Director, Government Accounts (DGA)

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!

 

DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS (DGA)

 

SUMMARY: 

The Director, Government Accounts (DGA) is a US field-based position and is responsible for developing and leveraging strategic relationships with executives and clinical teams at Veterans Administration (VA), Department of Defense (DoD), TriCare, Prime Medicaid, Centene and targeted IDNs to secure and maintain access for IONIS’ products.  The DGA is responsible for the development and implementation of strategic business plans that will optimize appropriate engagement, coverage, reimbursement of and patient access to Ionis’s Olezarsen, Dawnzera and future products. This position reports to the Head, Strategic Accounts.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Assess strategic engagement and sales implications of short- and long-term actions with each payer customer and take action to move payer decisions in a direction that continue to open patient access to care with IONIS products.
• Provides and represents the IONIS enterprise view of our pipeline with key decision makers at VHA and DoD
• Collaborate with Patient Services and Chanel/Distribution to ensure reimbursement confidence and unimpeded access to all in-line brands to FDA label.
• Works closely with Value & Access, Marketing, Field Access Managers, Field Medical Directors, Government Affairs and Field Sales Leadership, to ensure consistent exchange of important payer information and messages that should be communicated.
• Provides periodic market updates to Sales Management that link important provider, payer and health care reform trends and issues as well as documents initiatives and their outcomes.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master’s/advanced degree preferred.
• At least 15 years of field-based pharmaceutical/biotech Sales and/or Marketing experience with at least 8 years of direct managed care experience; VA and DoD experience preferred.
• Rare, orphan, specialty injectable, infused and oral therapy launch experience.
• Extensive understanding of VA, DoD and market access organizational structures and processes.
• Experience working compliantly with VA and DoD clinical teams in development of appropriate policy for IONIS products.
• Solid history of building strong relationships with payer Medical and Pharmacy Directors (clinical and administrative), case managers, and other medical benefit managers.
• Previous experience includes working with Hines PBM, VA Health Care, DoD, and TriCare and executing pull/push-through and any approved contracting tactics to local offices of the national organizations, as well as initiatives with other large and local managed care organizations.
• Must be able to work with minimal supervision and strategic independent thought.
• Field-based. Requires greater than 50% travel.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS 

• Establishes relationships with Pharmacy Directors and Medical Directors within key assigned accounts.
• Therapeutic experie