Associate Director, Contracting Operations - Job ID: 1593

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology. Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.

Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.

Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

Ascendis Pharma is looking to hire an Associate Director, Contract Operations to join our team. Responsibilities will include implementing and executing contracting operations and tactics across all relevant customer segments for products in our Endocrinology Rare Disease portfolio. This role requires the ability to be both strategic and tactical, demonstrating strong leadership, project management, and communication skills.

As the Associate Director, Contracting Operations, you will be responsible for working with internal/external customers on all aspects of Market Access contracting operations. Responsibilities include implementation of various systems and processes including vendor management, rebate validation, approval of vendor and customer payments, submission of price reporting, and implementation of contracts, pricing agreements, and rebate programs with various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, payers, wholesalers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

This role is responsible for the management of all contractual payments across multiple customer segments including payers, PBMs, and GPOs as well as maintaining all related documentation for those payments. This includes receipt, analysis, impact, resolution and posting/reporting.

They will manage and meet deliverables of business operations to monitor, evaluate and administer claims to be paid and ensure payments are accurate, timely, formulary-compliant and entered in contract systems consistent with agreement terms, following corporate controls/approved guidelines and SOX regulations.

This role is expected to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal/external contacts and peers to ensure effective communication and a high-level of customer service to support successful implementation and execution of contract terms and payments.

This individual must possess an in-depth knowledge of claims processes, systems and an understanding of Market Access contracting processes and strategies to ensure contract compliance.

This is a hybrid role that will be based in Princeton, NJ three (3) days/week and will report directly to the Director, Contracting Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contract Management: Maintain robust processes and systems for managing contracts throughout their lifecycle, from negotiation and execution to renewal and termination. Ensure compliance with company policies, regulatory requirements, and contractual obligations. Expectations in this role include management and tracking of all contract drafts, redlines, approvals, and ability to negotiate with customers with a keen understanding of Ascendis' policies around key contract terms
• Implementation and Execution: Lead contract implementation internally with Finance, Legal, IT, and necessary departments and vendors to ensure favorable terms and conditions for product access, reimbursement, and pricing. Works closely with internal teams to ensure contracts can be operationalized within Ascendis Pharma's systems prior to executing agreements
• Rebate Management: Work with vendors and internal Market Access team to verify eligibility, adjudicate claims, and process customer payments on time. Oversee the administration of rebate programs, including government rebates (e.g., Medicaid, Medicare), managed care rebates, and commercial rebates. Ensure accurate calculation, timely payment, and reconciliation of rebate liabilities in compliance with regulatory requirements and contractual obligations. Involves analysis of dispute resolution, reconciliation of invoices vs. contracted conditions for rebates, evaluating duplicate discount liabilities, and assessing variances to projected accruals. This individual must possess an in-depth knowledge of claims processing, formulary validation processing, and dispute processes, and be able to communicate clearly and concisely on impact of rebates, disputes, and duplicate discounts both internally and externally
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for streamlining and optimizing contracting processes, systems, and workflows to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and compliance. Implement best practices, tools, and technologies to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence. Expectations include managing data validation processes with internal team and external vendors, adjudicate rebate and formulary validation processes accurately and before payment deadlines, oversee payments of managed care and government rebates, and manage Market Access payments including purchase requisitions, purchase orders, and ACH funding for copay programs
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and corporate policies in all contracting operations. Implement controls and procedures to mitigate risks related to pricing, contracting, and rebate administration
• Price Reporting and Registrations: Manage state price transparency requirements, price notifications, compendia communications, and CMS/SAM.gov/OPAIS reporting and registration requirements, etc.. Communicate price changes to external databases and relevant stakeholders, including price reporting, state price transparency reporting, and loading pricing to government sites per CMS guidance
  
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Healthcare Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in pharmaceutical contracting, pricing, or market access, with a focus on contract management and operations. Branded product experience preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders
• Proficiency in contract management systems (e.g., Salesforce CPQ, Model N, iCyte), ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, D365), and Microsoft Excel for data analysis and reporting.
• Possesses broad base and in-depth understanding of reimbursement issues, payer segments, use of specialty pharmacies, the J-Code application process, managed market customers including private and public payers, national and regional health plans, state Medicaid, Medicare Part B and D, VA/DOD, PBM's, Employers, IDNs, Medical Groups and ACOs.
• Deep understanding of FSS and CMS statutory price calculations (NFAMP, IFF, AMP, BP, URA), State Price Reporting, 340B, Tricare and the programs and calculations to support evaluations and analytics of pricing and product scenario planning
• Demonstrated knowledge of payer decision-making for formulary processes, coverage, coding, billing, and patient access to drugs, biologicals, medical devices
• Excellent project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple tasks at one time
• Ability to skillfully negotiate in tough situations with both internal and external groups.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards relevant to pharmaceutical contracting, pricing, and rebate programs
• Understanding of organizational behavior, corporate culture and be able to flourish in a complex and rapidly evolving workplace.
• Ability to be flexible and energetic in a dynamic work environment and in a highly-matrixed organization with non-co-located teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively, problem solve, negotiate and collaborate with stakeholders to implement long-term solutions and positively influence business.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and negotiate business solutions in a complex and fast-paced matrix environment.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint required
  
  
  

A note to recruiters:

We do not allow external search party solicitation. Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed. If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
• Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Saving Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various incentive compensation plans
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents