Regional Access Manager

Do you want to play a key role in ensuring that innovative therapies reach patients across Italy – shaping regional access, payer engagement and adoption in a complex healthcare environment?

Ascendis Pharma is a fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company driven by our core values: Patients, Science and Passion. Using our innovative TransCon® technology platform, we develop best-in-class therapies that address unmet needs in rare endocrinology and oncology. With headquarters in Denmark and offices across Europe and the United States, we are committed to making a meaningful difference for patients worldwide.

The Role

In this role, you will be responsible for driving regional market access, payer engagement, and implementation of national pricing and reimbursement decisions across selected Italian regions. You will work closely with national Market Access, Medical Affairs, Commercial, HEOR, and Regulatory colleagues to ensure timely and sustainable access for patients. Your focus will be on regional authorities, HTA stakeholders, hospital decision-makers, and payer bodies to secure adoption, formulary inclusion, and funding pathways for Ascendis’ therapies.

You will report to the Head of Market Access Italy and will work field-based across Italy, with regular travel expected.

Key Responsibilities

Access Strategy Leadership

• Develop and execute regional access strategies aligned with national pricing and reimbursement decisions.
• Secure inclusion of Ascendis products in regional formularies, hospital budgets, treatment pathways and therapeutic plans.
• Translate national HTA outcomes into successful regional implementation across diverse regions.
• Provide actionable regional insights to inform national market access strategy and early launch planning.

Pricing & Reimbursement Execution

• Lead regional negotiations and interactions with payers, regional authorities and decision-making bodies (incl. AIFA-related counterparts at regional level).
• Support the implementation of national pricing agreements and value propositions at local level.
• Identify and support innovative funding pathways, budget solutions and access mechanisms within regional frameworks.

Evidence Generation & HEOR Support

• Communicate clinical, economic and real-world evidence to regional stakeholders in collaboration with Medical Affairs and HEOR.
• Support the preparation and dissemination of regional value materials, objection handlers and budget-impact tools.
• Gather regional data and insights to strengthen RWE strategies and prepare for reassessments or access renewals.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong relationships with regional health authorities, payer bodies, hospital administrators, KOLs and policy influencers.
• Support advisory boards, regional scientific meetings and educational activities that reinforce the product value story.
• Represent Ascendis in relevant regional payer or policy forums, ensuring alignment with national strategies.

Team & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with local and global teams (Medical Affairs, HEOR, Regulatory, Commercial) to ensure integrated launch readiness and access execution.
• Contribute to capability building within the Italian organization by sharing regional insights and best practices.
• Work collaboratively across matrixed teams to ensure consistent, compliant, and effective stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in regional market access, payer engagement or reimbursement roles within pharmaceutical or biotech companies.
• Strong knowledge of the Italian healthcare system, regional structures, budget processes and HTA implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to secure regional adoption, formulary inclusion and access for specialty or rare-disease therapies is a strong advantage.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Medical, Market Access, HEOR and Commercial teams.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; ability to translate clinical and economic evidence into clear value messages.
• Fluent in Italian and English.
• University degree in life sciences, health economics, public health, pharmacy, economics or related field.

Key Competencies

To succeed in this role, you bring a strategic yet hands-on mindset, with the ability to navigate complex regional healthcare environments. You excel at building trust-based relationships with payers, clinicians and decision-makers, and you communicate with clarity and credibility.

You are analytical, structured and comfortable working with clinical, economic and real-world evidence. You thrive in an agile, growing organization, and you collaborate naturally across functions. You are adaptable, culturally aware and capable of operating effectively across diverse regional landscapes. Finally, you demonstrate integrity, resilience and strong alignment with Ascendis’ values.

Apply now

Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter highlighting relevant experience and skills.
Applications will be evaluated on an ongoing basis, so please apply as soon as possible.