Associate Director, Patient Access Operations

About Soleno Therapeutics, Inc.

Soleno Therapeutics, Inc., based in Redwood City, California, is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases, including Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).

At Soleno, we are driven by the unique and multi-faceted needs of the PWS community. Like these individuals, resilience is part of who we are — it is in our chromosomes — and our team is made up of exceptional colleagues whose collective efforts are woven together to deliver meaningful outcomes, both professionally and for those living with PWS.

We value collaboration, integrity, and respect. These characteristics have allowed us to forge strong, authentic bonds with the caregivers, patients, health care professionals (HCPs), and community members we serve. We are proud to work alongside them every step of the way.

Our employees are our most important asset, and we are looking to expand across many functions during this important and pivotal time. We encourage you to join us in making history. We all share the most important goal of bringing solutions to the PWS community. They are waiting.

Summary of Job (brief description)

Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Patient Access Services, the Associate Director of Patient Access Operations requires a dedicated, organized, and team-oriented professional to manage patient support/trade operations and initiatives to optimize the patient experience when accessing VYKAT XR. This position requires an understanding of access & affordability programs and trade channel efficiencies to facilitate appropriate patient access. This role will be hands-on in helping to manage Soleno’s patient services and trade partner. This person will build highly collaborative working relationships with the broader Market Access team and cross-functional stakeholders across the Sales, Marketing, and Commercial Analytics & Operations teams. Externally, the role will work with Soleno’s patient services/trade partner to successfully manage day-to-day operations to enable a more seamless experience for patients and their families when accessing VYKAT XR. This role will be a key player on a high-performing team committed to making a difference in the lives of patients and families living with PWS.

Responsibilities

• Serve as communication conduit between manufacturer and partner vendor to help manage initiatives related to patient support/SP processes.
• Support ongoing management of operations of external specialty pharmacy vendor involved in reimbursement hub services, copay assistance, patient support services, and distribution to align performance with organizational KPIs.
• Lead the operational execution of daily partner and vendor activities to maintain a seamless patient experience through patient support and adherence programs, and distribution to patients.
• Support management of patient savings programs and affordability tactics.
• Assess and continuously refine business rules and SOPs for Patient Services Programs and Services to ensure patient programs are optimized and compliant.
•  Work closely with the field access team to support optimization of the patient journey
• Collaborate with the Commercial Analytics & Operations team to evaluate service data, identify trends, and recommend areas for focused improvement.
• Contribute to future process improvements and optimization of patient support services to compliantly support patients and meet the company’s patient access objectives.
• Communicate to department leadership key events and access challenges as they arise.
• Monitor vendor performance against KPIs to ensure quality, compliance, and cost-efficiency to optimize support to meet organizational priorities.
• Coordinate ongoing business reviews with patient support services partners.
• Act in complete and total compliance with all laws, regulations, and company policies.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree required.
• Minimum 8 years of healthcare/pharmaceutical industry experience, including a minimum of 6 years in Patient Support Service Operations with significant knowledge of Specialty Pharmacy processes.
• Strong understanding of payer reimbursement (commercial & government payers), (i.e., benefit investigations, prior authorization process, appeals, payer reimbursement policies and procedures, regulatory and administrative rules, etc.).
• Proven experience coordinating with CoPay vendors, third-party hub services, or specialty pharmacies to support patient financial assistance and affordability programs.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and vendors in a highly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into action; excellent organizational skills and an ability to communicate complex issues in a simple way and orchestrate plans to resolve issues and mitigate risks.
• Demonstrates strategic enterprise thinking to find innovative ways to serve patients, and the business.
• Focuses on critical priorities and delivers superior results.
• Experience working with all levels of management and consulting with key business stakeholders. An ability to influence for greater outcomes.
• Demonstrated proficiency in leading and influencing cross-functional teams. Able to gain buy-in and promote shared ownership of projects.
• Excellent communication skills including written and in-person presentation skills persuasively and appropriately.
• Ability to work successfully in a dynamic, fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Launch experience is required; rare disease experience is preferred.
• Ability to Travel up to 30% for key meetings and customer/partner relationship when required.

Salary Range: $200,000 - $225,000

(Actual salary at the time of hire may vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including, but not limited to, the candidate’s relevant qualifications, skills, and experience, as well as the location where this position may be filled.)