Executive Director, Head of Payer Account Management
Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
September 02, 2026
Remote
United States
Market Access
WORK LOCATION: Remote
Responsibilities:
- Establish and lead the enterprise payer account management strategy across Ionis’s portfolio, translating market access priorities into multiyear objectives, operating plans, and measurable outcomes.
- Build and leverage relationships at strategic payer accounts to communicate the value proposition of launch products.
- Define standards for communicating the clinical and economic value of Ionis products to payers, formulary committees, and external decision-makers.
- Set the framework for account-specific engagement; oversee plans to maximize patient access and reimbursement across the portfolio.
- Lead and develop the Payer Account Management function through subordinate directors and managers.
- Oversee comprehensive account plans across pre-launch, launch, and post-launch stages.
- Advise executive management on payer/policy/channel/economic/competitive dynamics; frame tradeoffs and influence access strategy.
- Secure desired breadth and quality of coverage aligned with brand access strategy.
- Lead major payer negotiations and contracting; balance access, financial impact, compliance, and company objectives.
- Cultivate relationships with payers and industry organizations.
- Establish companywide policies, governance, and operating practices for payer engagement, planning, contracting, communication, and performance measurement.
- Collaborate with field teams to identify and mitigate access barriers; proactively share payer criteria/terms and market trends.
- Manage advisors and vendors (selection, contracting, SOPs, reporting, budgets).
- Ensure alignment with US healthcare regulations and company policies.
- Contribute to learning and DEI programs.
- Up to 50% travel.
Requirements:
- Valid U.S. driver’s license.
- Bachelor’s degree (MBA strongly preferred).
- 18+ years biotech/pharma experience; 8+ years payer account management.
- Successful US specialty product launch experience.
- Experience with Pharmacy and Medical Benefit products (rare disease/orphan/ultra-orphan desirable).
- Required: leading/developing leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
- Credibility with key decision-makers/influencers.
- Strong organization, project management, presentation, and writing skills.
- Customer business/tactical planning and execution.
- Negotiation and contracting skills.
- Ability to build business rationale influencing external decision-makers.
- Strong financial/analytical/account management and performance measurement.
Application:
- Apply at http://www.ionis.com and reference requisition # IONIS004122.
Responsibilities:
- Establish and lead the enterprise payer account management strategy across Ionis’s portfolio, translating market access priorities into multiyear objectives, operating plans, and measurable outcomes.
- Build and leverage relationships at strategic payer accounts to communicate the value proposition of launch products.
- Define standards for communicating the clinical and economic value of Ionis products to payers, formulary committees, and external decision-makers.
- Set the framework for account-specific engagement; oversee plans to maximize patient access and reimbursement across the portfolio.
- Lead and develop the Payer Account Management function through subordinate directors and managers.
- Oversee comprehensive account plans across pre-launch, launch, and post-launch stages.
- Advise executive management on payer/policy/channel/economic/competitive dynamics; frame tradeoffs and influence access strategy.
- Secure desired breadth and quality of coverage aligned with brand access strategy.
- Lead major payer negotiations and contracting; balance access, financial impact, compliance, and company objectives.
- Cultivate relationships with payers and industry organizations.
- Establish companywide policies, governance, and operating practices for payer engagement, planning, contracting, communication, and performance measurement.
- Collaborate with field teams to identify and mitigate access barriers; proactively share payer criteria/terms and market trends.
- Manage advisors and vendors (selection, contracting, SOPs, reporting, budgets).
- Ensure alignment with US healthcare regulations and company policies.
- Contribute to learning and DEI programs.
- Up to 50% travel.
Requirements:
- Valid U.S. driver’s license.
- Bachelor’s degree (MBA strongly preferred).
- 18+ years biotech/pharma experience; 8+ years payer account management.
- Successful US specialty product launch experience.
- Experience with Pharmacy and Medical Benefit products (rare disease/orphan/ultra-orphan desirable).
- Required: leading/developing leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
- Credibility with key decision-makers/influencers.
- Strong organization, project management, presentation, and writing skills.
- Customer business/tactical planning and execution.
- Negotiation and contracting skills.
- Ability to build business rationale influencing external decision-makers.
- Strong financial/analytical/account management and performance measurement.
Application:
- Apply at http://www.ionis.com and reference requisition # IONIS004122.