Job description

Axsome Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company leading a new era in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) conditions. We deliver scientific breakthroughs by identifying critical gaps in care and develop differentiated products with a focus on novel mechanisms of action that enable meaningful advancements in patient outcomes. Our industry-leading neuroscience portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for major depressive disorder, agitation associated with dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease, excessive daytime sleepiness associated with narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea, and migraine, as well as multiple novel product candidates addressing a broad range of serious neurological and psychiatric conditions that impact over 150 million people in the United States. Together, we are on a mission to solve some of the brain’s biggest problems so patients and their loved ones can flourish. For more information, please visit us at www.axsome.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X. About This Role Axsome Therapeutics is seeking an Associate Director/Director, Payer Marketing to drive Payer Marketing efforts and to ensure that Axsome’s products are represented effectively and appropriately to payer decision makers. The Associate Director/Director, Payer Marketing will play a critical role in ensuring that patients have affordable access to the Company’s innovative medicines. This position will collaborate cross functionally with the rest of the Market Access organization, Brand Marketing, Market Research, Advocacy, Medical and the Operations teams to develop and articulate payer marketing strategy. This role reports directly to the Executive Director, Payer Marketing. This role is based at Axsome’s HQ in New York City with an on-site requirement of at least three days per week. We are unable to consider candidates who are looking for fully remote roles. Job Responsibilities and Duties include, but are not limited to, the following: Support the payer marketing team in the development of access and pricing strategies, with a particular focus on interpreting and quantifying the impact of proposed and implemented legislation, political actions, and PBM/payer initiatives. Monitor and interpret federal and state healthcare policy developments (e.g., CMS guidance, Medicare Part D rules, Medicaid coverage standards, commercial market regulations) to assess implications for payer access and affordability strategy Translate complex policy and regulatory changes into clear strategic guidance for payer marketing, brand teams, and senior leadership, working closely with Executive Director Partner with market access, legal, compliance, and government affairs teams to ensure payer strategies and materials align with current and emerging policy requirements Evaluate how policy changes (e.g., utilization management rules, inflation rebates, IRA provisions, coverage mandates) affect formulary positioning, access barriers, and payer decision-making Work across payer marketing team to integrate policy-driven insights into payer value propositions, and account-specific strategies across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial segments Support scenario planning and forecasting by assessing downstream impacts of policy shifts on access timelines, contracting leverage, and payer behavior Develop internal education and training resources to improve cross-functional understanding of policy-driven access dynamics Engage in strategic planning for launches, LOE planning, and lifecycle management by incorporating policy uncertainty and payer response models Partner with the HEOR team to deliver value messaging to payers that is substantiated by real world evidence generation / synthesis Manage, effectively and efficiently, multiple projects that require cross-functional buy-in across different indications and therapeutic areas Requirements / Qualifications Bachelor's degree in science, Business, Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, or related field required, MBA preferred 8-12 years of Pharmaceutical Industry related experience 6-10 years of Payer Marketing, Government Affairs, or PBM/Health plan experience or other Market Access related activities Ability to work onsite Monday, Tuesday & Thursday. We are unable to consider candidates who are looking for fully remote roles Experience, Knowledge and Skills Deep understanding of the U.S. healthcare market: reimbursement, payment models including legal and compliance requirements is critical to the role Excellent problem-solving abilities and demonstrated critical thinking Strong understanding of the payer landscape and how payer decision making impacts providers and their patients Possess a strong intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn how clinical trial data and RWE factors into payer decision making Proven project management experience Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders Excellent oral, written and presentation skills with ability to use number and data to tell a story, influence decision makers, and explain complex concepts clearly to a variety of audiences Previous product launch experience, preferably in the CNS space Familiarity with current legal and regulatory landscape pertinent to the industry Salary and Benefits: The anticipated salary range for this role is $175,000 - $225,000. The salary offer will be based on a variety of factors, including experience, qualifications, internal equity and location. Axsome offers a competitive employment package that includes an annual bonus, significant equity and a generous benefits package. Axsome is committed to equal employment opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. We value and encourage diversity and solicit applications from all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Axsome Therapeutics does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or third-party recruitment agencies and will not pay placement fees for unsolicited candidates that are sent to hiring managers, the HR team or other Axsome team members. Only approved vendors who have been explicitly asked to support a specific search will receive access to our Applicant Tracking System to submit candidates for consideration.

Requirements

Must-haves

Job Responsibilities and Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Translate complex policy and regulatory changes into clear strategic guidance for payer marketing, brand teams, and senior leadership, working closely with Executive Director
Partner with market access, legal, compliance, and government affairs teams to ensure payer strategies and materials align with current and emerging policy requirements
Evaluate how policy changes (e.g., utilization management rules, inflation rebates, IRA provisions, coverage mandates) affect formulary positioning, access barriers, and payer decision-making
Work across payer marketing team to integrate policy-driven insights into payer value propositions, and account-specific strategies across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial segments
Support scenario planning and forecasting by assessing downstream impacts of policy shifts on access timelines, contracting leverage, and payer behavior
Develop internal education and training resources to improve cross-functional understanding of policy-driven access dynamics
Engage in strategic planning for launches, LOE planning, and lifecycle management by incorporating policy uncertainty and payer response models
Partner with the HEOR team to deliver value messaging to payers that is substantiated by real world evidence generation / synthesis
Manage, effectively and efficiently, multiple projects that require cross-functional buy-in across different indications and therapeutic areas
Requirements / Qualifications
8-12 years of Pharmaceutical Industry related experience
6-10 years of Payer Marketing, Government Affairs, or PBM/Health plan experience or other Market Access related activities
Ability to work onsite Monday, Tuesday & Thursday. We are unable to consider candidates who are looking for fully remote roles
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Deep understanding of the U.S. healthcare market: reimbursement, payment models including legal and compliance requirements is critical to the role
Excellent problem-solving abilities and demonstrated critical thinking
Strong understanding of the payer landscape and how payer decision making impacts providers and their patients
Possess a strong intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn how clinical trial data and RWE factors into payer decision making
Proven project management experience
Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders
Excellent oral, written and presentation skills with ability to use number and data to tell a story, influence decision makers, and explain complex concepts clearly to a variety of audiences
Previous product launch experience, preferably in the CNS space

Nice-to-haves

Bachelor's degree in science, Business, Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, or related field required, MBA preferred

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