Director, Market Access, Japan at Smith+Nephew in Tokyo, Tokyo, JP

The Market Access Director for Japan is responsible for developing and executing strategies to ensure optimal access and reimbursement for the company’s products within the Japanese healthcare market. This role requires a deep understanding of Japanese healthcare policies, payer dynamics, reimbursement environment, and stakeholder engagement. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams, manage external relationships, and play a pivotal role in shaping market access initiatives that drive business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement comprehensive market access strategies tailored to the Japanese market, including pricing, reimbursement, and health technology assessment (HTA) submissions.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Advocacy: Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, payers, societies, healthcare professionals, patient advocacy groups, and industry bodies.
• Policy Intelligence: Monitor and analyze changes in healthcare policy, reimbursement guidelines, and other requirements affecting market access in Japan.
• Evidence Needs: Identify and prioritize evidence needs necessary to drive /expand/defend access in Japan and/or optimize reimbursement.
• Evidence Generation: Collaborate with medical and clinical teams to design and deliver real-world evidence, health economics, and outcomes research to support product value propositions.
• Cross-functional Leadership: Lead and coordinate cross-functional teams comprising medical affairs, regulatory, commercial, and legal to deliver market access objectives.
• Risk Assessment: Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies related to market access and reimbursement.
• Reporting: Prepare regular updates and reports for senior management regarding market access progress, challenges, and opportunities in Japan.

Requirments

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences, business, public health, or a related field
• Advanced degree preferred

Experience

• 5+ years of experience in market access, pricing, reimbursement, or health policy within the Japanese medical device industry
• Proven experience developing and executing market access strategies in Japan

Competencies

• Strong knowledge of Japanese healthcare system, regulatory pathways, and payer landscape.
• Experience in health economics, outcomes research, and evidence generation is highly desirable.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills in both Japanese and English.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking capabilities.

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