Zonal Market Access Manager

Job Description – Zonal Market Access Manager

Position Details

Job Title

Zonal Market Access Manager

Job Location - Chennai/Ernakulam

Reports To

Market Access Head, India

About the Team

The Market Access team connects Sanofi's innovative medicines with patients who need them. We combine local expertise with global strategy to navigate India's complex healthcare landscape, securing timely and sustainable access to our breakthrough immunology portfolio, including Rezurock, Qftilia, and our future immunology pipeline. Our team plays a critical role in ensuring these cutting-edge therapies reach patients who can benefit from these innovative treatments across India's diverse healthcare systems.

Position Overview

Drive patient access to Sanofi's innovative immunology medicines across assigned states by executing market access strategies at regional level. This role is instrumental in bringing breakthrough therapies like Rezurock and Qftilia to patients by bridging national objectives with local implementation through strategic engagement with regional payers, government stakeholders, healthcare institutions, and patient organizations. You will pioneer specialized market access approaches required for these cutting-edge immunology treatments in the Indian market.

Key Responsibilities

The Zonal Market Access Leader at Sanofi is responsible for executing comprehensive market access strategies to secure and unlock the funding and reimbursement for Sanofi's innovative therapies, with specific focus on Rare Diseases, Qfitlia, and the Transplant portfolio. This role requires strategic engagement with state and central government stakeholders, payers, and healthcare institutions to ensure patient access to breakthrough treatments while optimizing business performance in the assigned region.

Funding Source Development

•     Identify, analyze and strategically pursue state and central Govt funding opportunities for Speciality therapies like Rezurock, One Rare and Qftilia

•     Build relationships with state health departments and finance ministries to secure funding for Sanofi Speciality portfolio (Rezurock, RD & Qfitlia)

•     Develop and implement funding proposals tailored to state health departments and finance ministries, demonstrating clinical value and economic benefits

•     Navigate state health schemes and budget allocation processes to secure sustainable funding pathways for specialized therapies

•     Identify, analyze, and strategically pursue state and central government funding opportunities for innovative therapies including Rare Disease treatments, Qfitlia, and Transplant portfolio products

•     Develop and implement funding proposals tailored to state health departments and finance ministries, demonstrating clinical value and economic benefits

•     Navigate complex state health schemes and budget allocation processes to secure sustainable funding pathways for specialized therapies

•     Lead initiatives to include Sanofi's portfolio in state essential medicine lists and formularies through evidence-based advocacy

•     Monitor and analyze healthcare budget cycles to optimize timing of funding requests and proposals

•     Support inclusion of Sanofi's Specialty portfolio in state essential medicine lists and formularies

Regional Payer Engagement

•     Lead engagement with state insurance schemes and regional payers, highlighting the value proposition of Rezurock, Qftilia and future Innovative Specialty launches in Immunology, Diabetes & RD products

•     Co Create with CFT & Global-Local Access Team,develop and present Access Value Dossiers tailored to regional needs, emphasizing the clinical and economic benefits of our innovative immunology therapies

•     Drive product inclusion in regional institution formularies with focus on securing access for breakthrough treatments

•     Track and analyze payer policy developments, incorporating insights into regional access plans to accelerate formulary listings. Reduce time to listing for RCs as well as utilize LPs for Value propositions.

•     Bring State advocacy and replicate success in one state to another by create advocacy across States.

•     Monitoring payer policy evolution and cooperation into regional access plan to accelerate innovations formulary listing

Strategic Stakeholder Engagement

•     Build relationships with state health officials and commissioners to advocate for innovative immunology treatments

•     Collaborate with public health organizations to address unmet needs in immunology

•     Execute regional market access plans aligned with national strategy for RD Interim & in absence of NPRD funding, Rezurock, Qftilia and future Speciality pipeline

•     Translate national objectives into actionable regional plans for innovative therapies

•     Provide regional insights to inform national strategy for immunology portfolio

•     Support national policy advocacy efforts focused on innovative treatment access

•     Represent Sanofi at regional healthcare forums, policy discussions, and industry events

Cross-functional Collaboration

•     Partner with regional sales teams for market intelligence on immunology treatment landscape

•     Collaborate with medical affairs on regional KOL engagement for innovative therapies

•     Work with marketing on regional campaigns highlighting breakthrough treatments

•     Coordinate with supply chain on product availability for Rezurock, Qftilia and future launches

Required Qualifications

Education

•     Bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, Life Sciences, Business, Public Health, or related field

•     MBA or master’s in healthcare management or public health (preferred)

Experience

•     8-10 years pharmaceutical/healthcare industry experience

•     Proven track record in state-level stakeholder engagement with few examples of state or central interim funding or reduced timelines to Formulary listing/RCs.

•     Experience managing access programs and payer negotiations for specialty or innovative therapies

•     Understanding of Indian state healthcare systems and approaches to innovative therapy access

•     Experience in market access, government affairs, or payer relations is plus

Preferred Qualifications

•     Advanced degree in Health Economics or Public Policy

•     Multi-state/regional experience across India

•     Knowledge of state funding and formulary listing process for specialty medicines

•     Patient support program design experience for innovative therapies

•     Understanding of regional insurance schemes and their approach to breakthrough treatments

Core Competencies & Skills

Technical Skills

•     Regional market access strategy execution for innovative therapies

•     State-level payer engagement for specialty products

•     Health economics and value demonstration for breakthrough immunology therapies

Functional Competencies

•     Strategic planning and execution for innovative product launches

•     Project management and program delivery in complex healthcare environments

•     Stakeholder relationship management focused on innovative therapy access

•     Communicate access value evidence and cross-functional collaboration

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

•     Stakeholder influence and relationship building

•     Cultural sensitivity and local adaptation

•     Team coordination and collaborative mindset

•     Ability to advocate for innovative treatments in challenging access environments

Personal Attributes

•     Results-oriented with strong execution focus

•     Adaptable to diverse regional contexts

•     High ethical standards and integrity

•     Patient-centric and entrepreneurial mindset

•     Passion for bringing innovative treatments to patients in need

Key Stakeholders

•     State Health Departments

•     Regional Payers (CARE institutions, States & public payers)

Special Requirements

•     Regular travel to state capitals and key cities

•     Occasional travel to national headquarters

•     Ability to navigate complex state bureaucracies

•     Cultural sensitivity to regional differences

•     Regional language skills advantageous