Senior Director/Executive Director, Market Access

Position Title: Senior Director / Executive Director, Market Access

Status: Exempt

Department: Commercial

Reports to: Senior Vice President, Sales, Commercial Operations & Market Access

Purpose

Reporting to the SVP, Sales, Commercial Operations & Market Access, the Senior Director / Executive Director, Market Access leads the market access contracting strategy for cytisinicline, Achieve Life Sciences’ lead product candidate for the treatment of nicotine dependence. The role owns the payer contracting approach across Medicaid and Commercial channels, translating market research and payer insights into a disciplined, launch-ready contracting strategy.

As a key member of the Commercial team, the this individual builds the timelines, negotiating approach, and contracting team needed to support the Company through pre-approval preparation, launch, and post-approval execution — ensuring cytisinicline is accessible to patients through well-structured payer agreements and a high-performing contracting organization.

Essential Responsibilities

Market Access Contracting Strategy

• Developing and leading the market access contracting strategy for cytisinicline, ensuring alignment with the Company’s overall commercial launch strategy and access objectives across Medicaid and Commercial payer channels.
• Developing and executing contracting strategy for Medicaid channels, ensuring compliance with government pricing regulations and alignment with access goals.
• Developing and executing contracting strategy for Commercial payers, including negotiation approach, pricing and rebate structures, and value-based contracting opportunities where appropriate.

Market Research and Launch Readiness

• Leading market research initiatives to inform contracting strategy, analyzing payer landscape dynamics, competitive contracting approaches, and access barriers to shape a data-driven approach to payer negotiations.
• Building and managing robust, detailed timelines for payer discussions and contracting activities spanning pre-approval preparation through post-approval execution, ensuring readiness for launch.
• Supporting engagement with key payers, incorporating payer feedback and contracting insights into the broader market access and launch strategy.

Performance and Compliance

• Defining and tracking key performance indicators for contracting outcomes, ensuring accountability to launch timelines and access targets.
• Collaborating with Legal and Compliance to ensure all contracting activities adhere to regulatory standards, government pricing requirements, and corporate policies.

Team Leadership and Cross-Functional Partnership

• Recruiting, leading, and developing the contracting teams needed to support launch readiness across both Medicaid and Commercial channels, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture.
• Partnering with HEOR, Medical Affairs, Legal, and Commercial Operations to ensure contracting strategy reflects a compelling value proposition and supports the broader market access strategy.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in science, business, or a related discipline; an advanced degree such as an MBA is preferred.
• At least 10 years of market access, contracting, or related commercial experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, with a preference for candidates with a minimum of 3 years of oncology, rare disease, or other specialty therapeutic area experience, and expertise in payer contracting, pricing, and reimbursement.
• In-depth knowledge of the U.S. payer landscape across Medicaid and Commercial channels, including government pricing requirements.

Key Competencies

• Contracting Expertise: Proven experience developing and negotiating payer contracts, including Medicaid and Commercial channel strategies, in support of a product launch.
• Launch Readiness: Experience building pre- and post-approval timelines and readiness plans for payer engagement and contracting.
• Leadership and Strategic Thinking: Strong strategic, analytical, and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritize opportunities in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience leading and collaborating within cross-functional teams, with the ability to build consensus and drive results across diverse perspectives.
• Exceptional Communication Skills: Strong communicator with experience presenting contracting strategy and progress to Commercial Leadership, adept at translating complex strategies into impactful narratives.
• People Leadership: Proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent, fostering a collaborative and high-impact team culture.
• Adaptability and Agility: Experience in an agile, fast-paced, small-company environment is preferred, with the flexibility to adapt quickly to evolving market needs.

Compensation

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $260,000–$305,000 annually. This range represents a good-faith estimate of what Achieve reasonably expects to pay for this position at the time of hire. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. This position is also eligible for an annual target bonus and equity compensation as determined by the Company’s compensation committee.

Benefits

Achieve offers a comprehensive benefits package, which currently includes: medical, dental, and vision insurance; a 401(k) retirement plan; participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan; company-paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability coverage; paid time off, and paid company holidays.

Location & Travel

This is a remote position. Candidates may reside anywhere in the United States. This role requires travel of approximately 50% for payer engagements, industry conferences, and company meetings.

About Achieve Life Sciences

At Achieve, we are committed to bringing medicines forward that contribute to a healthier world. Achieve is a specialty pharmaceutical company committed to advancing cytisinicline as a widely available treatment option to help people battling nicotine dependence.

If you enjoy working in a dynamic team environment and are passionate about making a difference, we invite you to apply. We strive to attract, develop, and retain highly qualified individuals representing the diverse communities we serve.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Achieve Life Sciences is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact hr@achievelifesciences.com.