Associate Director, US Advocacy, Neuroscience

Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine is recruiting for an Associate Director, US Advocacy, Neuroscience. This field‑based role is open to candidates across the United States.

About the Role

The Associate Director executes patient‑ and professional‑facing advocacy, employer engagement, disease‑state education, and market‑readiness initiatives for Johnson & Johnson’s neuroscience portfolio. The role partners across Strategic Customer Group/Market Access, Commercial, US Policy, Scientific Affairs, Medical Affairs, Legal/Compliance and external stakeholders to drive equitable patient access, shape payer and public policy, and support successful commercial launch and lifecycle execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategy & Leadership
  • In partnership with the National Policy & Advocacy Director – Neuroscience, execute a cohesive US advocacy strategy for neuroscience therapeutic areas that advances patient access and supports market readiness for product launches and lifecycle activities.
  • Execute policy and payer advocacy initiatives specifically focused on improving access pathways for the neuroscience portfolio medicines, coordinating cross‑functional input and aligning on measurable objectives.
• Policy & Access Advocacy
  • Track, analyze, and proactively respond to relevant federal and state policy developments (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, state formularies, parity laws, step therapy and prior authorization reforms) that affect access to the neuroscience portfolio of medications.
  • Execute targeted advocacy campaigns to help shape access and reimbursement policies that improve timely, appropriate access to neuroscience products.
  • Engage with SCG/Market Access and US Policy teams to better inform advocacy coalitions about payer access and payment policies (coverage, access, reimbursement, prior authorization, parity requirements).
• Patient & Professional Advocacy
  • Cultivate and maintain partnerships with national and regional patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, clinician networks, and employer groups to elevate patient voice and clinical perspectives in policy discussions.
  • Support non‑promotional disease‑state education and patient empowerment programs that help patients, caregivers, employers, and HCPs navigate care and access challenges.
• Employer Engagement & Education
  • In partnership with US Advocacy Employer Engagement team, US Policy, and other internal TA subject‑matter experts, implement employer‑ and benefits‑leader education programs on the clinical and economic impact of serious mental illness, evidence‑based treatment pathways, and strategies to support workforce health and retention.
  • Support development of employer toolkits, webinars, and case studies highlighting access strategies and supportive benefit designs.
• Market Readiness & Launch Support
  • Partner with Market Access, Commercial, US Policy, Medical Affairs, and Scientific to craft coverage narratives and evidence dissemination plans ahead of and during launches.
  • Support advocacy coalitions in operationalizing patient access solutions (e.g., prior authorization templates, appeals playbooks, hub services coordination) and consider how best to measure their solutions’ impact on time‑to‑therapy and coverage outcomes.
• Cross‑functional Collaboration & Compliance
  • Serve as the internal advocacy subject‑matter expert for policy and access issues; ensure all external communications adhere to company policies and regulatory/compliance standards (non‑promotional, patient privacy, disclosure requirements).
  • Coordinate with US Policy, Legal/Compliance, Regulatory/Medical and Public Affairs to ensure accuracy of messaging and appropriate handling of product‑specific policy claims.
• Measurement & Reporting
  • Define success metrics (e.g., policy wins, stakeholder engagement metrics) and report progress to senior leadership.
  • Monitor and communicate evolving landscape intelligence and recommend strategic pivots based on data and stakeholder feedback.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 3‑5 years of professional experience in patient advocacy, payer engagement, market access, health policy, or related roles within biopharma, healthcare non‑profits, payer organizations, or public policy institutions.
• Proven track record engaging with patient advocacy organizations, clinicians, payers, and/or employers.
• Working understanding of the U.S. payer landscape (commercial, Medicare, Medicaid), benefit‑design constructs, and state/federal policy levers that affect pharmaceutical access.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; experience presenting to senior leaders, payers, government officials, and external stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with strong project‑management, coalition‑building, and stakeholder‑engagement capabilities.
• Experience working cross‑functionally in matrixed environments and navigating regulatory/compliance requirements for external communications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience in neuroscience, psychiatry, behavioral health, or rare disease advocacy.
• Familiarity with therapeutic product launches and patient‑support/hub service models.
• Experience with employer health benefit engagement or workforce mental‑health initiatives.
• Bachelor’s degree in public policy, public health, health sciences, social sciences, or related field.
• Experience executing successful policy and payer advocacy initiatives that resulted in measurable access improvements.
• Relationships with national and/or regional patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, or payer policy decision‑makers.

Core Competencies

• Strategic advocacy & policy analysis
• Stakeholder mapping and coalition development
• Cross‑functional collaboration and influencing
• Regulatory/compliance awareness for external communications
• High emotional intelligence and patient‑centric mindset

Working Conditions & Travel

• Hybrid U.S.–based role with periodic travel to meet external stakeholders, attend advisory meetings, conferences, and policy briefings (up to 50%).

Compensation

The anticipated base pay range for this position is $122,000.00 – $212,750.00. Participants are also eligible to partake in the company’s consolidated retirement plan (401(k)) and long‑term incentive program.

Benefits

• Vacation – 120 hours per calendar year
• Sick time – 40 hours per calendar year (48 hours if residing in Colorado, 56 hours if residing in Washington)
• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays – 13 days per calendar year
• Work, Personal and Family Time – up to 40 hours per calendar year
• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of birth/adoption/foster care of a child
• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member, 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year
• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52‑week rolling period (10 days)
• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year
• Military Spouse Time‑Off – 80 hours per calendar year

Additional general information on company benefits can be found at:

Equal Opportunity Employer

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Jonn is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants may contact: internal employees may contact AskGS to be directed to the appropriate accommodation resource.

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