Senior Director, Field Payer Lead

Job Title:Senior Director, Field Payer TeamLocation:San Diego, CA / Hybrid / RemotePosition type:FLSA:Full time ExemptDepartment:Commercial Strive to Bring a Profound Difference to our PatientsAt Avidity Biosciences, we are passionate about the impact of every employee in realizing our vision of improving people’s lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics. Avidity is revolutionizing the field of RNA with its proprietary AOCs, which are designed to combine the specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the precision of oligonucleotide therapies to address targets and diseases previously unreachable with existing RNA therapies. If you are a committed, solution-oriented thinker, join us in making a difference and become part of our growing culture that is integrated, collaborative, agile and focused on the needs of patients. Avidity Biosciences, Inc.'s mission is to profoundly improve people's lives by delivering a new class of RNA therapeutics - Antibody Oligonucleotide Conjugates (AOCs™). Utilizing its proprietary AOC platform, Avidity demonstrated the first-ever successful targeted delivery of RNA into muscle and is leading the field with clinical development programs for three rare muscle diseases: myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Avidity is broadening the reach of AOCs with its advancing and expanding pipeline, including programs in cardiology and immunology through internal discovery efforts and key partnerships. Avidity is headquartered in San Diego, CA. For more information about our AOC platform, clinical development pipeline, and people, please visit www.aviditybiosciences.com and engage with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.The OpportunityThe Senior Director, Field Payer Lead will be responsible for developing and executing the strategic payer engagement plan to support market access and reimbursement for the biotechnology company's portfolio of innovative therapies. This role requires a leader with deep expertise in payer strategy, value proposition development, and the ability to foster relationships with key payer stakeholders. The Senior Director will lead a team of regional payer directors, ensuring alignment with the broader market access strategies and objectives of the organization. What You Will Contribute Strategic Leadership:

• Provide input and execute upon a comprehensive field payer strategy to ensure optimal market access, coverage, and reimbursement for upcoming launches.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders, including Market Access, Sales, Marketing, Medical Affairs, and Regulatory, to align payer strategies with overall business objectives.
• Partner with the Executive Director of Payer and Pricing strategy on value propositions, economic models, and payer engagement materials to support access and reimbursement goals.

Team Management:

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of regional payer directors to ensure consistent execution of payer strategies across all regions.
• Provide coaching and development opportunities to team members, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Ensure the team is equipped with the necessary tools, training, and resources to successfully engage with payers.

Payer Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with national and regional payers, including private insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, and PBMs.
• Conduct regular payer meetings, presentations, and negotiations to communicate the value of the company's products and secure favorable coverage and reimbursement.
• Stay informed on changes in the healthcare landscape, including policy, legislation, and payer trends, and adjust strategies accordingly.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Medical Affairs and Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR) to gather and present clinical and economic evidence that supports product value to payers.
• Collaborate with the Commercial team to align payer strategies with sales initiatives and ensure market access objectives are met.
• Work closely with the Regulatory and Legal teams to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Market Analysis and Reporting:

• Monitor and analyze payer coverage trends, reimbursement policies, and market access dynamics to identify opportunities and risks.
• Develop and present reports and dashboards to senior leadership, providing insights on payer engagements, access challenges, and the overall market access environment.
• Lead the development of payer-related forecasts and business cases to support strategic decision-making.

What We Seek 

• 18+ years of experience in market access, payer strategy, or reimbursement roles within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or healthcare industry. 
• 8+ years of experience in a management or leadership role. 
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Healthcare Administration, Life Sciences, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or similar) preferred. 
• Proven track record of leading payer engagement strategies and securing favorable reimbursement outcomes. 
• Experience in managing and developing high-performing teams. 
• Deep understanding of the U.S. healthcare system, payer landscape, and reimbursement processes. 
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a team. 
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills. 
• Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. 
• Ability to work cross-functionally and influence without authority. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and experience with CRM systems. 

What We Will Provide To You 

• The base salary range for this role is $285,000 - $315,000. The final compensation will be commensurate with such factors as relevant experience, skillset, internal equity and market factors.
• Avidity offers competitive compensation and benefits which includes the opportunity for annual and spot bonuses, stock options and RSUs, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match. In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and four weeks of time off.
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Avidity employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.