Navigation

• Monitor and interpret federal and state regulatory changes impacting pricing, access, and reimbursement
• Collaborate with Legal, Finance and Policy to ensure strategic alignment and regulatory compliance
• Proactively adapt engagement strategy to address shifts in federal and state drug pricing legislation, regulation or Medicaid best price requirements

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the key conduit between external payer stakeholders and internal cross-functional teams
• Inform and align commercial launch planning and payer readiness efforts
• Share timely market insights and access barriers with key internal stakeholders to drive business decisions

Final account assignments between Directors will be determined based on:

• Candidate’s existing relationships and experience
• Current business priorities and strategic initiatives
• Geographic considerations and market dynamics
• Succession planning and organizational development needs

 

Competencies Include:

• Entrepreneurial spirit and disruptive mindset
• Successful track record working in a fast-paced, rapid-growth environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to gain alignment by working collaboratively and inclusively across functional teams
• Strong verbal and written communications
• Proven ability to grow and develop others
• Record of achievement, innovation, and compliance

 

Qualifications:

• High ethical standards and strong commitment to healthcare compliance and regulatory integrity
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred
• 12+ years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, including market access, account management, and strategic contracting
• 5+ years of oncology market access experience with demonstrated success in securing coverage for specialty