Associate Director, US Value & Access Contract Management

The businesses of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany•Boston, MA

1d•$130,000 - $228,200•Hybrid

About The Position

The vision of the US Value & Access team is dedicated to optimal access and supporting patients and their care teams. The Associate Director, Value & Access Contracting is responsible for facilitating and owning the managed care contract lifecycle process for EMD Serono’s products and providing best in class service and subject matter expertise to business partners and key stakeholders. Our primary commercial contracting customers include health plans, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), specialty pharmacies, group purchasing organizations (GPOs), wholesalers and distributors. Government contracting includes State Medicaid and the VA Federal Supply Schedule contract. The Associate Director is comfortable pivoting among these various customers and users with high-impact, quality, data-driven contracting solutions that create and deliver customer value to improves people’s lives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., business, finance, legal studies, life sciences)
Minimum 8 years in pharmaceutical/healthcare-related industry including work in contracting, managed care, account management, sales operations, or equivalent industry experience and knowledge
Demonstrated financial and analytical skills
Proficient in Microsoft 365, CLM software
Strong verbal, written, analytical and communication skills
Highly organized and with superb time management skills to prioritize projects and succeed in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Exceptional attention to detail
Be self-directed, highly motivated, and able to work independently, and also function as a team to work cross functionally to problem solve
Purposeful, future-oriented, innovative, results-driven, collaborative, and empowering.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree, MBA, Juris Doctor
Contract management experience in a pharmaceutical or health care related industry
Knowledge of pharmaceutical distribution networks, managed care environments, specialty pharmacies, purchasing group affiliations
Experience in Government Contracting
Proficient in Contract Logix

Responsibilities

Drive market access contract lifecycle beginning with business case development, demonstrating rationale and ROI supporting the contract proposal, through completion of the negotiation process, contract execution, and measuring contract performance and effectiveness.
Draft, negotiate, review and execute on all Value & Access agreements, proposals, and customer communications/correspondence accurately, professionally, and in a timely manner, in accordance with approved guidelines and strategies.
Maintain a deep understanding of the contract templates, including the company’s position on specific contract terms, identify and alert business partners to potential risks during negotiations, and propose mitigating contract terms.
Establish, track, analyze, and report on KPIs related to contract execution and performance, share insights and align strategies for improved market access, and regularly assess contract compliance with terms and conditions to ensure adherence to negotiated agreements.
Maintain and update contracting policies, procedures, and processes as needed, continuously seeking best-practice solutions.
Foster a culture of data-driven decision-making by promoting the use of analytics, and harnessing AI and other technologies to maintain an agile working environment.
Analyze, interpret and provide guidance and support on questions of contract interpretation, including reimbursement strategies, payments, and contract compliance to ensure proper alignment with legal and business objectives.
Engage and support account management teams, rebate operations, payer marketing, legal, finance, therapeutic areas, government pricing, compliance, etc. to facilitate a successful outcome when operationalizing contract terms and conditions.
Provide guidance and support on questions of contract interpretation and compliance, particularly with respect to accurate payments that impact forecasting and reserves.
Track, organize and maintain electronic files of all contracts and supporting documents in accordance with company and department policies and procedures.
Leverage our Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) platform to support contract execution and maintain data integrity across the contract portfolio, track workflows and date-sensitive events, create accurate reports and respond to data requests.
Remain current on key health care reform matters that impact contracting, achieve deep understanding of payer channels including managed care organizations, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, government contracting channels, health care exchanges, etc.
Work with government pricing and rebate operations business partners to ensure appropriate price reporting, validation, and calculation of payments in Model N revenue management system, and timely and accurate payments to customers in accordance with the contract terms.
Assist in the development of periodic business reviews with internal leadership and customers as needed and facilitate workshops or meetings to discuss expectations and objectives related to the contract.
Actively participate in meetings, fully prepared as the SME on assigned contracts.