Senior Director, Market Development

Ardelyx, Inc. • Waltham, MA

65d • $255,000 - $311,000

About The Position

Ardelyx is a publicly traded commercial biopharmaceutical company founded with a mission to discover, develop and commercialize innovative first-in-class medicines that meet significant unmet medical needs. Ardelyx has two commercial products approved in the United States, IBSRELA (tenapanor) and XPHOZAH (tenapanor). Ardelyx has agreements for the development and commercialization of tenapanor outside of the U.S. Kyowa Kirin commercializes PHOZEVEL (tenapanor) for hyperphosphatemia in Japan. A New Drug Application for tenapanor for hyperphosphatemia has been approved in China with Fosun Pharma. Knight Therapeutics commercializes IBSRELA in Canada. Position Summary: Ardelyx is looking for a Senior Director, Market Development to join a growing fast-paced team responsible for all commercial aspects of business development and life cycle management. This individual will be responsible for market analysis, product roadmaps, and overseeing the entire product lifecycle, from concept to commercialization. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in market development, access and reimbursement strategy, and strategic partnerships within the biotech or life sciences industry. This is a high impact role requiring a blend of commercial acumen and cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business or a related field with 12 - 15 years of experience working in business development, commercial strategy, or market development roles within biotech or pharmaceutical companies or equivalent experience
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, prioritize competing business needs, and execute product strategies in a fast-paced environment
• Advanced executive presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with senior leadership and drive cross-functional alignment
• Strong ability to translate scientific innovation into executable product strategies, ensuring alignment with corporate goals and market demands
• Expertise in data analytics, business intelligence tools, and product lifecycle management to drive strategic portfolio decisions and optimize development pathways
• Advanced knowledge of market access, reimbursement pathways, and health economics in the United States
• Experience launching or supporting commercial strategy for early-stage products
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, with strong communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Strategic mindset with the ability to assess complex markets and identify high-impact opportunities
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and sometimes ambiguous environment
• Willingness to travel as needed, approximately 10%

Nice To Haves

• MBA, PharmD or other advanced degree strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide early commercial insights on market potential, product differentiation, target patient groups, and the competitive landscape into the business development process
• Identify and lead adjacent commercial opportunities that leverage existing platforms or capabilities
• Assess and provide early insights into market potential, product differentiation, target patient populations, and competitors
• Develop and deliver executive-level presentations, provide visibility into product development progress, resource allocation, and strategic priorities
• Partner closely with R&D, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Regulatory teams to shape commercial strategies throughout the product lifecycle
• Act as the commercial leader in cross-functional launch teams, establishing structure through governance and decision-making processes. Lead scenario planning, market shaping, and positioning efforts
• Develop and implement program strategies and operational frameworks to ensure efficiency in product development, launch readiness, and resource allocation
• Develop and validate TPPs and clinical endpoints aligned with evolving market standards and expectations
• Monitor industry trends, competitor pipeline activities, and new therapies to identify commercial risks and opportunities
• Create and execute insight generation plans to support strategic decisions as programs advance
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to inform commercial assessments, ensuring alignment with governance and prioritization frameworks
• Support launch readiness by developing go-to-market plans, setting KPIs, and tracking key milestones

Benefits

• Ardelyx also offers a robust benefits package to employees, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer match, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, up to 12 weeks of living organ and bone marrow leave, equity incentive plans, health plans (medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision), life insurance and disability, flexible time off, annual Winter Holiday shut down, and at least 11 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Chemical Manufacturing
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees