Role Overview for VP of Market Access & Reimbursement – Northern New Jersey
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a pioneering, research-driven biopharmaceutical company in their search for a visionary Vice President of Market Access & Reimbursement. Located in the dynamic life sciences hub of Northern New Jersey, our client is dedicated to developing and delivering innovative therapies that address significant unmet medical needs. This executive leadership role is critical to the organization’s commercial success, responsible for architecting and executing a comprehensive strategy that ensures optimal patient access and reimbursement for the company’s portfolio of groundbreaking products.
The VP of Market Access & Reimbursement will serve as the primary architect of our client’s value and access narrative. This individual will lead a high-performing team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. You will be responsible for navigating the complex and ever-evolving U.S. healthcare landscape, building robust relationships with key payers, and developing sophisticated pricing and contracting strategies.
This is a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on patient lives by breaking down barriers to access and ensuring that transformative medicines reach those who need them most. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of the U.S. payer environment, a proven track record of successful product launches, and the leadership acumen to inspire a team and influence across a global organization.
Key Responsibilities of VP of Market Access & Reimbursement – Northern New Jersey
The Vice President of Market Access & Reimbursement will be entrusted with a broad range of strategic and operational responsibilities, including but not limited to:
Strategic Leadership
Develop, refine, and execute the overarching market access, pricing, and reimbursement strategy for the entire product portfolio, from early-stage development through loss of exclusivity. Ensure alignment of access strategies with broader corporate, commercial, and brand objectives.
Payer Engagement & Contracting
Lead all engagement and negotiation efforts with national and regional payers, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), integrated delivery networks (IDNs), and government entities, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Develop and implement innovative contracting strategies, including value-based agreements, to secure favorable formulary placement and coverage policies.
Pricing & Reimbursement Strategy
Establish and manage pricing strategies for in-line and pipeline products, conducting rigorous analyses of market dynamics, competitive landscapes, and policy impacts. Oversee all government pricing calculations, reporting, and compliance activities.
Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR)
Collaborate closely with the HEOR and Medical Affairs teams to guide the development of robust value propositions and economic models. Ensure that clinical and economic evidence effectively communicates product value to payers and other healthcare decision-makers.
Team Development & Leadership
Build, mentor, and lead a best-in-class market access team, including account management, pricing, contracting, and reimbursement support functions. Foster a collaborative, results-oriented culture that attracts and retains top talent.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Serve as a key member of the commercial leadership team, working seamlessly with Sales, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Regulatory, and Legal counterparts to ensure a cohesive and integrated commercial approach. Provide expert counsel on access and reimbursement issues to support clinical trial design and long-term pipeline strategy.
Policy & Landscape Monitoring
Act as the internal subject matter expert on the evolving U.S. healthcare policy landscape. Proactively identify potential opportunities and threats, such as those arising from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and develop mitigation or capitalization strategies.
Patient Support Services
Oversee the strategy and execution of patient access and reimbursement support programs (Hub services) to minimize access barriers for patients and providers and ensure a seamless treatment initiation experience.
Budget & Performance Management
Develop and manage the departmental budget, ensuring optimal allocation of resources. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and report on the effectiveness of market access initiatives to the executive leadership team.
Requirements for the VP of Market Access & Reimbursement – Northern New Jersey
We are seeking a seasoned and strategic leader with a deep passion for patient access and a demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Educational Background
An advanced degree (e.g., MBA, PharmD, MPH, PhD) is strongly preferred. A Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., life sciences, business, economics) is required.
Professional Experience
A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with at least 10 years in market access, payer marketing, and/or pricing and reimbursement roles. Significant experience leading a market access function at a national level is essential.
Payer Landscape Expertise
Deep and current knowledge of the U.S. payer landscape, including commercial payers, Medicare Part B & D, Medicaid, and the VA/DoD systems. Must have a proven track record of successfully negotiating with top-tier national payers and PBMs.
Launch Experience
Verifiable experience leading the market access strategy for multiple successful product launches, preferably in specialty therapeutic areas.
Leadership Skills
Exceptional leadership and people management skills with demonstrated ability to build high-performing teams, mentor talent, and influence senior executives and cross-functional stakeholders.
Strategic & Analytical Acumen
Superior strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. Must be highly analytical, with the ability to synthesize complex market, clinical, and economic data to inform critical business decisions. Strong financial acumen and experience with pricing analytics and forecasting are required.
Communication Skills
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and persuasively to diverse audiences, from C-suite executives to field-based teams.
Location
Ability to work from the Northern New Jersey headquarters on a hybrid basis. Must be willing and able to travel as needed (estimated 25-30%) for payer meetings, conferences, and internal collaboration.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client is committed to investing in their employees and offers a highly competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, recognizing the critical importance of this executive role. The package includes:
Competitive Base Salary
An attractive base salary commensurate with executive-level experience and market standards.
Executive Bonus Plan
A lucrative annual performance-based bonus program tied to individual and company goal achievement.
Long-Term Incentives
Significant equity participation (e.g., stock options, RSUs) to ensure you share in the long-term success of the company.
Comprehensive Health Coverage
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your eligible dependents.
Retirement Savings
A 401(k) plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
Generous Paid Time Off
A flexible and generous paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick days, and company holidays.
Professional Development
A strong commitment to your growth with support for continuing education, conference attendance, and leadership training.
Wellness Programs
Company-sponsored wellness initiatives, including gym membership reimbursement and mental health resources.
Relocation Assistance
A comprehensive relocation package is available for exceptional candidates.
How to Apply
JRG Partners has been exclusively retained for this critical search. If you are a visionary market access leader ready to shape the commercial success of a dynamic biopharmaceutical company, we encourage you to apply.
To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your qualifications and interest in the role. Qualified candidates will be contacted by a JRG Partners recruiter for an initial discussion. To learn more about our expertise in this space, please visit our Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology practice area page. We look forward to reviewing your application and exploring this exciting opportunity with you.
