Market Access Lead

About the Role

This position is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. As the Market Access Lead, you will spearhead Market Access, Pricing, Reimbursement, Key Account Excellence, and Value & Access efforts to guarantee sustainable patient access to the company's portfolio across the country.

Key responsibilities involve crafting national and regional market access strategies, driving pricing and reimbursement initiatives, fostering strong relationships with healthcare stakeholders and payers, supporting product launches, and collaborating cross-functionally to meet commercial goals.

Main Responsibilities

• Maximize patient access and commercial performance by articulating the value of products in both public and private healthcare sectors.
• Develop and implement strategies for market access, pricing, reimbursement, and contracting aligned with business objectives.
• Ensure net sales targets are met across assigned hospital and regional accounts.
• Lead Key Account Excellence activities and assist Key Account Managers to boost account results.
• Formulate and execute Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) strategies.
• Oversee pricing, rebates, contracts, and reimbursement efforts adhering to corporate policies.
• Drive launch readiness and market access success for new products.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government authorities, payers, procurement entities, healthcare institutions, and decision-makers.
• Provide market, payer, and policy insights to support both commercial and strategic decision-making.
• Ensure seamless communication and coordination with Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, Government Affairs, Legal, Sales, and other internal stakeholders.

Strategic Planning Responsibilities

• Design and implement national Market Access strategies that support product launch readiness and sustainable long-term access.
• Anticipate shifts in the Saudi healthcare and reimbursement environments.
• Map healthcare decision-making processes and identify key influencers and decision-makers.
• Develop pricing policies and strategies tailored to various customer segments.
• Collaborate with cluster and cross-functional teams to build regional and national action plans.
• Contribute to commercial and marketing strategy formulation through insights on markets and payers.
• Monitor healthcare policy developments, pinpointing potential future access opportunities and risks.
• Arrange regular coordination meetings with both regional and global Value & Access teams.

Execution Responsibilities

• Forge and sustain trusted relationships with government authorities, public payers, private insurers, procurement agencies, healthcare providers, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify and address market access challenges using evidence-based approaches to enhance patient access.
• Lead preparation of reimbursement dossiers, value propositions, health economic evidence, budget impact analyses, and value communication materials.
• Manage pricing, reimbursement, tenders, contracts, and negotiations consistent with company policies.
• Negotiate with healthcare decision-makers to achieve optimal pricing and reimbursement outcomes.
• Steer Key Account Excellence processes and regional account planning.
• Implement external engagement plans and policy initiatives effectively.
• Maintain consistent value messaging across all customer interactions.
• Support the successful introduction and reimbursement of new pharmaceutical products.
• Partner closely with Commercial, Medical, Regulatory, Government Affairs, Legal, Finance, and other cross-functional teams to ensure unified execution.

Performance Monitoring

• Track sales performance, market access results, pricing and reimbursement status, and account outcomes.
• Monitor contract execution and delivery.
• Perform continual stakeholder and account analyses to discover opportunities and understand changing customer needs.
• Measure productivity, access achievements, and overall business impact.
• Disseminate market intelligence, competitor insights, and payer updates to internal teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a Saudi National.
• Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, medicine, life sciences, biology, health economics, public health, or a related healthcare field.
• 5 to 8 years’ experience in pharmaceutical industry roles including Market Access, Value & Access, Government Affairs, Key Account Management, or Hospital Commercial sectors.
• Proven track record managing hospital accounts, pricing, reimbursement, tenders, procurement, and contracting.
• Successfully launched new pharmaceutical products in hospital and healthcare environments.
• Experienced in negotiating pricing and commercial agreements with healthcare decision-makers.
• Strong knowledge of the Saudi healthcare system encompassing public payers, private insurers, hospital procurement, and governmental authorities.
• Excellent skills in stakeholder engagement and relationship building.
• Strong analytical capabilities including business case development and value proposition communication.
• Experience operating within cross-functional and matrixed organizations.
• Fluency in Arabic and English, both written and spoken.
• Ability to interpret scientific literature and deliver presentations professionally in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced or postgraduate qualifications in Health Economics, Market Access, Pharmacy, Business Administration, HTA, Public Health, or related fields.
• Experience in preparing reimbursement submissions, health economic modelling, budget impact assessments, and value dossiers.
• Established contacts with Saudi health authorities, procurement bodies, or major healthcare institutions.
• Leadership or people management experience.
• Previous work experience within multinational pharmaceutical companies, especially in specialty care areas.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and commercially-oriented mindset.
• Strong leadership and persuasive skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Advanced negotiation and contract management skills.
• Robust analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Comprehensive understanding of health economics, pricing, reimbursement, and market access principles.
• Deep knowledge of hospital procurement and purchasing mechanisms.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills.
• Capability to manage several priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced setting.
• Customer-centered and results-driven approach.
• Creative and innovative in developing market access solutions.
• High levels of integrity, cooperation, accountability, and resilience under pressure.