Director, US Evidence & Access Strategy – Ion

Primary Function of Position

This role leads the US upstream clinical and economic evidence strategy for the Ion Business Unit with a focus on generating the evidence required to unlock and scale coverage vet and pursue traditional and innovative payment models and secure requisite codes for new and evolving Ion-enabled procedures and technologies. You own the strategy that connects product and procedural innovation to credible clinical outcomes health-system impact and payer decision needstranslating that evidence into coverage-ready narratives bespoke payment models and implementation plans tailored to Ions unique value propositions.  

You will work closely with US Commercial Medical Office Product Management Clinical Affairs Regulatory Clinical Development Engineering Clinical Marketing and Legal/Compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Upstream Responsibilities:

Set the US upstream evidence strategy: Define a 35 year US evidence roadmap for Ion upstream initiatives tied to clear coverage coding payment and adoption milestones. 

Drive coverage-oriented study design: Lead design and prioritization of clinical and economic studies that answer US payer CMS/MAC and provider decision-maker questions including clinical outcomes safety utilization site-of-service pathway/resource use and budget impact.

Own coverage-grade evidence packages: Build cohesive evidence narratives and submission-ready materials (clinical summaries evidence tables economic analyses RWE plans) to support payer medical policies CMS/MAC discussions and external technology assessments where applicable. 

Upstream policy and pathway strategy :Partner with market access and policy teams to map and influence US pathways for new capabilities: coding strategy inputs payment adequacy coverage routes (commercial payers Medicare MAC LCDs/NCDs where relevant) and development of product-specific reimbursement models (e.g. bundled payments episode-based models value-based agreements).  Provide the Ion-specific evidence strategy analytics and materials that support both traditional payment pathways and novel reimbursement frameworks.    Drive launch pricing or work with cross-functional pricing owners to align strategy to commercial tactics.  Clinical-economic translation for new procedures: Translate new procedure concepts into measurable endpoints and value drivers ensuring relevance to US reimbursement and provider economics.

Downstream/Field Responsibilities:

Drive commercial integration of bespoke payment models:  Work with payers health systems and policy stakeholders to design and pilot evidence-supported reimbursement models tailored to Ions product portfolio and pipeline including alternative payment arrangements that capture unique clinical and economic value not addressed by traditional fee-for-service coding.

Lead payer engagement and contracting support: Direct interactions with national and regional payers to secure favorable coverage policies formulary placement and reimbursement terms; provide clinical and economic evidence to support contract negotiations.

Develop and execute pull-through strategies: Design and implement programs to convert coverage wins into market adoption including provider education reimbursement support tools and site-of-service optimization.

Own field reimbursement enablement: Lead development of reimbursement resources coding guidance claims support tools and training materials for sales teams healthcare economics liaisons (HELs) and customer-facing staff.

Manage accounts receivable and claims optimization: Partner with revenue cycle and commercial operations to monitor denial rates appeals processes and payment velocity; implement interventions to improve clean claims rates and reduce reimbursement friction.

Provider economic modeling and ROI tools: Create and maintain customer-facing economic models budget impact calculators and ROI analyses that demonstrate financial value to hospitals health systems and physician practices.

Coverage gap analysis and mitigation: Continuously monitor coverage landscape identify gaps in access and develop tactical plans (e.g. case-by-case appeals prior authorization support patient assistance programs) to address barriers.

Payer medical policy monitoring and response: Track updates to commercial and Medicare policies assess impact on business and coordinate cross-functional responses including policy amendments supplemental dossiers or reconsiderations.

Customer reimbursement support infrastructure: Establish and oversee hotlines portals or dedicated teams that provide real-time coding billing and reimbursement guidance to customers and patients.

Management of internal and external stakeholders and enablers:

External engagement and scientific positioning: Build senior relationships with US KOLs societies guideline influencers health-system leaders and payers to shape evaluation criteria payment model design and adoption for emerging Ion workflows. Identify and build collaborations (registries RWE networks data partnerships) to accelerate evidence generation and support novel payment pathways. 

