Head, Market Access

Summary

Join Orca Bio, a late-stage biotechnology company, as the Head, Market Access to lead the development and execution of the U.S. market access strategy for Orca-T and future pipeline products. This critical role involves shaping patient, provider, and payer access to innovative cell therapies. You will lead a high-impact team responsible for Field Market Access and U.S. Value, Access & Pricing Strategy, collaborating with cross-functional teams. The position requires extensive experience in biopharma market access, oncology, and cell therapy, with a proven track record of launching complex therapies. You will develop and own the U.S. market access strategy, ensuring alignment across pricing, reimbursement, distribution, and health economics. Success in this role demands strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills.

Requirements

• 15+ years of U.S. market access, pricing, or payer strategy experience in biopharma
• Deep expertise in oncology, hematology, or cell therapy (CAR-T, T-cell therapies, or stem cell transplantation strongly preferred)
• Extensive understanding of the transplant clinical landscape and the business of cell therapy
• Proven leadership in launching complex therapies in rare or specialized treatment settings (e.g., hospital-administered, specialty distribution, or provider buy-and-bill models)
• Experience building and leading field market access teams and managing pricing and access strategy functions
• Demonstrated success navigating payer coverage for high-cost, curative therapies
• Strong grasp of HEOR, real-world evidence, and cost-effectiveness frameworks relevant to transplant and oncology decision-makers
• Knowledge of U.S. reimbursement landscape, including CMS, Medicare Part B/D, Medicaid, and commercial payers
• Excellent strategic thinker, with the ability to formulate, develop and execute strategy based on applied analytical skills
• Proven track record in developing market access strategy/materials & marketing initiatives for oncology products by leveraging market research, data, and analytics in highly complex and competitive markets
• Demonstrates confidence and ability to effectively influence senior business leaders
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and interpret business issues/opportunities and make sound business judgments regarding solutions
• Advanced PowerPoint and Excel skills
• Excellent verbal / written communication skills
• Bachelor’s degree required

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the U.S. market access strategy for Orca-T, ensuring alignment across pricing, reimbursement, distribution, and health economics
• Serve as a core partner to Clinical, Medical Affairs, HEOR, and Regulatory in shaping data generation to support access and value propositions
• Define and drive payer evidence needs, value messages, and economic models tailored to transplant centers, integrated delivery networks, and commercial & government payers
• Lead launch readiness planning for Orca-T with cross-functional alignment on access priorities
• Directly lead and develop a team of leaders
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and accountability within the Market Access function
• Oversee access tactics including payer engagement, pathway positioning, buy-and-bill and HUB support models, benefit verification, and prior authorization strategies
• Partner with trade and distribution to optimize site-of-care strategy and provider logistics for cell therapy delivery
• Collaborate with Legal and Compliance to ensure all market access activities adhere to regulatory standards and company policies

Preferred Qualifications

Advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or similar) strongly preferred