National Account Director
Ascendis Pharma, Chicago, IL, United States
Company Overview
Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast‑growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. We are advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology. In addition, we use the TransCon® drug development platform to develop new and potentially best‑in‑class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Our culture fosters an environment where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark and grow their careers.
Role Summary
National Account Director, Commercial
reports to the Senior Director, National Accounts and Payor Strategy. The role is responsible for developing and leveraging relationships within the Commercial channel (including Medicare Part D and Managed Medicaid) to gain and maintain access for Ascendis products. This individual will develop and execute short‑ and long‑term business plans to optimize coverage, payment, and patient access to Ascendis products, assess sales implications of actions with GPOs, PBMs, and other downstream customers, and move decisions toward improved patient access. The position is remotely based and requires more than 50% travel.
Key Responsibilities
Influence the development of strategies and solutions to address marketplace opportunities and barriers while proactively considering future market events (e.g., competitor launch)
Seek analysis to support negotiations as a backbone for fact‑based decision making in partnership with Pricing & Contracting, business analytics, and medical affairs (HEOR); lead contract pricing committee discussions regarding approvals for contracting requests for targeted accounts
Provide customer insights and analytics to support key business decisions and strategies
Support business development opportunity assessments for market access considerations
Inform strategies and tactics to support appropriate formulary placement, reimbursement (coverage, coding, payment, and patient access), and utilization management across payer customers
Negotiate cost‑effective contracts that allow access to all Ascendis products for providers and their patients
Create clear messages for dissemination to field‑based clinical specialists and reimbursement managers on important payer trends, changes, and billing requirements that will affect product utilization
Work with the Ascendis Patient Services Field Reimbursement Managers to assure accurate coverage determinations are rendered and resolve customer issues
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or advanced degree preferred
Minimum 10 years of field‑based pharmaceutical/biotech experience in Market Access, Sales, and/or Marketing, with at least 5 years of direct managed care experience in the Commercial, Medicare Part D, and Managed Medicaid channels
Demonstrated knowledge of payer decision‑making for formulary processes, coverage, utilization management, and patient access to self‑injectables under pharmacy benefit through specialty pharmacies; therapeutic experience in rare disease, specifically endocrine conditions preferred
Extensive relationships and contracting experience with payers, health systems, and organized customers at the national and regional level; established and current relationships with key executives at assigned accounts preferred
Exceptional communication and influencing skills, including verbal, written, and presentation abilities
Strong problem‑solving capabilities in overcoming complex market and stakeholder relationships
Ability to develop and sustain highly collaborative and effective cross‑functional relationships
Excellent project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple competing priorities and tasks simultaneously
Skillful negotiation in tough/complex situations with both internal and external groups
Understanding of organizational behavior and corporate culture, thriving in a complex and rapidly evolving entrepreneurial workplace
Field‑based role requiring up to 50‑65% travel
Annual Base Salary : $240,000–$265,000. Actual salary will vary based on qualifications, skills, and performance. Some positions may include a company car or car allowance and eligibility to earn commissions/bonus.
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reports to the Senior Director, National Accounts and Payor Strategy. The role is responsible for developing and leveraging relationships within the Commercial channel (including Medicare Part D and Managed Medicaid) to gain and maintain access for Ascendis products. This individual will develop and execute short‑ and long‑term business plans to optimize coverage, payment, and patient access to Ascendis products, assess sales implications of actions with GPOs, PBMs, and other downstream customers, and move decisions toward improved patient access. The position is remotely based and requires more than 50% travel.
Key Responsibilities
Influence the development of strategies and solutions to address marketplace opportunities and barriers while proactively considering future market events (e.g., competitor launch)
Seek analysis to support negotiations as a backbone for fact‑based decision making in partnership with Pricing & Contracting, business analytics, and medical affairs (HEOR); lead contract pricing committee discussions regarding approvals for contracting requests for targeted accounts
Provide customer insights and analytics to support key business decisions and strategies
Support business development opportunity assessments for market access considerations
Inform strategies and tactics to support appropriate formulary placement, reimbursement (coverage, coding, payment, and patient access), and utilization management across payer customers
Negotiate cost‑effective contracts that allow access to all Ascendis products for providers and their patients
Create clear messages for dissemination to field‑based clinical specialists and reimbursement managers on important payer trends, changes, and billing requirements that will affect product utilization
Work with the Ascendis Patient Services Field Reimbursement Managers to assure accurate coverage determinations are rendered and resolve customer issues
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s or advanced degree preferred
Minimum 10 years of field‑based pharmaceutical/biotech experience in Market Access, Sales, and/or Marketing, with at least 5 years of direct managed care experience in the Commercial, Medicare Part D, and Managed Medicaid channels
Demonstrated knowledge of payer decision‑making for formulary processes, coverage, utilization management, and patient access to self‑injectables under pharmacy benefit through specialty pharmacies; therapeutic experience in rare disease, specifically endocrine conditions preferred
Extensive relationships and contracting experience with payers, health systems, and organized customers at the national and regional level; established and current relationships with key executives at assigned accounts preferred
Exceptional communication and influencing skills, including verbal, written, and presentation abilities
Strong problem‑solving capabilities in overcoming complex market and stakeholder relationships
Ability to develop and sustain highly collaborative and effective cross‑functional relationships
Excellent project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple competing priorities and tasks simultaneously
Skillful negotiation in tough/complex situations with both internal and external groups
Understanding of organizational behavior and corporate culture, thriving in a complex and rapidly evolving entrepreneurial workplace
Field‑based role requiring up to 50‑65% travel
Annual Base Salary : $240,000–$265,000. Actual salary will vary based on qualifications, skills, and performance. Some positions may include a company car or car allowance and eligibility to earn commissions/bonus.
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