Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARWR) is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company that develops medicines that treat intractable diseases by silencing the genes that cause them. Using a broad portfolio of RNA chemistries and efficient modes of delivery, Arrowhead therapies trigger the RNA interference mechanism to induce rapid, deep, and durable knockdown of target genes. RNA interference, or RNAi, is a mechanism present in living cells that inhibits the expression of a specific gene, thereby affecting the production of a specific protein. Arrowhead’s RNAi-based therapeutics leverage this natural pathway of gene silencing.
Arrowhead is focused on developing innovative drugs for diseases with a genetic basis, typically characterized by the overproduction of one or more proteins that are involved with disease. The depth and versatility of our RNAi technologies enables us to potentially address conditions in virtually any therapeutic area and pursue disease targets that are not otherwise addressable by small molecules and biologics. Arrowhead is leading the field in bringing the promise of RNAi to address diseases outside of the liver, and our clinical pipeline includes disease targets in the liver and lung with a promising pipeline of preclinical candidates.
Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters is in Pasadena, CA with research and development teams in Madison, WI & San Diego, CA, and a state of the art manufacturing facility in Verona, WI. Our employees are nimble, science-driven innovators who are collaborating to bring new therapies to patients in need.
The Position
The Director, Trade & Distribution will play a pivotal role in driving Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ growth by leading the evolution of the trade and distribution strategy to support the transition from a rare disease model to a broader patient population, while optimizing patient access for Redemplo. The position reports to the Executive Director, Market Access, and is based at Arrowhead’s corporate headquarters in Pasadena, California.
This role is based in Pasadena, California, with an expectation to be in the office five days a week.
Responsibilities
Recommend expansion of the current distribution model to support Redemplo’s launch and scalability for future indicationsLead the development and execution of strategy, including distribution design, vendor selection, and end-to-end implementationServe as the trade relations lead for negotiations, contracting, and onboarding of Specialty Pharmacies, Third-Party Logistics providers (3PLs), Specialty Distributors, and/or full-line Wholesalers, as requiredProvide leadership and people management to teams executing assigned programs and initiativesDefine and establish service levels, data reporting requirements, and key performance indicators (KPIs) / service level agreements (SLAs) to support the operating modelCollaborate with patient services partners to ensure optimal customer experience for patients and physicians accessing RedemploImplement and manage contracts to ensure adherence to agreed-upon service levels, budgets, and timelinesDefine required operational capabilities, including data flows, program management infrastructure, and performance monitoringOwn accountability for managing channel partners to ensure timely, high-quality, and fiscally responsible execution; proactively anticipate risks and implement course corrections as neededMaintain deep expertise in the IDN, ACO, and GPO hospital specialty pharmacy landscape to ensure appropriate breadth and depth of distributionDevelop and maintain reporting requirements, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and policies to ensure program readiness, operational excellence, and complianceCommunicate goals, progress, risks, and mitigation plans for critical launch-related activities through quarterly business reviews and other governance forumsCollaborate cross-functionally with Supply Chain, CMC, Regulatory, Legal, Marketing, Finance, Sales, Commercial Operations, Quality, and other stakeholders, as required Requirements
Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in health sciences, business, or marketing10+ years of experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry, including at least 5+ years in Market Access, Trade & Distribution, or related functions.Demonstrated U.S. new product launch experience required; specialty pharmaceutical launch experience strongly preferred.Experience supporting expansion from rare disease to larger patient populations is highly desirable.Proven experience building, leading, and developing high-performing teams.Strong understanding of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain, including hands-on experience with distribution models, pharmacy benefit channels, IDN/ACO/GPO hospital distribution, and government programs such as 340B, State Medicaid, and Medicare Part D.Working knowledge of regulatory requirements, SOPs, and policies governing drug distribution.Demonstrated capabilities in data analytics, business planning, negotiations, financial acumen, contract execution/pull-through, and structured problem-solving.Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong written, presentation, and proactive communication skills.Willingness to travel as needed to engage with customers, as required. Preferred
Advanced degree (e.g., MBA or Master’s in a related field).Passion for science-driven storytelling and an interest in Arrowhead’s mission to advance RNAi-based therapeutics.California pay range $230,000—$250,000 USD
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
All applicants must have authorization to work in the US for a company.