Associate Director, Strategic Market Access Operations

Job Description

The Associate Director, US Strategic Market Access Operations serves as the architect and expert for Kite’s agreement systems, covering all customers and products within Kite’s cell therapy portfolio. You will be responsible for creating and operationalizing contract management and operations infrastructure and processes for Kite. Activities include leading cross-functional workstreams, shaping Kite priorities, influencing senior leaders, creation of new systems, processes, and roles/responsibilities, ensuring compliance with regulations, optimizing operational efficiencies, and ensuring Kite readiness for near and long-term strategies. You will work closely with members of trade and operations, value access & pricing, account management, field, finance, analytics, legal, government pricing, contract operations, and more. You will thrive in a rapidly evolving cell therapy environment, develop strong internal partnerships, and act with agility.

This role requires leveraging deep expertise (contract management, contract operations, compliance, systems management, data analysis) and an entrepreneurial mindset (sense of urgency, excitement to build and evolve systems, advocacy) to ensure Kite has the needed infrastructure and processes to deliver its life-changing products as it continues to scale.

This role is Santa Monica based and/or remote and reports to the Sr. Director, Value, Access, and Pricing.

As Associate Director of US Strategic Market Access Operations, you will:

• Support the development and negotiation of customer agreements in partnership with Legal, field teams, account management, and other partners
• Create a system for organizing and managing agreements that meets current and future Kite needs
• Lead a cross-functional team to ensure timely, accurate, well-communicated agreement compliance, addressing any discrepancies or issues as they arise
• Execution of Value, Access, and Pricing accountabilities in agreement compliance and pull-through
• Develop SOPs and other working documents needed to support agreement execution, advising partners and pursuing system changes as needed
• Conduct regular audits of agreements and operations to identify risks and areas for improvement
• Develop long-term plan for systems onboarding/integration and represent US health systems and contract operations interests on relevant teams
• Periodically evaluate contract performance using KPIs, financial impact, and customer feedback. Recommend adjustments to contracts based on these findings
• Define measures to maintain the accuracy and integrity of data related to contracts, eligibility, pricing and transactions. Collaborate closely with data teams to support accurate data entry and cleansing processes.

• Keep abreast of internal and external developments, which may impact long-term contract planning and proactively recommend solutions
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and regulatory guidelines governing commercial and scientific interactions with payers and other business partners
• Support other Value, Access, and Pricing responsibilities across in-line and pipeline products based on business needs
• Develop short and long term vision for execution road map to support strategic priorities.
• Potential to lead a team.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and Ten Years’ Experience

OR

Masters' Degree and Eight Years’ Experience

OR

PhD and Two Years’ Experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive contract management and contract operations expertise within the US healthcare system
• Understanding of acquisition and reimbursement dynamics of buy-and-bill, inpatient and outpatient, government and commercial, hospital and community, and payer; experience in hematology/oncology a plus
• Deep understanding of compliance measures, audits, and contracting systems
• Strong communication and leadership skills with demonstrated experience in guiding cross-functional assessments, and delivering business case presentations
• Outstanding partnering skills with exceptionally meaningful and highly effective working relationships with internal and external partners/stakeholders; demonstrated ability to drive infrastructure and process change
• Excellent organizational & time management skills with demonstrated ability to effectively manage and complete multiple priorities and projects
• In-depth knowledge of current GP compliance requirements and regulations
• Understanding of the hematology / oncology clinical landscape and the business of cell therapy
• Advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills; ability to build moderately complex excel models
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

People leader accountabilities

• Create inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams.
• Develop talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose.
• Empower teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem.