Director, Market Access & Reimbursement Strategy

Job description

Saluda Medical is a commercial‑stage medical device company focused on developing treatments for chronic neurological conditions using its novel closed‑loop neuromodulation platform. The company’s proprietary technology senses and measures neural responses to stimulation and automatically adjusts therapy based on real‑time neurophysiological feedback. Saluda Medical’s first product, the Evoke® System, is designed to deliver known, consistent, and personalized spinal cord stimulation therapy by objectively measuring neural responses and maintaining therapy within a prescribed therapeutic window. Saluda Medical is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. At Saluda, we challenge boundaries. We innovate and think beyond the conventional. Our focus is to revolutionize the standard of care in neuromodulation to positively impact patient’s lives. The Director of Market Access & Reimbursement Strategy will lead Saluda's U.S. market access, coverage, and reimbursement strategy, with direct ownership of the Smart Access Reimbursement program. This leader will ensure patients and providers have a clear, reliable path to therapy access from prior authorization through payment, while building the payer strategies, evidence narratives, and value-based contracting frameworks that position Saluda's closed-loop technology for long-term commercial success. This is a high-visibility role reporting to the VP of Marketing, working cross-functionally with Sales, Clinical, Regulatory, and Finance, and engaging directly with payers, providers, and policy stakeholders. What You’ll Do: Smart Access Reimbursement Program Own, manage, and continuously improve the Smart Access Reimbursement program, including prior authorization support, appeals strategy, benefit investigation, and case escalation pathways Define program KPIs (approval rates, turnaround times, denial overturn rates) and report performance to commercial leadership Manage vendor and hub-services relationships supporting the program; ensure field teams and provider offices are trained and supported Serve as the escalation point for complex access cases and emerging payer barriers Payer & Reimbursement Strategy Develop and execute national and regional payer strategies to establish, maintain, and expand coverage for SCS and closed-loop therapy Monitor and shape coding, coverage, and payment dynamics (CPT/HCPCS, DRG/APC, physician fee schedule) across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid channels Track and respond to CMS policy developments, including the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) and other value-based initiatives affecting the chronic pain and neuromodulation space Lead development of value-based and shared-risk contracting frameworks that leverage Evoke's objective ECAP data as a differentiator Evidence & Value Communication Lead the translation of clinical and real-world evidence into payer-facing value dossiers, objection handlers, and coverage advocacy materials Support medical policy engagement, including responses to draft policies, technology assessments, and payer advisory interactions Build and manage relationships with relevant medical societies (e.g., NANS, INS, ASPN, ASIPP) to advance coverage advocacy, coding initiatives, and clinical guideline development supporting SCS access Equip Sales and field reimbursement resources with tools, training, and messaging to navigate access conversations confidently Cross-Functional & Team Leadership Collaborate with Marketing, Sales, and Therapy Awareness teams to integrate access messaging into commercial campaigns and launch plans Build and mentor market access talent as the function scales; manage direct reports and/or contracted field reimbursement resources as assigned Represent Saluda with professional societies, coalitions, and industry groups on reimbursement and policy matters What You’ll Bring: Required Bachelor's degree; advanced degree (MBA, MPH, MHA, JD) preferred 10+ years of progressive experience in medical device market access, reimbursement, or payer strategy; neuromodulation, spine, or interventional pain experience strongly preferred Demonstrated success managing a reimbursement support / hub-services program, including vendor oversight and KPI management Deep working knowledge of U.S. coding, coverage, and payment systems across sites of service (hospital outpatient, ASC, physician office) Experience engaging payers directly on medical policy, coverage expansion, and contracting Familiarity with CMS payment models and value-based care trends Strong cross-functional leadership and executive communication skills Preferred Experience launching or defending coverage for a novel Class III device or breakthrough technology Prior work on value-based or risk-sharing agreements using device-generated objective data Established payer and specialty-society relationships in the pain management space Competencies for Success: Strategic and hands-on: comfortable setting payer strategy and personally driving a stuck prior auth to resolution Data-driven storyteller: converts clinical evidence and program metrics into narratives that move payers and executives Cross-functional connector: builds trust quickly across Sales, Clinical, and Finance Bias for action: thrives in a growth-stage company where the playbook is still being written Our Core Values: People – Our first responsibility is to the patients we serve. Integrity – Do the right thing Pioneering – Lead Boldly, Change Lives, Disrupt the Status-Quo Performance – Win together – Deliver with Excellence. Saluda Medical embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team representative of a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. We believe people are the source of our inspiration and innovation. Saluda Medical does not accept non-solicited resumes or candidate submittals from search/recruiting agencies not already on Saluda Medical’s approved agency list. Unsolicited resumes or candidate information submitted to Saluda Medical by search/recruiting agencies not already on Saluda Medical’s approved agency list shall become the property of Saluda Medical.