Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access

Job Description

Vertex is a transformative biotechnology company that creates new possibilities in medicine to cure diseases and improve people’s lives and it is seeking a solutions-oriented healthcare attorney to provide proactive strategic and tactical legal support to the business.  The company currently has four drugs on the market that treat the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis.  It has also developed a deep pipeline, investing billions of dollars into R&D over the past two decades.

As Legal Senior Counsel, Market Access you will be a part of our dynamic and highly respected Legal and Compliance Department in a US, remote location.

The Department is committed to a trusting and collaborative culture where we value growth and development.  We engage proactively with our business colleagues to truly understand them and deliver results for our company and for patients.  If you are looking for an entrepreneurial, hands-on, team-oriented environment where you can have a big impact, then this is the right place for you!

The person in this role will provide expert advice and counseling to the business on a broad array of market access, government pricing, and policy topics. You will be responsible for providing legal support to business partners in various departments across the organization, including Market Access, Trade & Distribution, Government Pricing, Government Affairs & Public Policy, as well as colleagues supporting our clinical 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:
  • Market access and reimbursement issues, including contracting with a broad range of customers involved in the distribution of our medicines
  • Anti-Kickback Statute and other US healthcare compliance laws and regulations
  • Statutory and regulatory obligations under Medicaid, Medicare, 340B program, Veterans Health Care Act
  • Government pricing topics, 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 with our customers
  • Brand strategic planning and business operation plans
  • Stay abreast of evolving healthcare legislation and regulations and the enforcement landscape
  • Collaborate with legal colleagues supporting commercial, pipeline and privacy to ensure delivery of comprehensive legal advice
  • Review materials for internal and external use, as needed.

Contribute to the Legal & Compliance Department

• Participate in various Legal & Compliance Department projects and initiatives, including committees
• 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
• 3 years of law firm experience and thriving in a fast paced environment
• Experience advising on statutes, regulations, and guidance documents applicable to market access activities, including federal and state anti-kickback statutes; requirements under Medicaid, 340B program, Veterans Administration, and other government programs; state drug pricing transparency laws; OIG guidance documents and advisory opinions; and the False Claims Act
• 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 cell and gene therapies and/or specialty medicines is highly desired

Personal Attributes

Self-starter and life-long learner with a strong work ethic and excellent interpersonal skills who:

• Thrives in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Can proactively identify and solve problems and make decisions with integrity and ethics
• Enjoys working collaboratively and cross-functionally on teams, as well as independently
• Is eager to Direct or take on new challenges

#LI-DB1

#LI-REMOTE

Pay Range:

Disclosure Statement:

Flex Designation:

Flex Eligibility Status:

In this Remote-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as: 
1.    Remote: work remotely five days per week and come into the office on occasion – you’re always welcome on-site; or select 
2.    Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select
3.    On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.

Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time. 

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.

Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.

Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at [email protected]