Director, Strategic Accounts

Reporting into the Head of Strategic Accounts, the Director, Strategic Accounts will be primary responsible for leading the interface with various US payers. The Director, Strategic Accounts will lead the development and management of key account relationships across assigned Managed Care Organizations that include: Pharmacy Benefit Managers, Federal Accounts, IDN, Specialty Pharmacy, key provider accounts and other assigned corporate accounts for Kiniksa’s line of products. Kiniksa continues to grow as a commercial organization, bringing to market a portfolio of novel therapeutics for patients with rare diseases. Demonstrating the value, we bring to multiple stakeholders, and ultimately ensuring patients can quickly access our treatments, is paramount to our success. 

Responsibilities (including, but not limited to): 

• Develop product access strategies and tactics for specific market access customer segments and payer channels in support of launch plans for Kiniksa’s pipeline products 
• Lead the development of account level plans of action for assigned payers and managed markets customers, designed to ensure optimal access for Kiniksa’s products 
• Profile key payer segments and assigned accounts to assess applicable formulary coverage policies, utilization controls, formulary review practices and timelines, geographic coverage areas, level of regional and national influence, and other attributes relevant to optimal patient access for Kiniksa’s products 
• Lead the development and negotiation of contracts, as applicable, across all assigned accounts for Kiniksa’s products 
• Effectively communicate product coverage status for all assigned accounts across Sales, Marketing, Market Access (Payer Marketing, Reimbursement, and Patient Services) and Sr. Leadership 
• Effectively support Sales and Marketing by providing expert and compliant consultation to the Kiniksa’s Sales Force, Global Value and Access and Medical teams and other functional teams on specific payer coverage policies and formulary status, as well as how payers evaluate and make decisions on relevant therapeutic areas and to facilitate pull-through opportunities 
• Responsible for collaborating with a cross-functional team of individuals in their geography, including sales, brand marketing, payer marketing, HEOR, and MSL to discuss Access & Reimbursement challenges. In partnership with this team, they would develop a compliant cross-functional plan to support product access 
• Understand key concepts associated with navigating access via pharmacy benefit reimbursement process 
• Provide education to provider accounts and field partners on payer policies and processes 
• Educate providers and office staff on Kiniksa’s patient support programs and resources including, HUB services, and Kiniksa Copay Assistance Program  
• Collaborate with patient services to compliantly identify and help resolve stalled cases at the HUB and provider office’s  
• Identify competitive threats and develops response strategies to ensure optimal payer access  
• Maintain and manage relationships with assigned key large national managed markets customer groups including: MCO, PBM, Federal, Specialty Pharmacy, and other targeted accounts 
• May perform other related duties as required and/or assigned 

Qualifications: 

• Requires a Bachelor’s degree (advanced degree in science, medicine, business or a related discipline preferred) with 10+ years total commercial experience with a minimum 5 years’ experience in a comparable Payer National/Regional Accounts position including development of access strategies and tactical plans supporting specialty drugs or other relevant experience 
• Recent Orphan, Specialty Pharmacy, and product launch experience preferred 
• Be a content expert within the Market Access Space. This should specifically include knowledge of the pharmacy and medical benefits, Medicare (FFS and Managed), Medicaid, and Federal purchasing programs 
• Advanced knowledge of Medicare Part D, as well as commercial payer coverage practices, trends, utilization controls, formulary review processes necessary. In addition, advanced knowledge of Health Care Reform legislation relevant to pharmaceutical product access required. Advanced knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid, as well as Medicaid expansion through the Affordable Care Act important. Proven track record for establishing and improving product coverage across Medicare Part D, as well as Medicaid and Commercial payers required 
• Advanced contract negotiation, analytical, and business skills needed 
• Previous team management and sales experience preferred 
• Must thrive working in a fast-paced, innovative environment while remaining flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient.  
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to develop important relationships with key stakeholders, good conflict management and negotiation skills, ability to analyze complex issues to develop relevant and realistic plans, programs and recommendations.  
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into action; excellent analytical skills and an ability to communicate complex issues in a simple way and to orchestrate plans to resolve issues and mitigate risks. 
• Strong commitment to compliance and ethical standards 
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.) 
• Ability to travel up to 50%+  

Kiniksa is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider you without regard to your race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, age, genetics, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status, or any other legally protected category. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.