National Lead Strategic Payer Accounts (Commercial)

Location: Hybrid Role – based in Princeton, NJ or Frederick, MDReports to: Head of Value, Access, & Trade About Cartesian Therapeutics:Cartesian Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing mRNA CAR-T therapies for autoimmune diseases. Our mission is to expand the reach of cell therapy to patients living with serious autoimmune conditions through scientific rigor, collaboration, and innovation. About the Role:As we look ahead to the upcoming completion of our Ph3 Generalized Myasthenia Gravis trial, along with the continued progression of our trials in Myositis and Juvenile Dermatomyositis, Cartesian is further building-out our Commercial Organization.  Thus, we are seeking a National Lead Strategic Payer Accounts, which will report to the Head of Value, Access, & Trade, and lead national & regional payer engagement and contracting execution (where appropriate) to secure optimal coverage, reimbursement, and access, while translating enterprise access strategy into high-impact field execution. Direct reports are anticipated to include the National Account Managers / NAMs, as we approach commercial launch. Key Responsibilities:Payer Engagement & Account Leadership: Build and maintain senior-level relationships across key Payer decision-makers, and lead strategic engagement with national and regional commercial payers and government accounts, to shape coverage, reimbursement, and accessNegotiation & Contracting Execution: Support and lead payer negotiations and contracting efforts (where appropriate and aligned to strategy), translating enterprise pricing and contracting strategy into actionable, account-specific agreements that optimize access, reimbursement, and long-term valueAccess Strategy Pull-Through: Operationalize market access strategy in the field by aligning payer engagement plans to brand strategy, value proposition, and evidence; ensure consistent execution and feedback loops to inform ongoing strategy refinementPre-Launch Payer Shaping & Insight Generation: Engage payers early (within compliant frameworks) to shape the access environment, test value hypotheses, and generate actionable insights to inform pricing, evidence generation, and go-to-market strategyValue Communication & Payer Education: Deliver compelling, compliant payer value narratives supported by clinical, economic, and real-world evidence; partner with internal teams to tailor tools and resources to payer segment needsCross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with commercial peers and medical affairs, to ensure aligned payer strategy, coordinated engagement, and seamless execution across stakeholdersField Team Build & Leadership: Hire, develop, and lead the National Account Manager (NAM) team over time; establish clear account planning, performance expectations, and best practices to drive consistent, high-impact payer engagement and team performanceMarket Intelligence & Feedback Loop: Continuously capture and synthesize payer insights, including coverage expectations, policy trends, and competitive dynamics; translate insights into actionable recommendations for pricing, contracting, evidence, and access strategyLaunch Readiness & Execution: Play a critical role in pre-launch planning and execution, including account prioritization, engagement strategy, and readiness for coverage and reimbursement at launch Qualifications:BioPharma Experience: ~10–15 years of progressive biopharma experience with deep expertise in payer account management, market access, and/or field-based payer engagement, including direct responsibility for national and/or regional payer relationships in high-growth launch-stage environmentsLeadership Profile: Purpose-driven leader that values and role-models innovation, collaboration, integrity, and patient-centric thinking. Proven "player-coach" with the agility & humility to operate seamlessly between strategy and execution; known for building and leading high-performing teams and driving impact in resource-constrained, fast-paced, high-science environments Payer Expertise: Strong expertise in U.S. payer & reimbursement landscape, including government and commercial payers, contracting frameworks, buy-and-bill dynamics across sites of care, field-based resourcing & deployment, and compliant payer engagement (including PIE)Therapeutic Experience: Experience within cell and/or gene therapy, rare disease, neurology, rheumatology, and/or hematology/oncology strongly preferred, including successful launch of novel or first-in-class therapiesStrategic & Execution Capability: Ability to translate complex clinical and economic data into clear, compelling value narratives and execute against broader access strategy in a dynamic pre-launch environmentCollaboration & Influence: Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence both external payer stakeholders and internal cross-functional teamsEducation: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, PharmD, or equivalent) preferred; relevant work experience will be considered Travel Expectations: Field-facing leadership role; ~50-75% travel, most significantly during pre-launch and payer-critical periods