Head of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) & Market Access Policy

Job title:
Reporting to: Value & Access Policy Director
Department: Patient Access
Location: London

About the ABPI

The ABPI exists to make the UK the best place in the world to research, develop and access medicines and vaccines to improve patient care. We represent companies of all sizes which invest in making and discovering medicines and vaccines to enhance and save the lives of millions of people around the world.

In England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we work in partnership with governments and the NHS so that patients can get new treatments faster and the NHS can plan how much it spends on medicines. Every day, our members partner with healthcare professionals, academics and patient organisations to find new solutions to unmet health needs.

Job purpose and background

The ABPI is recognised by government as the negotiating body for the Voluntary Scheme (VPAG) on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.

To remain a global player in life sciences, the UK needs to deliver ambitious changes to the way medicines are made available to patients. There is a need to fully implement the Chapter 3 commitments in the 2024 VPAG and utilise the objectives of the scheme more broadly to support other policy changes that can improve patient outcomes.

The Head of Health Technology Assessment (HTA) & Market Access Policy is a key role at ABPI where you will be at the centre of shaping medicines policy on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK. 

You will be responsible for leading improvements to the national access environment for medicines on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, working with companies and system partners including a wide range of stakeholders at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England. The role will involve delivering a portfolio of strategic policy and evidence generation projects to support ABPI’s business plans, working closely and extensively with our member companies. Some of these projects will be commissioned and undertaken with expert agencies, whilst others will require internal delivery. You will be expected to establish and build good working relationships with ABPI’s members and external stakeholders, including government officials, system partners, patient organisations/charities and professional organisations. 

The role will report to the Value & Access Policy Director.

This position has wide visibility and exposure across the pharmaceutical industry in the UK as you will take forward projects with national significance across key policy areas. Your work will help ensure NHS patients have the best possible access to the new medicines being developed by our industry.

The ABPI operates a hybrid working model, with the expectation that staff are in the office (London Bridge) approximately two to three days per week, or as required for in-person meetings.

Primary objectives/ responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Head of HTA & Market Access Policy are:

• Design, create, plan and manage the delivery of projects in the value and access space, including supporting ABPI member and stakeholder engagement, budgetary management and quality assurance.
• Lead on assigned key policy areas in the value and access space, particularly those relating to HTA, including preparing evidence based and robust content such as analyses, ABPI position papers, external messaging and consultation responses. 
• Drive engagement and dialogue with member companies and ABPI’s stakeholders, managing key relationships with the NICE CHTE and Clinical Guidelines teams; championing and communicating the ABPI’s positions and messaging.
• This engagement will include:
  • Managing and providing secretariat for ABPI’s HTA Project Team.
  • Managing and providing secretariat for the NICE Operational Effectiveness Group.
  • Ongoing regular engagement with NICE on its modular update work programme and other business priorities that impact the industry.
  • Ensuring ABPI’s members are well informed about updates to policy and HTA methods/processes.
  • Supporting the ABPI Value and Access Board Sponsored Group (BSG), Access Committee and Board.
  • Supporting the NICE Industry Council.
  • Developing ABPI's responses to NICE and related consultations.
  • Engaging with ABPI Patient Organisation Forum and Patient Advisory Council.
• Help manage the value and access research agenda to involve the ABPI in key global debates relating to value and access.
• Represent ABPI’s positions and messaging in external forums, including relevant meetings and conferences.
• Work with external consultancies/agencies across a range of levels from global consulting firms, individual consultants and the Office of Health Economics to ensure good value for money, strong supplier management and optimum leverage of projects and deliverables for ABPI and our members.
• Ensure effective cross-functional working into assigned projects as appropriate from across the ABPI to maximise their value, particularly with the ABPI’s Government Affairs and Communications teams.
• Drive continuous improvement by regularly extracting key learnings and insights from projects - sharing these across ABPI and with member companies.
• Engage with the international HTA agenda, including with other Trade Associations (e.g. EFPIA, PhRMA).

Experience and skill set

Qualifications and experience

The ideal candidate will have the following experience and demonstrated skills:

• A graduate or higher degree graduate appropriate for the pharmaceutical industry. Post graduate qualification in health economics strongly preferred.
  
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and medicines access pathways in the UK.
• Senior level HTA and market access experience (> 5 years) with current experience of the NICE appraisal process.
• Experience of managing complex portfolio of strategic projects to time and budget.
•  Proven ability to engage with stakeholders across all levels of seniority, including Director level.
  
• Demonstrable experience of commissioning and managing significant multi-disciplinary consultancy assignments.
• Strategic thinker.
• Ability to operate in a complex and nuanced environment.
• Demonstrable excellence in project management.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Confident and assertive manner and approach, able to chair meetings and facilitate discussion.
• Strong analytical approach and ability to analyse data.
• Collaborative and inclusive working style.

Performance criteria

Performance will be measured against annually set objectives established in line with ABPI objectives. Performance criteria align to our values: Communication, Collaboration, Innovation, Integrity, and Ownership.

To apply

For a full job description and salary and benefits information or to apply for this opportunity please send your CV with a covering letter to the recruitment partner, Jurgen Wurfel at j.wurfel@finiten.com.

Please note

ABPI reserve the right to close this vacancy early if sufficient applications are received for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.