Associate Director, Cardiovascular Access & Reimbursement – Knoxville

Job Description Summary

#LI-Remote

This is a field-based and remote opportunity supporting key accounts in an assigned geography.
Novartis is unable to offer relocation support for this role. Please only apply if this location is accessible to you.

Company will not sponsor visas for this position.

The Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement (ADAR) serves as a strategic partner to healthcare accounts, helping providers navigate complex access and reimbursement challenges to support a seamless patient experience. This field-based role works closely with a diverse range of healthcare organizations, delivering education and guidance on reimbursement, payer coverage, billing and coding processes, claims management, and patient support resources. Success in this role requires strong relationship-building, problem-solving, and project management skills, along with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally to drive effective access solutions. As a trusted resource, the Associate Director, Access & Reimbursement helps translate strategy into action while upholding Novartis Values and Behaviors in every interaction.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

• Partner with complex healthcare accounts to support patient access and reimbursement needs across the care continuum.
• Build trusted relationships with providers, administrators, revenue cycle leaders, billing and coding teams, pharmacy stakeholders, and health system decision-makers.
• Educate customers on access, reimbursement, payer coverage, claims management, and patient support resources using approved materials and strategies.
• Analyze reimbursement and access challenges, identify barriers to treatment, and help develop practical, compliant solutions to improve patient access.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on regional and local reimbursement dynamics, payer policies, and evolving healthcare market trends.
• Support implementation and pull-through of coverage decisions, proactively communicating changes that may impact patient access or account operations.
• Provide guidance on product acquisition and buy-and-bill processes, including inventory management, ordering, billing workflows, alternate distribution channels, and sites of care.
• Collaborate closely with Patient Support Services and cross-functional partners to facilitate issue resolution, case management support, and customer education.
• Share customer insights, reimbursement trends, and market dynamics with internal stakeholders to inform strategy and enhance customer support.
• Develop and execute territory-specific access and reimbursement plans that drive meaningful patient access while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and compliance.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required from 4-year college or university.
• 5+ years’ experience within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry supporting Patient Services, Market Access, Sales, Account Management, or related functions, including 2+ years in a patient support role for specialty products.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with complex healthcare practices, health systems, and provider networks to support patient access and acquisition pathways.
• Proven ability to manage strategic accounts, identify potential access barriers, and proactively develop solutions that support positive patient outcomes.
• Deep understanding of manufacturer-sponsored patient support programs and their integration into healthcare office workflows.
• Experience supporting specialty products distributed through Specialty Pharmacy networks and channels.
• Strong knowledge of reimbursement and product access pathways, including specialty pharmacy, buy-and-bill, and retail distribution models.
• Candidate must reside within territory, or within a reasonable daily commuting distance of 100 miles from the territory border. Ability to travel 60-80% over a broad geography is required, with the ability to drive and/or fly within the territory. Must have a valid driver’s license.

Driving is an Essential Function of this Role: Meaning it is fundamental to the purpose of this job and cannot be eliminated.Because driving is an essential function of the role, you must have a fully valid and unrestricted driver’s license to be qualified for this role. The company provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified individuals with medical restrictions if an accommodation can be provided without eliminating the essential function of driving.

COVID-19 Vaccine Policy (customer-facing roles only):While Novartis does not require vaccination for COVID-19 or proof of a recent negative test result for COVID-19 at this time, employees working in customer-facing roles must adhere to and comply with customers’ (such as hospitals, physician offices, etc.) credentialing guidelines, which may require vaccination. As required by applicable law, Novartis will consider requests for reasonable accommodation for those unable to be vaccinated. This requirement is subject to applicable state and local laws and may not be applicable to employees working in certain jurisdictions. Please send accommodation requests to Eh.occupationalhealth@novartis.com.

For Field Roles with a Dedicated Training Period: The individual hired for this role will be required to successfully complete certain initial training, including home study in eight (8) or fewer hours per day and forty (40) or fewer hours per week.

Novartis Compensation Summary:

The salary for this position is expected to range between $160,300 and $297,700 per year.

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. 

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to us.reasonableaccommodations@novartis.com or call +1(877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

Salary Range

$160,300.00 - $297,700.00

Skills Desired

Access And Reimbursement Strategy (Inactive), Agility (Inactive), Analytical Skill (Inactive), Analytical Thinking, Cross-Functional Collaboration, Customer-Centric Mindset (Inactive), Employee Development, Finance, Go-to-Market Strategies, Healthcare Policies, Healthcare Sector Understanding (Inactive), Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), Innovation, Inspirational Leadership, Market Access Strategies, People Management, Process Management, Project Management, Public Affairs, Real World Evidence (RWE), Regulatory Compliance, Risk Management, Value Propositions