Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access
Vertex Pharmaceuticals · Michigan, United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $214,400 / year
- Michigan, United States
Tailored resume — keyword-matched to this role.
Hiring manager — we find who's hiring.
Intro email — drafted to reach them directly.
Job highlights
- Provide expert legal advice on market access.
- Support various departments including Market Access.
- Counsel on regulations like Medicaid and Medicare.
- Advise on government pricing and contracting.
- Requires 8+ years of life sciences legal experience.
About the role
Job Summary
The person in this role will provide expert advice and counseling to the business on a broad array of strategic and tactical projects within a highly regulated environment. This position will report to the Assistant General Counsel and will be responsible for providing legal support to business partners in various departments across the organization, such as Market Access which includes Payer Strategy, Trade & Distribution and Government Pricing, Government Affairs & Public Policy, and pipeline. The ideal candidate will have prior experience counseling prescription drug companies on legal issues relating to market access, government pricing, contracting, federal and state laws impacting pricing and access, antitrust, state pricing transparency and patient assistance.Key Responsibilities
Provide Advice and Counsel to Business Partners- Advise business partners on various Commercial initiatives in a way that advances the company’s strategy while addressing legal risks and protecting the company’s integrity and reputation
- Provide legal advice and counsel on: Statutory and regulatory obligations under Medicaid, Medicare, 340B program, Veterans Health Care Act
- Market access and reimbursement issues
- Government pricing, including price reporting compliance policies and reasonable assumptions documents
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid final rules and correspondence including letters and public comments on proposed rules and guidance
- Proposed and enacted United States federal and state legislation impacting pharmaceutical companies relating to market access, pricing, reimbursement as well as state drug price reporting and transparency laws and compliance
- Services and contracting relating to specialty distributors and specialty pharmacies
- Data and special projects
- Brand strategic planning and business operation plans
- Staying abreast of evolving healthcare legislation and regulations and the enforcement landscape
- Ensure compliance with applicable laws and company policies, including Anti-kickback Statute and other US healthcare compliance laws and regulations
- Collaborate with legal colleagues supporting commercial, pipeline and privacy to ensure delivery of comprehensive legal advice
- Review select materials in Communication Review Committee
- Participate in various Legal & Compliance Department projects and initiatives, including committees such as Culture and Pro Bono & Community Engagement
- Share information and knowledge through group presentations and individual discussions with peers and managers
Qualifications, Professional Skills, And Preferred Experience
- JD from an ABA accredited law school
- Member of a state bar
- Minimum of 8 years post-JD experience advising on legal matters in a life sciences space, whether in a law firm or in-house in the biopharmaceutical industry, or both
- Government price reporting experience
- Experience advising on statutes, regulations, and guidance documents applicable to market access activities, including Medicaid, 340B program, Veterans Administration, federal and state anti-kickback statutes, state drug pricing transparency laws, OIG guidance documents and advisory opinions, the False Claims Act, and the PhRMA Code
- Outstanding ability to effectively communicate (verbally and in writing), sound legal advice to lawyers and non-lawyers alike, coupled with a strong understanding of business needs
- Advanced contracting and redlining skills with strong attention to detail
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving and organizational skills to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously and still meet high quality and timeliness standards
- Ability to effectively and efficiently manage outside counsel and adhere to a budget
- Experience providing legal advice on specialty medicines is highly desired
Personal Attributes
- Self-starter and life-long learner with a strong work ethic and excellent interpersonal skills who
- Enjoys working collaboratively and cross-functionally on teams, as well as independently
- Proactively solves problems and makes decisions with integrity and ethics
- Thrives in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
- Is eager to take on new challenges
Key skills/competency
- Market Access Legal Counsel
- Healthcare Law
- Government Pricing
- Contract Negotiation
- Regulatory Compliance
- Pharmaceutical Law
- Legal Risk Management
- Biopharmaceutical Industry
- Federal and State Healthcare Laws
- JD Degree
Skills & topics
- Legal Senior Counsel
- Market Access
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare Law
- Government Pricing
- Contract Law
- Regulatory Compliance
- Pharmaceuticals
- Legal Counsel
- Biotechnology
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your 8+ years of life sciences legal experience, government pricing, and market access expertise.
- Showcase compliance knowledge: Emphasize your understanding of Medicaid, Medicare, 340B, and anti-kickback statutes.
- Demonstrate business acumen: Prove your ability to provide sound legal advice to non-lawyers and understand business needs.
- Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss your collaborative approach, problem-solving skills, and integrity.
- Network strategically: Connect with Vertex Pharmaceuticals legal professionals on LinkedIn to gain insights into their culture and hiring process.
Technical preparation
Master US healthcare laws and regulations.,Study market access and government pricing.,Review federal and state pricing transparency laws.,Practice advanced contract redlining skills.
Behavioral questions
Describe a complex legal problem you solved.,How do you advise non-legal business partners?,Share an experience of cross-functional collaboration.,How do you handle multiple competing priorities?
Frequently asked questions
- What are the key legal responsibilities for the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access role at Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
- The Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access at Vertex Pharmaceuticals will provide expert legal advice on a broad range of strategic and tactical projects. This includes counseling on market access, government pricing, contracting, federal and state laws impacting pricing and access, antitrust, state pricing transparency, and patient assistance programs. You'll also advise on regulatory obligations under Medicaid, Medicare, 340B, and the Veterans Health Care Act, ensuring compliance with healthcare laws like the Anti-kickback Statute.
- What specific experience is required for the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access position at Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals requires a JD from an ABA accredited law school and active membership in a state bar. You'll need a minimum of 8 years of post-JD experience advising on legal matters within the life sciences space, ideally with government price reporting experience. Experience with market access regulations (Medicaid, 340B, VA), anti-kickback statutes, state drug pricing transparency laws, and the False Claims Act is crucial.
- Is the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access role at Vertex Pharmaceuticals remote or hybrid?
- This Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access role at Vertex Pharmaceuticals is designated as Remote-Eligible. You have the flexibility to choose between working fully remotely, a hybrid model (up to two days per week remote), or fully on-site, subject to Vertex's Flex @ Vertex Program policy.
- What is the salary range for the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access position at Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
- The estimated base salary range for the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access position at Vertex Pharmaceuticals is $214,400 to $321,600 annually. This role is also eligible for an annual bonus and equity awards, in addition to comprehensive benefits and perks.
- How can I best prepare my resume for the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access job at Vertex Pharmaceuticals?
- To best prepare your resume for the Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access role at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, highlight your extensive experience in life sciences law, particularly in market access and government pricing. Quantify your achievements where possible, such as managing complex contracts or ensuring compliance with specific regulations. Emphasize your strong analytical and communication skills, as well as any experience advising non-legal stakeholders.