Corporate Counsel, Pricing & Access

ROLE SUMMARY

• Corporate Counsel for Pricing and Access will counsel Pfizer’s Payer Channel Access (“PCA”) and vaccines teams regarding contracting, payer interactions, cross-functional collaboration, in the context of the applicable legal and regulatory framework
• In this role, the Pricing and Access counsel will provide legal guidance and counsel to PCA and cross-functional teams in a matrixed corporate environment that requires an enterprise mindset and effective collaboration with internal legal subject-matter experts and key cross-functional stakeholders.
• The role will also be responsible for assisting with proactive compliance effectiveness reviews, coordinating with outside law firms that are engaged to conduct such reviews, and supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of adherence programs and internal policies and procedures to satisfy evolving industry and regulatory compliance requirements within the market access space in the US. This position requires an individual who has extensive experience with pharmaceutical healthcare regulations including the anti-kickback statute and regulations and contract drafting and negotiation.
• The position will report to the Lead Counsel for Government Pricing/ Contracts and mRNA/ Vaccines Contracts for Pricing and Access Legal. The role requires significant coordination with Pfizer Compliance colleagues, senior leaders, Pricing and Access Legal colleagues, and external parties such as outside counsel and third party vendors. The candidate will be skilled at navigating complex matrix organizations in order to effectively communicate and coordinate with business unit subject matter experts and regional level national account directors.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze, draft and negotiate a variety of payer and purchaser agreements, e.g. discount and rebate, GPO, retail.
• Counsel and review commercial tactics and materials, as part of multi-disciplinary regulatory and medical payer committee.
• Creation and implementation of training materials for  vaccines account management and sales roles.
• Responsible for the review of pricing and access materials.
• Counsel and review digital platforms related to pricing and access.
• In coordination with the mRNA/ Vaccines P&A Lead, support vaccines contracts including GPO contracts, PBG (physician buying group) contracts, and retail contracts.
• In coordination with P&A Government Pricing Lead, support and provide legal guidance to government pricing team as it relates to Pfizer CMS price reporting obligations.
• Assist in the legal support of government contracts/ government programs including:  VA/ DOD, 340B, State supplemental rebates, Medicare, Medicaid.
• Work constructively and collaboratively with other members of Pfizer’s Legal Division, legal staff, business colleagues and compliance professionals.
• Demonstrate strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills as well as sound judgment with a high level of professionalism and minimal supervision. Must possess leadership skills and be detail-oriented, a quick learner, and able to work effectively in a highly matrixed organization.

Ability and willingness to:

• Gain deep understanding of business strategies and actively counsel on business and legal approaches and opportunities
• Build networks throughout the Pfizer Legal Division and the company, and receive input from and collaborate with attorneys and other colleagues providing platform services
• Track record of accountability and sound judgment, including the ability to take ownership of and move projects to closure
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with an eye for detail combined with pragmatism/sound judgment
• Excellent communication skills to convey complex legal issues to clients in a clear and concise manner

Must Have:

• BS or BA degree and JD (and admission to practice law in United States) required
• 10+ years legal and/or compliance in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, including experience in fraud and abuse, regulatory law and commercial/medical-related matters.
• Experience negotiating and/or managing programs related to service agreements under the personal services safe harbor to the anti-kickback statute and regulations and significant experience with US healthcare laws required.
• Demonstrated ability to grasp statutory and regulatory concepts quickly, and to proactively identify and analyze potential legal issues and provide thoughtful and creative business-focused legal advice and solutions.
• Proven capacity to cultivate strong client relationships and successfully influence leadership in a fast-paced, innovative business climate
• A thorough understanding of regulatory and legal frameworks governing payer engagements and medical activities
• Understanding of healthcare-related laws and regulations and industry standards required, including the federal false claims act, federal anti-kickback statement, OIG regulations and guidance and pharmacovigilance issues.
• Candidate demonstrates a breadth of diverse leadership experiences and capabilities including: the ability to influence and collaborate with peers, develop and coach others, oversee and guide the work of other colleagues to achieve meaningful outcomes and create business impact.

Nice To Have:

• Strong Leadership Skills and the ability to support Team Leaders within the organization
• Strategic, self-motivated, solution focused individual to identify compliance risk exposures and to develop mitigation strategies to address these risks.
• Candidate must be highly organized and focused on completion of tasks consistent with business objectives.
• Strong interpersonal skills to work with others within and outside the Company to identify and manage compliance risks are necessary

Ability and willingness to:

• Gain deep understanding of business strategies and actively counsel on business and legal approaches and opportunities
• Build networks throughout the Pfizer Legal Division and the company, and receive input from and collaborate with attorneys and other colleagues providing platform services
• Track record of accountability and sound judgment, including the ability to take ownership of and move projects to closure
• Excellent drafting and negotiation skills with an eye for detail combined with pragmatism/sound judgment
• Excellent communication skills to convey complex legal issues to clients in a clear and concise manner