Value & Access Head

Job Description

If you are passionate about the opportunities science offers to improve patients' lives and wish to challenge yourself in a crucial role, AstraZeneca is the company for you! At AstraZeneca, we believe in people's potential and provide them with a development path that allows them to strengthen their skills and achieve significant milestones.

The Value & Access Head is a strategic figure reporting directly to the Sr. Market Access Director who will have a significant impact on defining and implementing the national access strategy, as well as coordinating the team across the territory. They lead and coordinate drug access activities nationwide, defining the path at every local aspect and ensuring its territorial execution.

Based in Milan, this role serves as a fundamental link between the headquarters and the territory, performing cross-functional collaboration to define access strategies aligned with company goals and ensuring their implementation in the field. The role acts as the point of reference for the team of Value Access Managers (VAMs) in the field, stimulating and supporting their professional development and growth.

They support the management of relationships with national, regional, and local stakeholders and collaborate in alignment with internal and international company functions. The role involves participating in meetings with the international team to provide information on particularly relevant payer trends.

Accountabilities

Strategic Support:

Support the definition of the national access strategy, with a specific focus on the local declination of access priorities and monitoring pharmaceutical policies at regional and national levels, in close collaboration with the Sr. Market Access Director.

Define and implement the territorial access strategy, ensuring that access priorities are always aligned with company objectives.

Operational Coordination:

Coordinate and develop the Value Access Manager team, serving as a central point for their training, alignment with company strategies, and management of field activities.

Ensure that team access objectives are reached by monitoring progress through scorecards and supporting the execution of strategies throughout the product lifecycle.

Oversee project management in the territory along the Patient Journey, with particular attention to planning and implementation of activities, performance monitoring, and identifying innovative solutions to improve access.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Contribute to the definition and implementation of the stakeholder engagement plan, focusing on dialogue with regional institutions, HTA committees, academic referents, and other key stakeholders to facilitate drug access and optimize processes related to pharmaceutical policies.

Monitor payer trends and access dynamics, anticipating barriers and developing solutions to overcome them through targeted activities and specific projects.

Cross-Functional Coordination:

Actively collaborate with central company functions (Commercial, Medical, Patient Advocacy, Patient Journey, Government Affairs) to ensure coordinated support to the territory and continuous alignment of company strategies with field activities.

Actively participate in the definition of disease plans and national tactical plans, engaging with international therapeutic area teams to ensure integration of global and local strategies.

Collaborate in defining access assumptions aimed at sales forecasts.

Innovation and Continuous Improvement:

Propose and implement innovative solutions to tackle access challenges, with a focus on continuous improvement of field activities in line with emerging needs along the Patient Journey.

Support the implementation of territorial projects and management of related budgets, ensuring alignment with local strategic priorities.

Essential Skills/Experience

Degree in scientific/economic disciplines.

Solid experience in Market Access and/or Commercial areas.

Deep knowledge of the National Health System, pharmaceutical policies, and funding mechanisms.

Excellent leadership and people management skills, with experience managing cross-functional teams in the territory.

Experience in multinational contexts and managing stakeholders at all levels.

Collaborative mindset following the “Growth Mindset” framework.

Networking skills and the ability to develop strong relationships both internally and externally.

Strategic vision and project implementation aptitude.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in complex corporate settings.

Work location: Milan with availability for frequent business travel consistent with work needs.

Advanced professional proficiency in English.

Desirable Skills/Experience

Direct experience in Rare Diseases, both in Commercial and Access functions.

Experience in supporting national strategies, such as pricing and stakeholder engagement, to ensure alignment with field activities.

At AstraZeneca, we champion diversity. This is a patient-driven culture where people build connections to explore new ideas that profoundly impact patients' lives. Here diversity and different thinking are valued, so those life-changing new ideas can come from everywhere. We celebrate and reward each other, ensuring kindness remains as important as our ambition to succeed for those in need. Taking pride in giving back to the communities in which we operate.

Join us on this journey where your career is not just a path but a journey to making a difference where it truly counts. Apply now!

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.