Cluster V&A Director

at Kyowa Kirin International plc

Milan - Italy

WE PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF MEDICINE.

LEAPING FORWARD TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE

At Kyowa Kirin International (KKI), our purpose is to make people smile. This means more than drug discovery and development; it is about embedding care into everything we do to make a difference every day for those that need it most. We’re an inclusive pharmaceutical company that takes time to understand what really matters to our patients, their families, and their healthcare professionals, helping our people to take bold actions that deliver life-changing solutions sooner. Our culture is rooted in our values: Teamwork, Commitment to Life, Innovation, and Integrity. They help us to push boundaries to deliver extraordinary impact and make KKI a brilliant place to work.

Job Purpose

As Cluster Value & Access Director – Southern Cluster, you will be at the forefront of improving patient access to Kyowa Kirin’s innovative medicines. In this highly visible leadership role, you will develop and execute market access, pricing, and payer engagement strategies that support both current and future products.

Partnering with local, regional, and global teams, you will translate insights into impactful value propositions, lead HTA and reimbursement activities, and shape access strategies that deliver sustainable value for patients, healthcare systems, and Kyowa Kirin. This is an exciting opportunity to influence key access decisions and drive commercial success across the Southern Cluster.

Key Responsibilities:

• Shape and deliver pricing, reimbursement, and market access strategies across the Southern Cluster (Italy, Spain, Portugal), driving optimal patient access and commercial success.
• Develop compelling value propositions, HTA submissions, value dossiers, and HEOR materials to support reimbursement and pricing objectives.
• Partner with affiliate, regional, and global teams to anticipate market access challenges and translate insights into actionable strategies.
• Lead payer engagement initiatives and innovative access solutions that maximize product value and reimbursement opportunities.
• Monitor healthcare policies, market dynamics, and pricing trends to identify opportunities and risks across the portfolio.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Regulatory, Medical, Clinical, and Commercial teams to ensure evidence generation meets payer needs.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for Value & Access and Health Economics & Outcomes Research (HEOR), providing strategic guidance across the organization.
• Support pipeline planning by assessing future market access requirements and influencing global development strategies.
• Lead and contribute to strategic market access projects while promoting Kyowa Kirin’s values and reputation internally and externally.

Position Requirements

• Advanced degree in Health Sciences, Economics, Pharmacy, Medicine, or a related field (PhD and/or postgraduate qualifications in Market Access, HEOR, or Business preferred).
• Significant experience in pharmaceutical Market Access, Pricing & Reimbursement, Government Affairs, or HEOR, with a strong track record of successful access outcomes.
• Deep understanding of reimbursement systems, health economics, pricing strategies, and payer decision-making.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional collaboration in complex environments.
• Strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and project leadership skills.
• Experience developing HEOR evidence and supporting market access submissions.
• Fluent in English and the local cluster language; additional languages are an advantage.
• Existing network within healthcare authorities and payer organizations is highly desirable.

Key Competencies

✔ Strategic and commercially minded
✔ Strong leadership, communication, and negotiation skills
✔ Highly analytical with excellent problem-solving abilities
✔ Influential relationship builder across internal and external stakeholders
✔ Self-motivated, proactive, and results-driven
✔ Innovative thinker with a patient-focused mindset
✔ Comfortable working independently and in cross-functional teams
✔ Strong project and budget management capabilities
✔ Embodies Kyowa Kirin's values of Commitment to Life, Teamwork, Innovation, and Integrity.