Director, Patient Support Strategy & Operations (Hybrid)
Denali Therapeutics
August 29, 2026
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
Patient Advocacy
Key Accountabilities / Core Responsibilities
Patient Support Strategy & Program Development
- Lead development and execution of strategies to support product launches and lifecycle management.
- Design and operationalize Patient Access Hub services (benefits investigation, prior authorization support, appeals, and case management).
- Establish and refine Patient Assistance Program (PAP) eligibility criteria and access frameworks.
- Develop and implement patient affordability programs (copay assistance and financial support resources).
- Define provider support pathways to reduce access barriers and streamline therapy initiation.
Operations & Vendor Management
- Oversee day-to-day Patient Access Hub operations and vendor performance to ensure service quality and compliance.
- Manage relationships with patient support program vendors and specialty pharmacy partners.
- Establish standards for case triage, turnaround times, and quality metrics.
- Provide oversight for complex access cases (including free drug programs) in partnership with Medical, Legal, and Compliance as appropriate.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
- Establish and monitor KPIs (time-to-therapy, patient onboarding timelines, HUB performance/compliance metrics, effectiveness of patient support programs).
- Drive continuous improvement to enhance access, affordability, and operational efficiency.
- Use data and analytics to optimize program performance.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure patient support programs operate in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.
- Contribute to SOPs, policies, and governance frameworks for patient support and access.
- Partner with Legal and Compliance to manage risk and ensure appropriate program design.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Market Access, Marketing, Distribution, Payer Strategy, Sales, Medical Affairs, Legal, Compliance, and Commercial teams.
- Identify provider education needs related to access and reimbursement.
- Represent patient support/access in cross-functional forums.
Qualifications/Skills
- BS/BA and 10+ years’ experience in pharmaceutical/biotech patient support, access, reimbursement, hub operations, or specialty pharmacy.
- Experience launching/managing patient support programs (hybrid field/HUB models).
- Advanced degree preferred.
- Experience designing/managing patient affordability programs (copay, PAP).
- Proven track record managing external vendors/service providers.
- Specialty or rare disease therapeutic area experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of compliance for copay and patient assistance programs.
- Strong understanding of U.S. payer systems (Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare Part B/Part D) and medical vs. pharmacy benefit design.
- Strong collaboration, analytical, and communication skills; manage multiple priorities.
- Travel 25–30%.
Benefits/Compensation & Application
- Salary Range: $204,000–$265,000; competitive total rewards package including 401k, healthcare coverage, and ESPP.
- Apply via https://www.denalitherapeutics.com/careers
Patient Support Strategy & Program Development
- Lead development and execution of strategies to support product launches and lifecycle management.
- Design and operationalize Patient Access Hub services (benefits investigation, prior authorization support, appeals, and case management).
- Establish and refine Patient Assistance Program (PAP) eligibility criteria and access frameworks.
- Develop and implement patient affordability programs (copay assistance and financial support resources).
- Define provider support pathways to reduce access barriers and streamline therapy initiation.
Operations & Vendor Management
- Oversee day-to-day Patient Access Hub operations and vendor performance to ensure service quality and compliance.
- Manage relationships with patient support program vendors and specialty pharmacy partners.
- Establish standards for case triage, turnaround times, and quality metrics.
- Provide oversight for complex access cases (including free drug programs) in partnership with Medical, Legal, and Compliance as appropriate.
Performance Management & Continuous Improvement
- Establish and monitor KPIs (time-to-therapy, patient onboarding timelines, HUB performance/compliance metrics, effectiveness of patient support programs).
- Drive continuous improvement to enhance access, affordability, and operational efficiency.
- Use data and analytics to optimize program performance.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure patient support programs operate in full compliance with regulatory and legal requirements.
- Contribute to SOPs, policies, and governance frameworks for patient support and access.
- Partner with Legal and Compliance to manage risk and ensure appropriate program design.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Market Access, Marketing, Distribution, Payer Strategy, Sales, Medical Affairs, Legal, Compliance, and Commercial teams.
- Identify provider education needs related to access and reimbursement.
- Represent patient support/access in cross-functional forums.
Qualifications/Skills
- BS/BA and 10+ years’ experience in pharmaceutical/biotech patient support, access, reimbursement, hub operations, or specialty pharmacy.
- Experience launching/managing patient support programs (hybrid field/HUB models).
- Advanced degree preferred.
- Experience designing/managing patient affordability programs (copay, PAP).
- Proven track record managing external vendors/service providers.
- Specialty or rare disease therapeutic area experience preferred.
- Working knowledge of compliance for copay and patient assistance programs.
- Strong understanding of U.S. payer systems (Commercial, Medicaid, Medicare Part B/Part D) and medical vs. pharmacy benefit design.
- Strong collaboration, analytical, and communication skills; manage multiple priorities.
- Travel 25–30%.
Benefits/Compensation & Application
- Salary Range: $204,000–$265,000; competitive total rewards package including 401k, healthcare coverage, and ESPP.
- Apply via https://www.denalitherapeutics.com/careers