Senior Director, Payer Strategy & Engagement

Capricor Therapeutics, Inc.

. Lead development and execution of U.S.

Posted 11/6/2026full-timeSan Diego • California • United StatesSenior💰 $250,000 - $310,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in U.S. payer strategy, account engagement, and reimbursement leadership, particularly in the context of rare-disease therapies. Proven ability to develop payer value platforms and lead cross-functional teams to navigate complex contracting and market access challenges.

Highest-signal resume keywords

U.S. Market Access LeadershipPayer Engagement StrategyContracting Strategy DevelopmentHTA and HEOR ExperienceRare-Disease Launch Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Payer Strategy DevelopmentBudget-Impact ModelingICD-10 Coding InitiativesGovernment Pricing MethodologiesContracting StructuresAnalytical CapabilitiesValue Deck ConstructionAMCP Dossier DevelopmentPatient Access StrategiesVendor Management

Soft Skills

Problem-Solving AbilityDecision-Making SkillsExecutive PresenceInfluencing Without AuthorityAttention to Detail

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's DegreeAdvanced Degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD Preferred)

Industry Keywords

Biopharmaceutical ExperienceSpecialty PharmacyMarket Access AnalyticsPayer Leadership EngagementCross-Functional CollaborationMilestone-Based ContractingNational and Regional PayersMedicaid PlansPatient and Provider AccessHealthcare Legislative Trends

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead development and execution of U.S. payer strategy and account engagement for the anticipated deramiocel launch
Develop payer strategy across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid segments
Construct the deramiocel payer value platform, including AMCP dossiers, value decks, budget-impact models, and policy response tools
Identify pricing and reimbursement analogues for a high-cost, one-time rare-disease therapy
Drive product-specific HCPCS code application and ICD-10 coding initiatives
Monitor healthcare legislative and policy trends and develop responses to access barriers
Partner with Trade & Patient Services on buy-and-bill, specialty pharmacy, and site-of-care strategy
Lead the National Account Director team in engagement with national and regional payers, PBMs, Medicaid plans, and IDNs
Develop contracting strategy and oversee commercial, Medicaid, and outcomes-based arrangements
Establish payer account plans, productivity measures, and execution cadence
Align HEOR, real-world evidence, and clinical evidence-generation efforts with payer and HTA expectations
Partner with Marketing and Field teams on payer-focused tools, messaging, and training
Ensure payer engagement complies with Capricor standards and applicable regulations
Represent Capricor at industry conferences including AMCP, PCMA, ISPOR, and Asembia
Coach, develop, and performance-manage payer-facing leaders
Own workload planning, training, and staffing for launch readiness and post-launch scale
Lead future hiring and organizational development as the business scales
Collaborate with Pricing & Contracting Operations, Market Access Analytics, Trade & Patient Services, Medical Affairs, HEOR, Legal, Finance, external payer leadership, advocacy organizations, and market access vendors

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or related) strongly preferred
12+ years of biopharmaceutical experience, including 5+ years in U.S. market access and reimbursement leadership
Rare-disease, specialty, or advanced-therapy launch experience required
Hands-on experience with HTA, U.S. payer engagement, patient and provider access, HEOR, and medical-benefit reimbursement and coding
Strong analytical capabilities, including working knowledge of government pricing methodologies and supporting regulations
Demonstrated ability to lead account teams and execute complex multi-stakeholder contracting initiatives
Outstanding executive presence and ability to engage payer leadership effectively
Cell or gene therapy payer engagement experience preferred
Global or international market access experience preferred
Experience leading outcomes-based or milestone-based contracting structures preferred
Established senior-level relationships across national and regional commercial payers, PBMs, and Medicaid plans preferred
Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability
Vendor management and negotiation skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly scaling environment
Exceptional attention to detail and documentation discipline
Ability to influence without authority across cross-functional teams
Willingness to travel domestically approximately 30 to 50%

Benefits

Comp & perks

Discretionary annual performance bonus eligibility
Long-term equity incentive awards eligibility, depending on role level
Employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision coverage
Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance
401(k) plan with company match
Paid time off
Company holidays
Paid parental leave
Additional voluntary benefits
Wellness programs