Senior Director, US Market Access

What You’ll Do:

The Senior Director, US Market Access at Kailera Therapeutics reports to the VP of Value and Access, and will lead pricing, contracting, and reimbursement strategy across commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, and employer channels. This person will be a key leader responsible for developing and executing the US market access strategy that ensures broad, sustainable patient access for Kailera’s portfolio, including injectable and oral ributpatide.  This role will partner closely with clinical, medical, marketing, and finance teams to align access strategy with clinical and commercial objectives, driving a successful US launch and sustained growth. This role will be critical in establishing Kailera’s presence as a leader in the obesity space.

 

Required location: Waltham, MA (hub-based, onsite 3-4 days per week)

 

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute the US market access strategy for Kailera’s portfolio, including ribupatide injectable and oral spanning commercial, Medicare, Medicaid, employer, and self-pay channels
• Build and lead market access launch efforts individually with agility while preparing to grow the US Market Access with direct reports over time.  Partner with Market Access team foster a culture of innovation, accountability, flexibility, and collaboration
• Lead pricing, contracting, and gross-to-net strategy with PBMs, health plans, and employers, balancing broad access, net price, and long-term commercial success, in partnership with Finance, Legal, and Compliance
• Shape employer and benefit consultant engagement and evaluate emerging access channels, including direct-to-patient and self-pay models, as the obesity coverage landscape evolves
• Collaborate with clinical development, regulatory, medical affairs, HEOR/RWE, marketing, and finance teams to ensure access strategies align with corporate objectives and market dynamics, including input to launch planning and forecasting
• Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including national and regional payers, PBMs, integrated delivery networks, employers, benefit consultants, and key opinion leaders (KOLs)
• Use payer research, competitive intelligence, and business analytics to inform access strategy, pricing, and contracting decisions
• Partner with Policy and Government Affairs to track and assess federal and state policy developments (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid coverage, the IRA, CAA, etc..). Ensure payer and contracting activities comply with applicable laws and regulations

 

Required Qualifications:

• 12+ years in Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology Market Access. Expertise in US market access, pricing, and contracting, including in-depth knowledge of the US payer environment: coverage, reimbursement, formulary management, rebating, and gross-to-net across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid. At least 5 years of people leadership experience
• Has led at least one major US launch within Market Access, from pre-launch strategy through market uptake, including working through the problems that come up after launch. Has built and run an integrated market access launch plan in partnership with brand across functions
• Recent, hands-on experience with payer and PBM engagement, including PIE & value proposition discussions, contract negotiations, and trade decisions. Significant experience developing and implementing US contracting strategies with PBMs and health plans
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative US access strategies. Proven success translating strategy into actionable plans and delivering successful product launches
• Strong skills in collaborating with marketing, development, regulatory, medical affairs, HEOR/RWE, finance, legal, and trade teams to ensure seamless product development and commercialization, and to maintain strategic alignment and achieve performance objectives
• Experience building, leading, and mentoring high-performing teams, including in a hybrid environment. Ability to foster a culture of innovation, accountability, agility, and collaboration, ensuring the team is positioned for rapid growth and successful commercialization
• Expertise in using complex clinical data, payer research, competitive intelligence, and business analytics to inform access strategy, contracting, and pricing models
• Capable of navigating the complexities of a fast-growing biotech environment while maintaining focus on US launch readiness and long-term value creation. Ability to adapt to change and manage competing demands effectively

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Launch experience in obesity, diabetes or related cardiometabolic areas. Experience with incretins (GLP-1 or GLP-1/GIP) is a strong plus
• Proven experience building and leading market access functions within a new organization, company, or product, including establishing foundational strategies and structures in a startup or high-growth environment
• Experience developing and executing access strategies for consumer-driven brands, including self-pay and direct-to-patient models
• Working knowledge of Medicare Part D and Medicaid dynamics and the evolving policy environment affecting obesity therapies, including the Inflation Reduction Act

 

Education:

A bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) in business, life sciences, pharmacy, health policy, or a related field is required