Associate Director, Contracting Operations

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

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