Senior Director, Market Access Operations & Strategy

At Vericel Corporation, we are pioneers in advanced cell therapies for sports medicine and severe burn care, transforming patient lives through cutting-edge regenerative medicine. Our commitment to innovation, patient-centered focus, and scientific excellence drives us to develop groundbreaking treatments including MACI (knee cartilage repair), Epicel and Nexobrid (burn care).

Position Summary:

As the Senior Director Market Access Operations and Strategy, you will lead the Market Access function and you will report directly to the Chief Commercial Officer. You will be principally responsible for developing and executing strategies and tactics to optimize appropriately indicated patients access to Vericel’s commercialized brands including MACI® (autologous cultured chondrocytes on porcine membrane), Epicel® (cultured epidermal autografts) and NexoBrid® (anacaulase-bcdb).

Schedule:

As a company that thrives on teamwork and face-to-face collaboration, Vericel follows a hybrid schedule with in-office days Monday – Thursday in our new Burlington, MA location, and flexibility to work remotely on Fridays.

Position Scope:

• Lead market access team which currently includes five direct reports.
• Manage strategic partnerships that make up best-in-class Hub which provides case management and revenue recognition services for the MACI brand as well as operations of a limited network of specialty pharmacies dispensing product.
• Develop and implement health economic and other strategies to support brand adoption and utilization as well as improve patient access and reimbursement to Vericel products.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing to develop resources that effectively communicate the value proposition to both healthcare providers and patients.
• Assess market dynamics, including payer landscape, reimbursement policies, as well as competitive activity to identify opportunities and challenges.
• Where appropriate, conduct cost-effectiveness analyses, modeling patient outcomes, and generating evidence to support reimbursement strategies.
• Collaborate on commercial payer contracting strategies with our specialty pharmacy partners; and provide guidance on facility contracting and key account management strategies.
• Lead negotiations with healthcare facilities to secure favorable pricing and contracting terms.
• Where necessary, build relationships with payers, government agencies, partners to advocate for favorable coverage and pricing decisions.
• Develop and implement strategies to secure appropriate reimbursement procedural codes and pricing for Vericel’s commercialized brands.
• Analyze clinical data to support market access arguments and address payer concerns regarding value proposition, efficacy and safety.
• Monitor and engage CMS (Medicare/Medicaid) relating to payment proposals for Outpatient Prospective Payment Systems, Surgery Centers, Physician Fee Schedules, and Hospital Purchase Orders by obtaining coding, coverage, and reimbursement information.

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of the healthcare landscape, including payer systems, reimbursement policies, and clinical practice patterns.
• Proficiency in conducting health economic analyses, cost-effectiveness modeling, and outcomes research.
• Ability to interpret complex data, draw insights, and translate them into actionable market access strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to effectively present market access arguments to various stakeholders including C-Suite and Board of Directors.
• Proven ability to negotiate pricing and contracting terms with strategic partners as well as healthcare facilities.
• Ability to manage multiple market access initiatives simultaneously and meet deadlines in a business with aggressive revenue growth expectations.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree (Advanced Degree in Science, Healthcare or Business Administration preferred).
• 12 years of experience in biopharma
• 3 years of leadership / management experience.
• 10 years in market access; preference for experience in medical technology, life sciences, bio-tech / rare disease and / or pharmaceutical industries.
• Strong problem solving, and critical analytic skills required.
• Business / Market Access consulting experience a plus.
• Experience working with commercialized products.
• Strong understanding of medical reimbursement with specialty pharmacies (billing, coding, coverage, and payment) in the healthcare system to work to resolve contract and billing issues with providers.
• Experience with patient support / hub services organizations.
• Occasional domestic business travel, tradeshows, sales meetings, educational programs and customer and partner meetings.

Why Vericel?

• Cutting-Edge Science: Work with a leading regenerative medicine product that is transforming patient care.
• Career Growth: Be a part of a growing organization with opportunities to expand your impact.
• Collaborative Culture: Work alongside a team of dedicated professionals who are passionate about improving lives.

EEO Statement

All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or protected veteran status and will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Vericel Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

Vericel Corporation is VEVRAA federal contractor and desires priority referrals of protected veterans for job openings at all locations within the state.