Job description
Do you want to own ex-US pricing, reimbursement policy, and tender strategy for a rare disease portfolio, and shape international policy across 40+ countries?
Ascendis Pharma is a global, fast-growing biopharmaceutical company driven by our core values: Patients, Science and Passion. Using our innovative TransCon® technology platform, we develop best-in-class therapies addressing unmet needs in rare endocrinology and oncology. With headquarters in Denmark and offices across Europe and the United States, we are committed to making a meaningful difference for patients worldwide.
The Role As Senior Director, Pricing & Policy for EU and international ex-US markets, you will act as the single point of accountability for pricing strategy, approval, net revenue protection and international reference pricing (IRP) integrity. You will support pipeline and business development pricing decisions, shaping access and pricing policy across multiple countries, while partnering closely with country access teams and internal stakeholders.
You will report directly to the VP, Market Access & Pricing EU & International and work across functions including Regulatory, HEOR, Medical Affairs, and Commercial. The role can be based in one of our European offices (UK, Spain, Germany, Denmark) with flexibility to work remotely. Frequent travel (approximately 50%) to Copenhagen, partner markets, and international forums is expected.
Key Responsibilities
Global Pricing Architecture & Governance
You will lead and design a pricing platform that aligns with company policy, ensuring an IRP-resilient price framework for ex-US markets. You will chair quarterly Global Pricing Committee meetings with senior leadership, author and update the Global Price & Access Policy, and oversee the price approval process using robust analytics and supporting evidence. Maintaining an accurate pricing database and ensuring a seamless order-to-cash process are key responsibilities.
Strategic Pricing Leadership
You will set launch prices and sequences, negotiate confidential net prices in collaboration with internal and country teams, and design innovative risk-sharing arrangements such as payment-by-results, annuities, outcomes guarantees, and portfolio contracts. You will evaluate pricing and access challenges for early research and pipeline initiatives and run IRP simulations, launch sequence analyses, and financial models to safeguard price corridors.
Policy & External Influence
You will shape rare-disease and orphan-drug policy in international forums, including EUCOPE, HTAi, EURIPID and ISPOR, building strong relationships with policymakers to position Ascendis as a valued partner. You will elevate the patient voice in political processes and anticipate future policy risks, including IRP erosion, new HTA processes, price transparency regulations, and EU HTA Joint Clinical Assessments.
Cross-Functional Leadership
You will work with senior leadership to implement pricing policies, support access teams to maximize opportunities, and partner with regulatory, medical, clinical, HEOR, and country leadership to establish a robust policy strategy. You will educate the organization on pricing and access policy risks, ensuring leadership visibility and follow-up on mitigation strategies.
Qualifications
- 12–18+ years of pharmaceutical or biotech experience in pricing and market access, with at least 8 years at pan-EU or international level, ideally with ex-EU exposure.
- Proven track record securing pricing for rare disease products across ex-US markets, including MENA, LATAM, and APAC.
- Deep understanding of multiple HTA and pricing systems (e.g., AMNOG, NICE, PBAC, CDR) and experience implementing complex pricing arrangements.
- Experience managing pricing policies, analytics, databases, and processes with senior stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge of the access policy landscape in ex-US markets, with a network of decision-makers and experience shaping policy via influential organizations.
- Fluent English required; additional languages are an advantage.
- Advanced degree in management, life sciences, or related field preferred.
- Entrepreneurial leader with commercial acumen, able to communicate complex analytics and arguments to senior leadership, influence at ministerial and payer level, and drive strategic plans and change.
- Comfortable operating in a high-ambiguity, fast-paced, small-company environment.
Key Competencies
You have a strong strategic mindset and commercial acumen, allowing you to translate complex pricing, access, and policy considerations into clear, actionable strategies. You excel at influencing senior leaders, stakeholders, and decision-makers across diverse markets. You build trustful relationships with cross-functional teams, affiliates, and external partners, driving alignment and execution in a complex, international environment.
You are highly analytical and can leverage data and modeling to support robust decision-making and protect net revenue. You thrive in high-ambiguity, fast-moving environments and take ownership to solve complex problems proactively. You communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and you demonstrate strong judgment when managing confidential, regulated, and high-impact information. You lead by example, fostering collaboration, inspiring teams, and ensuring the organization understands and mitigates pricing and policy risks.
Apply now
Interested candidates should submit their resume and a cover letter highlighting relevant experience and skills.
Applications will be evaluated when received, so please apply as soon as possible.
