IBU Access & Value Lead - Orexin Franchise

Takeda Pharma AG seeks a Senior IBU Access & Value Lead in Zürich to drive market access, pricing, and reimbursement strategies for the Orexin franchise across international markets.

The company is looking for a strategic leader to own the International Business Unit (IBU) access strategy for Oveporexton. This role ensures timely patient access and sustainable reimbursement by developing robust payer value propositions, maintaining Health Technology Assessment (HTA) readiness, and coordinating cross-functional efforts across six core markets.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement global access and pricing initiatives for Oveporexton within highly regulated and competitive IBU markets.
• Act as the central liaison for local access teams, driving strategy execution to secure pricing and reimbursement approvals while maximizing long-term value.
• Collaborate with Local Operating Companies (LOCs) to define ambitious access goals, guide scenario planning, and provide direct support for high-stakes negotiations.
• Assist local teams in developing value propositions, preparing for negotiations, handling competitive responses, and managing complex payer interactions.
• Oversee contracting levers such as Value-Based Contracts (VBC) and entry agreements, ensuring all activities comply with corporate governance and regulatory standards.
• Report on access strategy execution, pricing actions, reimbursement statuses, and key performance indicators to senior leadership.
• Refine the IBU access strategy by incorporating insights from international congresses and external payer forums.
• Promote a growth mindset within the access community by encouraging engagement with the broader healthcare ecosystem, including patient groups, medical partners, and digitalization trends.
• Manage the budget for assigned assets and coordinate with global pricing teams to optimize pricing strategies and ensure consistent implementation.
• Anticipate impacts from loss of exclusivity, biosimilars, and competitive pressures, working closely with relevant offices to mitigate risks.
• Integrate access considerations into strategic decisions by partnering with commercial, medical, regulatory, and HEOR teams.
• Connect local, IBU, and global teams to create fit-for-purpose deliverables like value dossiers and negotiation playbooks that enhance value perception.
• Work with medical and evidence generation teams to identify evidence gaps and integrate real-world evidence (RWE) into payer narratives.
• Monitor market access trends, reimbursement policies, and coverage decisions to identify risks and opportunities in partnership with global strategy teams.
• Lead the multi-layer TA Access function to ensure cross-market consistency, share best practices, and accelerate access outcomes.
• Train and equip local teams with processes, standards, and tools to build high-quality access execution capabilities.
• Champion digital capability adoption and lead mock negotiations and simulation exercises to prepare markets for complex scenarios.
• Foster collaboration and best practice sharing across GPA teams, access functions, and cross-functional partners globally.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives sponsored by the Global Pricing & Access (GPA) function to broaden organizational impact and drive enterprise value.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in local and regional market access and pricing, with proven leadership in therapeutic areas and complex payer environments.
• Demonstrated ability to shape therapeutic area-level access strategies across the full asset lifecycle, including launch, inline management, and loss of exclusivity.
• Deep understanding of global payer systems, reimbursement pathways, and pricing dynamics, particularly in Europe and intercontinental markets.
• Strong expertise in portfolio readiness, including payer scenario planning, pricing insights, evidence requirements, and competitive risk management.
• Advanced skill in integrating clinical, HEOR, RWE, and competitive insights into clear payer value propositions.
• Proven matrix leadership experience, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes and collaborate with global and local partners.
• Strong project and program management capabilities to prioritize parallel workstreams and meet deadlines.
• Experience in influencing cross-functional teams and leading geographically dispersed access groups to drive capability development.
• Learning agility to adapt to new assets, portfolios, or situations while delivering results in uncertain environments.
• Strategic thinking skills to make forward-looking decisions based on business acumen and identify challenges and opportunities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to influence diverse global and local stakeholders in multicultural settings.
• Resilience in ambiguous situations and ability to collaborate effectively across international markets and cultures.

Nice to have

• Experience using digital platforms, data analytics, and AI-driven tools to enhance decision-making and access strategy execution.

What the company offers

• The company promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and offers numerous opportunities for professional growth.
• As a global top employer, the organization provides exciting career paths, encourages innovation, and strives for top performance.
• Takeda fosters an inclusive, collaborative, and international work environment united by a commitment to improving health and creating a better future.

About the company

Takeda Pharma AG is a global pharmaceutical company committed to improving people's health and creating a better future. The organization operates with a culture of integrity, fairness, honesty, and perseverance, known as Takeda-ism. It enables employees to develop their full potential within a growing team that values creativity and flexibility.

• The company is built on a foundation of committed colleagues who earn the trust of society and customers.
• Takeda-ism values include integrity, fairness, honesty, and perseverance.
• The organization supports employee development and encourages creativity and flexibility.
• The work environment is inclusive, collaborative, and international.