Cross-functional leadership and governance: Act as the upstream evidence and reimbursement single-threaded leader for US initiatives aligning Product Clinical Medical HEOR Regulatory and Market Access on priorities trade-offs and timelines; represent upstream evidence and payment strategy in governance forums and leadership reviews.

Lead vendors budgets and execution: Manage CROs HEOR vendors data partners and consultancies. Own or co-own budgets for upstream evidence programs focusing spend on initiatives that measurably advance coverage and adoption.

Track impact and adapt: Define and monitor KPIs (e.g. policy milestones coverage outcomes coding/payment progress reimbursement model pilots evidence-generation milestones adoption indicators). Use payer feedback policy updates and competitive moves to continuously refine the roadmap.

Qualifications :

Required

• Advanced clinical scientific or health-economics degree (e.g. MD PharmD PhD MPH MSc).

• 10 years of progressive experience in clinical evidence medical affairs/clinical strategy HEOR reimbursement/coverage strategy or market access for medical devices or interventional procedures in the US.

• Demonstrated experience designing or leading evidence programs tied to US coverage and/or payment outcomes (commercial payers and/or Medicare/CMS/MAC).

• Strong understanding of US reimbursement mechanics and evidence expectations (payer medical policy CMS/MAC considerations coding/payment levers) with the ability to translate innovation into coverage-ready endpoints and narratives.

• Ability to communicate effectively with senior clinical leaders payer stakeholders and internal executives; strong writing skills for evidence packages and policy-facing materials.

• Proven success leading complex matrixed programs spanning multiple functions and external partners.

Preferred

• Experience in interventional pulmonology thoracic oncology bronchoscopy lung nodule management or adjacent procedural domains.

• Experience supporting coding and/or CMS payment processes including evidence strategy for submissions.

• Experience with RWE/registry programs and large US data sources (claims EMR integrated delivery networks).

• Prior people leadership and/or substantial matrix leadership responsibility.

Additional Information :

Due to the nature of our business and the role please note that Intuitive and/or your customer(s) may require that you show current proof of vaccination against certain diseases including COVID-19.  Details can vary by role.

Intuitive is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race sex pregnancy sexual orientation gender identity national origin color age religion protected veteran or disability status genetic information or any other status protected under federal state or local applicable laws.

Mandatory Notices

U.S. Export Controls Disclaimer:  In accordance with the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR 743.13(b)) some roles at Intuitive Surgical may be subject to U.S. export controls for prospective employeeswho are nationals from countries currently on embargo or sanctions status.

Certain information you provide as part of the application will be used for purposes of determining whether Intuitive Surgical will need to (i) obtain an export license from the U.S. Government on your behalf (note: the governments licensing process can take 3 to 6 months) or (ii) implement a Technology Control Plan (TCP) (note: typically adds 2 weeks to the hiring process).  

For any Intuitive role subject to export controls final offers are contingent upon obtaining an approved export license and/or an executed TCP prior to the prospective employeesstart date which may or may not be flexible and within a timeframe that does not unreasonably impede the hiring need. If applicable candidates will be notified and instructed on any requirements for these purposes. 

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with fair chance laws.

Preference will be given to qualified candidates who do not reside or plan to reside in Alabama Arkansas Delaware Florida Indiana Iowa Louisiana Maryland Mississippi Missouri Oklahoma Pennsylvania South Carolina or Tennessee.

This position may be filled at a different job level than listed here depending on
business need and/or on the selected candidates experience knowledge and skills.
Compensation will be based primarily on the job level at which the role is filled and the
candidates qualifications consistent with applicable law.

We provide market-competitive compensation packages inclusive of base pay incentives benefits and equity. It would not be typical for someone to be hired at the top end of range for the role as actual pay will be determined based on several factors including experience skills and qualifications. The target compensation ranges are listed.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time