Role Summary
Apogee is seeking a VP, Market Access and Distribution. Reporting to the Chief Commercial Officer ( believed to be: Jeff Hartness- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hartness-70317919/ ), this position will be one of the first key commercial hires as Apogee grows from being a clinical to commercial stage biotech company. In this highly visible role, you will be responsible for securing optimal patient access and reimbursement of Apogee’s products. As a member of the Commercial leadership team, the VP, Market Access and Distribution will play a hands-on role leading and executing the strategy for the company’s portfolio, developing and implementing the strategic and tactical plans that support patient access and distribution. As Apogee approaches product launch, this role will build, lead and manage a team of market access and distribution employees.
Key Responsibilities
- Ensures Market Access team works effectively with cross-functional commercial partners to maintain strategic alignment, produce high quality deliverables, and achieve performance objectives.
- Defines, builds and implements the strategic and tactical plan for value proposition and pricing, market access strategy and marketing, and customer facing programs. Develop strategic and tactical plans to ensure optimal patient access across all payer types including commercial payers, PBMs/OBMs, Medicaid, Medicare, and federal VA/DOD channels.
- Establishes relationships and facilitate activities across various internal and external parties (providers, patients, payers, specialty pharmacies, distributors) to ensure effective and efficient patient access, product delivery, and financial flows.
- Works with commercial leadership team to develop and execute optimized pricing and contracting strategies, monitor impact, and recommend ways to continually improve over time. Partners closely with Marketing and Medical Affairs leadership and consultants to develop product value propositions, evidence generation plans, messaging, and supporting economic analyses/models.
- Works closely with Commercial Operations & Analytics and Business Development & Strategy to develop and maintain deep market access insights through market research, competitive intelligence, and business analytics and to ensure necessary metrics/KPIs are in place to measure performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Develops a collaborative relationship with Medical Affairs leadership to ensure teams work together effectively both internally and with payer customers.
- Monitor trends and potential coverage and reimbursement issues, existing and emerging government and payer policies, competitive pricing and contracting strategies, and potential barriers to provider and patient access. Keep company informed and ready for the rapidly changing market access environment (e.g., Medicare payment reforms, pricing policies) to inform corporate strategy, product forecasts, and long-term plans.
- Gain specialty pharmacy insights, determine SP network, and prepare for contracting.
- Responsible for the continuous improvement and performance monitoring of the Specialty Pharmacy and Specialty Distribution channel and programs.
- Create and maintain account plans for specific national and regional network pharmacies.
- Partner with Marketing in the creation of distribution channel branded education and promotional tools.
- Ensure all channel activities are compliant with all applicable laws, regulations, and guidance’s with company policies and procedures.
- Approaching product launch, this role will build a team of field-based market access and distribution professionals responsible for a broad range of critical relationships including commercial and government payers, specialty pharmacies, GPOs, key provider accounts, etc.
Ideal Candidate
- Requires BS/BA degree in business or related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
- A minimum of 18 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, and experience leading and managing a team of market access and distribution professionals
- Demonstrated US specialty product launch experience required
- Prior payer account management experience preferred
- Understanding of channel, distribution and specialty pharmacy
- Deep understanding of and compliance with the OIG and FDA regulations governing pharmaceutical marketing and the PhRMA code
- Demonstrated experience building and leading teams
- Demonstrated collaboration and partnering skills to work effectively across the Commercial team, with Medical Affairs, and external partners, payers and distributors
- Executive presence, including ability to synthesize data and deliver a clear overview of commercial strategy, opportunity and risks for the Executive Team as it relates to the value proposition
- Ability to adapt to changes in the work environment, managing competing demands and adjusting approach or method to best fit the situation
- This position requires approximately 50% travel to customers, industry conferences and Apogee All Hands meetings
The anticipated salary range for candidates for this role will be $310,000 to $330,000 per year. The final salary offered will depend on several factors, which may include, but is not limited to relevant years of experience, educational background, and geography.
What We Offer
- A great culture, grounded in our C.O.R.E. values: Caring, Original, Resilient and Egoless
- Opportunity to work in a fast-paced, highly dynamic environment where you help shape the culture and company, wear multiple hats, and learn quickly
- Market competitive compensation and benefits package, including base salary, performance bonus, equity grant opportunities, health, welfare & retirement benefits
- Flexible PTO
- Two, one-week company-wide shutdowns each year
- Commitment to growing you professionally and providing access to resources to further your development
- Apogee offers regular all team, in-person meetings to build relationships and problem solve