National Lead Strategic Payer Accounts (Commercial)

Cartesian Therapeutics • Frederick, MD

8d • Hybrid

About The Position

Cartesian Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing mRNA CAR-T therapies for autoimmune diseases. Our mission is to expand the reach of cell therapy to patients living with serious autoimmune conditions through scientific rigor, collaboration, and innovation. As we look ahead to the upcoming completion of our Ph3 Generalized Myasthenia Gravis trial, along with the continued progression of our trials in Myositis and Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Cartesian is further building-out our Commercial Organization. Thus, we are seeking a National Lead Strategic Payer Accounts, which will report to the Head of Value, Access, & Trade, and lead national & regional payer engagement and contracting execution (where appropriate) to secure optimal coverage, reimbursement, and access, while translating enterprise access strategy into high-impact field execution. Direct reports are anticipated to include the National Account Managers / NAMs, as we approach commercial launch.

Requirements

• ~10–15 years of progressive biopharma experience with deep expertise in payer account management, market access, and/or field-based payer engagement, including direct responsibility for national and/or regional payer relationships in high-growth launch-stage environments
• Purpose-driven leader that values and role-models innovation, collaboration, integrity, and patient-centric thinking.
• Proven "player-coach" with the agility & humility to operate seamlessly between strategy and execution; known for building and leading high-performing teams and driving impact in resource-constrained, fast-paced, high-science environments
• Strong expertise in U.S. payer & reimbursement landscape, including government and commercial payers, contracting frameworks, buy-and-bill dynamics across sites of care, field-based resourcing & deployment, and compliant payer engagement (including PIE)
• Experience within cell and/or gene therapy, rare disease, neurology, rheumatology, and/or hematology/oncology strongly preferred, including successful launch of novel or first-in-class therapies
• Ability to translate complex clinical and economic data into clear, compelling value narratives and execute against broader access strategy in a dynamic pre-launch environment
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence both external payer stakeholders and internal cross-functional teams
• Bachelor's degree required

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or equivalent) preferred
• Relevant work experience will be considered

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain senior-level relationships across key Payer decision-makers, and lead strategic engagement with national and regional commercial payers and government accounts, to shape coverage, reimbursement, and access
• Support and lead payer negotiations and contracting efforts (where appropriate and aligned to strategy), translating enterprise pricing and contracting strategy into actionable, account-specific agreements that optimize access, reimbursement, and long-term value
• Operationalize market access strategy in the field by aligning payer engagement plans to brand strategy, value proposition, and evidence; ensure consistent execution and feedback loops to inform ongoing strategy refinement
• Engage payers early (within compliant frameworks) to shape the access environment, test value hypotheses, and generate actionable insights to inform pricing, evidence generation, and go-to-market strategy
• Deliver compelling, compliant payer value narratives supported by clinical, economic, and real-world evidence; partner with internal teams to tailor tools and resources to payer segment needs
• Collaborate with commercial peers and medical affairs, to ensure aligned payer strategy, coordinated engagement, and seamless execution across stakeholders
• Hire, develop, and lead the National Account Manager (NAM) team over time; establish clear account planning, performance expectations, and best practices to drive consistent, high-impact payer engagement and team performance
• Continuously capture and synthesize payer insights, including coverage expectations, policy trends, and competitive dynamics; translate insights into actionable recommendations for pricing, contracting, evidence, and access strategy
• Play a critical role in pre-launch planning and execution, including account prioritization, engagement strategy, and readiness for coverage and reimbursement at launch

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior