Director of Market Access Payer Account

About Summit Therapeutics Inc.:

Summit Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical oncology company focused on improving quality of life, increasing potential duration of life, and resolving serious unmet medical needs. The company drives its mission through a team of world-class professionals who embody integrity, passion for excellence, purposeful urgency, collaboration, and a commitment to people.

The team is dedicated to impacting lives through clinical studies in oncology, including:

• Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC):
• HARMONi: Phase 3 clinical study evaluating ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy vs. placebo plus chemotherapy for patients with EGFR-mutated, locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC previously treated with a 3rd generation EGFR TKI.
• HARMONi-3: Phase 3 clinical study evaluating ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy vs. pembrolizumab combined with chemotherapy for first-line metastatic NSCLC.
• HARMONi-7: Phase 3 clinical study evaluating ivonescimab monotherapy vs. pembrolizumab monotherapy for first-line metastatic NSCLC.

Colorectal Cancer (CRC):

• HARMONi-GI3: Phase 3 clinical study evaluating ivonescimab in combination with chemotherapy vs. bevacizumab plus chemotherapy.

Ivonescimab is an investigational therapy not presently approved by any regulatory authority other than China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

Location: Remote - Field based. Candidates should be based in one of the following states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, or Pennsylvania.

Overview of Role:

The Director of Market Access Payer Account at Summit Therapeutics reports directly to the Executive Director, Payer Strategic Accounts, and is responsible for leadership and management of select national and sub-national payers and other assigned accounts. This role ensures broad access, reimbursement, and patient affordability for drug candidates and approved products, including National/Regional Health Plans, PBMs, Medicare, state Medicaid, VA/DoD, and others.

The Director will build and maintain strong relationships with decision-makers within these accounts, including medical and pharmacy departments, and execute strategies and tactics within each account while supporting regional field matrix teams.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Establish, broaden, and deepen relationships with target entities (e.g., health insurers, PBMs, other payers) and key decision-makers and influencers (medical and pharmacy directors) affecting coverage and reimbursement decisions.
• Accounts covered include: Evernorth/Cigna, Highmark, UPMC, Horizon, CareFirst, BCBS MI, BCBS MA, MACs, FFS Medicaid.
• Influence decision-makers, policies, guidelines, and contracts to facilitate timely and appropriate coverage, access, and reimbursement for drug candidates and approved products.
• Implement brand access strategies and develop account-specific plans to resolve access/reimbursement issues.
• Collaborate with the Medical Affairs field team to communicate the value of drug candidates and approved products with payers.
• Support the Patient Services team to resolve coverage issues and support the patient journey.
• Assist Regional Sales teams with pull- or sell-through strategies based on payer coverage.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key decision-makers, including Formulary, P&T, and Pathway leaders, Medical & Pharmacy Directors, and other stakeholders.
• Co-create account-level strategies, tools, and tactics to communicate the product value proposition effectively. Collaborate on pricing, contracting strategies, HEOR evidence generation plans, patient support programs, payer marketing initiatives, and account management approaches.
• Lead discussions with internal and external partners to ensure alignment on access, coverage, and reimbursement strategies.
• Foster a high-performance culture within the field team by promoting accountability, urgency, ethical behavior, and professional development.
• Stay informed on healthcare industry trends, payer policies, reimbursement processes, and competitive activity, providing strategic insights to inform decision-making.
• Ensure all Market Access initiatives are developed and executed in compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and dynamic environment, balancing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• All other duties as assigned.

Experience, Education, and Specialized Knowledge and Skills:

• A Bachelor’s degree in business, healthcare, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of biotech/pharmaceutical experience.
• Minimum of 5+ years of focused account management experience in the oncology access marketplace.
• Demonstrated success in engaging with US payers, MACs, PBMs, and IDNs.
• Strong understanding of the US healthcare payer/access landscape and regulatory environment.
• Excellent strategic thinking, leadership, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work on cross-functional teams and drive complex projects to completion.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Successful record of achieving and maintaining compliance with all applicable regulatory, legal, and operational rules.
• Travel: Ability to travel to support business priorities as needed.