Field Patient Access Director- Midwest

Description Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology. Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs. Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills. The Field Patient Access Director is a senior field-based leadership role responsible for overseeing regional patient access functions, including Patient Access Liaisons (PALs) and Field Reimbursement Managers (FRMs). The geography includes Northern CA and Nevada. This role ensures the successful execution of patient access, reimbursement education, and patient support strategies to optimize access to therapy and improve patient outcomes. The Director partners closely with cross-functional leadership across Market Access, Sales, Patient Support Programs, Commercial Operations, Training, and Compliance to support product launches, ongoing access initiatives, and continuous operational improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Field Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, field-based patient access organization, including PALs and FRMs, across assigned geographies.
• Establish clear performance expectations, KPIs, and MBOs; monitor progress and provide ongoing feedback and professional development.
• Partner with Commercial Training & Development to design and execute comprehensive onboarding and continuous learning programs.
• Lead change management initiatives to scale and evolve field patient access operations in response to organizational growth, pipeline expansion, and evolving market needs.
• Build and maintain a strong talent pipeline through succession planning, coaching, and proactive talent development.

Patient Access & Reimbursement Strategy

• Own field patient access readiness and execution for new product and indication launches, ensuring teams, vendors, and processes are fully aligned.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on reimbursement, coverage, specialty pharmacy, and third-party services within assigned regions.
• Proactively analyze payer, reimbursement, and access trends to anticipate barriers and guide mitigation strategies.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborate closely with Market Access, Sales, Patient Support, Commercial Operations, and external vendors.
• Partner with Sales leadership to inform account planning and local access strategy development.
• Support healthcare providers and office staff through compliant education.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Identify opportunities for process improvement and lead initiatives that enhance operational efficiency.
• Ensure all field activities comply with laws, regulations, and company policies.
• Partner with Patient Safety, Pharmacovigilance, and Quality teams for reporting.

Reporting & Performance Management

• Monitor activity, performance data, and stakeholder feedback.
• Translate field insights into actionable recommendations.
• Promote best practice sharing.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industries.
• Demonstrated progressive field leadership experience.
• Experience supporting rare disease and/or specialty products.
• Deep understanding of reimbursement pathways and specialty pharmacy.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of compliance, patient confidentiality, and access requirements.
• Knowledge of laws governing protection of patient identifying information.

Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Short and long-term disability benefits
• Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Saving Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various incentive compensation plans
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents

This position includes the following states: Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana $220,000–$245,000 actual salary will vary based on qualifications, skills, and experience. Additional compensation may include a company car, allowance, and bonus eligibility.