Associate Director - Value, Access, Insights, and Solutions

Job Description

About the role

The Value Access Insights & Solutions (VAIS) team is responsible developing and executing payer-focused medical strategies and tactics addressing the evolving payer and U.S. healthcare system. These plans are critical to establishing and maintaining access to Takeda medicines and medical solutions for patients who need them by informing the formulary process of healthcare decision makers.

The team is an integral member of the Marketing Content Enablement & Customer Engagement group, supports multiple therapeutic areas, and is a strategic partner to Product Medical Units, Medical Communications, Public Affairs, Managed Markets, Market Access and Channel Strategy and other internal stakeholders. Their expertise of the healthcare landscape and ability to articulate actionable insights for Takeda influences evidence generation, policy and communication imperatives.

The team leads the creation of strategic engagement and communication plans and oversees the development and training of customized resources, tools and innovations utilized by field medical teams and U.S. Medical senior leadership when interacting with payers, health systems and other population-based decision makers (i.e., provider organizations, policy makers, patient organizations).

You will report to the Director, Value Access Insights and Solutions. This is a hybrid role which can be based in either Cambridge, MA or Lexington, MA.

How you will contribute

• Serving as a partner to Product Medical Units, Medical Communications, Medical leads, Field Medical Leaders, Brand Teams, Market Access and Channel Strategy, Public Affairs and other Global and US internal stakeholders to ensure strategic alignment on cross-functional imperatives and initiatives.
• Contributing to / leading the collection and synthesis of data and insights about the evolving payer and U.S. healthcare system that are critical to establishing and maintaining access to Takeda medicines and medical solutions for patients who need them.
• Leading the creation of strategic engagement and communication plans for assigned products and oversee the development of customized resources, tools and innovations utilized by field medical teams and U.S. Medical senior leadership when interacting with payers, health systems and other population-based decision makers (i.e., provider organizations, policy makers, patient organizations).
• Contributes to the VAIS team in cross-therapeutic area projects related to value, payer insight, communication innovation, and other relevant topics.
• Contributing to the identification of value drivers and evidence needs/gaps with US formulary decision makers for currently marketed products and for the successful launch of pipeline assets.
• Utilize expertise of the healthcare landscape and ability to articulate actionable insights for Takeda to influence evidence generation, policy, and communication imperatives to meet the needs of population-based decision makers.
• Collaborating closely with US HEOR, Clinical Research, and other cross-functional partners to influence evidence generation activities

Accountabilities

• Strategic partner to Product Medical Units, Medical Communications, Field Medical Leaders, Brand Teams, Market Access, Public Affairs and other Global and US internal stakeholders
• Collects, synthesizes and collates data from internal and external sources (customers, outcomes research, benchmarking, survey, clinical, economic, behavioural, market access reports, competitive intelligence, etc.) to help generate the medical strategy and tactics for discussions with population-based healthcare decision-makers.
• Generate communication resources, tools and innovations aligned with customer needs (payers, health systems, policy makers) and Takeda’s strategic imperatives.
• Leads the development, alignment, prioritization and communication of strategic engagement plans, tools and innovations for the field medical teams (AML’s, MSL’s, FME’s) and other medical leaders directed to (i) payers and formulary decision makers to support decisions and value-based care for populations served; (ii) patients and organisations who serve them (i.e., Payer, Provider, Employer, Government, Advocacy).
• Provide strong project management on key communications activities and initiatives, ensuring they are completed on time with a high level of quality, in accordance with Compliance, US Medical, Legal and Regulatory requirements.
• Identifies and oversees vendors as appropriate including providing strategic direction, ensuring key timelines and deliverables are met, negotiating and managing budgets, and solving problems as issues arise.
• Continuously evaluates medical value communication resources utilised by field medical teams (AML’s, MSL’s, FME’s) and US Medical senior leadership during external scientific and health economic exchange. Improves strategies and resources based on gap analysis, feedback and ongoing internal and customer assessments and benchmarking. Drives continuous quality improvement and partners cross functionally to communicate impact and prioritise improvements.
• Collaborates with Medical Communications, Product Medical Unit and Outcomes Research & Patient Access internal training leads to design and execute training focused on assigned therapeutic products related to a population decision maker audience. Partners with US Field Medical and Medical Communications learning and development teams and other internal stakeholders to initiate training across Takeda U.S. when appropriate.
• Develops and maintains a broad network of mutually supportive relationships with internal Takeda colleagues (Medical Product Teams, Medical Communications, VEG, Marketing, Managed Markets, Market Access Channel Strategy, Government External Affairs, Account Management and other affiliates) to ensure US Medical scientific and outcomes research and external affairs strategies are integrated across groups.
• Develop materials to support partnership opportunities (Value Based Contracting, Real World Evidence Generation, Clinical Integration and Patient Engagement) in partnership with the Health Economics and Outcomes Research group where appropriate.
• Develops Formulary Decision Maker communications that are scientifically sound and balanced and develop and communicate relevant, credible and actionable data to inform the customer’s needs.
• Understand, interpret and integrate the voice of the payer KOL into US Medical Objectives
• Work with the Health Economics and Outcomes Research team on the development and delivery of Medical Access tools relevant to payer decision makers (e.g. Budget Impact Models, Cost Minimisation Models, Number Needed to Treat (NNT) Analysis)
• Manage an internal repository of external facing resources and user guides for how best to leverage them

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications

Required

• Master’s or doctorate degree (PhD, PharmD, MPH, MHS, PsyD,) in healthcare, behavioural economics, education, communication or science related field
• At least 5 years of healthcare or related experience (outcomes research, data analytics, quality improvement, managed care, clinical practice), including 2 years of pharmaceutical industry experience (R&D, Medical Affairs, Advocacy, Policy or Commercial functions) or equivalent (consulting, agency). Experience working with or for payers or PBMs required.
• Understanding of observational research methodologies and a demonstrated ability to articulate real world evidence, comparative effectiveness research and other population-based research in an effective and credible manner.
• Strong knowledge of how population-based decision makers are using evidence to inform decisions, how they define value of new interventions and how they manage utilisation within their populations.
• Proven ability to articulate, visualise, conceptualise or solve complex problems by making decisions given available information.
• Possesses superior communication skills, both oral and written, and able to engender trust and respect of colleagues across levels.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate and negotiate projects and priorities across functions and with senior level leaders and executives
• Firm understanding of the key phases, processes and compliance factors and techniques that are involved in pharmaceutical managed care environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of relevant connections and integration points between Medical Affairs and stakeholders across the Development and Commercial functions.
• Proven track record of matrix, teamwork, leading cross functional teams, timely decision making and results orientation in meeting objectives.
• Demonstrated understanding of legal and regulatory environment of biopharmaceutical industry.
• Visible leadership, personal management and ability to be agile and