National Account Director, Payer Accounts

Position Summary:

The National Account Director, Payer Accounts is responsible for developing and executing payer engagement strategies that support optimal coverage, access, and reimbursement for Zenas BioPharma’s innovative portfolio. Reporting to the Executive Director, Payer Strategy, this role will lead strategic engagement with national payer organizations, Medicare and commercial health plans, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and Tier 1 regional health plans to support optimal coverage and access.

The National Account Director will build and manage senior-level relationships with payer decision makers, support formulary positioning and contracting discussions, and ensure payer insights inform internal access strategy. This individual will collaborate closely with cross-functional partners including Pricing & Contracting, Medical Affairs, Sales, Market Access Operations, and Patient Services to ensure payer strategy is aligned with commercial execution and supports successful patient access.

The successful candidate will bring established relationships with key national and regional payer organizations and PBMs and demonstrated success negotiating coverage and access for specialty or rare disease therapies.

This role offers a unique opportunity to help shape payer access strategy and establish foundational payer partnerships in preparation for upcoming product launches.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain strategic relationships with national payer organizations, Medicare and commercial health plans, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and Tier 1 regional health plans.
• Execute payer engagement strategies designed to support favorable coverage, reimbursement pathways, and formulary positioning for Zenas therapies.
• Partner with the Executive Director, Payer Strategy to support payer engagement activities leading up to anticipated product launches.
• Collaborate with the Sales organization to share payer insights, support field awareness of coverage dynamics, and help address market access barriers impacting providers and patients.
• Lead and support payer contract negotiations in collaboration with Finance and the Pricing & Contracting team, ensuring alignment with overall access and reimbursement strategy
• Monitor payer coverage policies, utilization management criteria, and competitive access dynamics to inform internal strategy.
• Provide actionable payer insights and market intelligence to cross-functional stakeholders including Sales, Medical Affairs, HEOR, Commercial, and Patient Services teams.
• Provide strategic payer insights and account-level intelligence to senior leadership to help inform access strategies, coverage planning, and launch readiness.
• Support development and delivery of payer value presentations and account engagement plans.
• Maintain detailed account plans and track payer coverage developments to ensure coordinated payer strategy across accounts.
• Represent Zenas BioPharma with professionalism, credibility, and integrity while building long-term payer partnerships.

Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will bring deep experience engaging national and regional payer organizations and pharmacy benefit managers, with a demonstrated ability to influence coverage strategy and negotiate access for specialty or rare disease therapies. Experience engaging Medicare Advantage or Part D plans is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD or similar) preferred.
• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, including at least 5 years in Market Access, payer account management, or managed markets roles.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating and managing contracts with national payer organizations, PBMs, and Tier 1 regional health plans.
• Demonstrated experience managing and growing relationships with national and regional payers, with an established network of payer decision-makers required.
• Proven success supporting payer strategy, formulary positioning, and reimbursement planning for specialty, rare disease, or immunology therapies preferred.
• Strong understanding of the U.S. payer landscape including commercial health plans, PBMs, specialty pharmacy distribution models, and reimbursement dynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong communication, presentation, and strategic planning skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced and collaborative biotech environment.
• Willingness to travel as required to support payer engagement.

#LI-Remote

The position is eligible for a competitive compensation and benefits package.

Zenas is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary pay range for this role is $196,000 to 245,000. Actual compensation packages will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to depth of experience, education, skillset, overall performance and/or location.

Zenas believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package to all employees. Our base salary is just one component of Zenas’ competitive total rewards strategy that also includes annual performance bonus, equity, full range of benefits and other incentive compensation plans.