Commercial
Associate Director, Trade & Distribution
Office Location: Pasadena, California, United States
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq ARWR) is a commercial 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 Associate Director, Trade & Distribution plays a key role in Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals’ commercial success by owning the execution of trade and distribution strategy across domestic and international markets. This role partners closely with the Director, Trade & Distribution to manage 3PL and hub performance, execute channel strategy, maintain SOP governance, and deliver the analytics and financial insights that inform trade decision-making. Working cross-functionally with Supply Chain, Finance, Regulatory, Legal, Sales, and Commercial Operations, this role ensures consistent, high-quality execution across the trade and distribution function.
This role is based in onsite in Pasadena, CA with an expectation to be in the office five days a week.
Responsibilities
3PL Partnership & Performance
- Manage the day-to-day relationship with Arrowhead’s 3PL provider, driving performance against defined SLAs and KPIs
- Lead recurring business reviews and maintain partner scorecards; proactively identify gaps and hold the 3PL accountable to agreed service levels
- Oversee change management for new products or program updates, ensuring seamless 3PL execution in partnership with Supply Chain and Quality
Channel Execution, Hub & Patient Access
- Execute trade and distribution strategy across Specialty Pharmacies and Specialty Distributors; support channel architecture decisions in partnership with the Director, Trade & Distribution
- Manage channel partners through formal scorecarding and quarterly business reviews; maintain the limited distribution network (LDN) and ensure distribution breadth across IDN, ACO, and GPO settings
- Support trade readiness and execution for new product launches and lifecycle expansion, including onboarding channel partners and ensuring operational infrastructure is in place
- Lead hub vendor relationship, monitoring performance metrics and driving continuous improvement in partnership with Patient Services
- Partner with Key Account Managers, field sales, and Market Access teams to ensure seamless patient and provider access, including resolving distributor and channel barriers, account setup, and distribution-related issues
Ex-U.S. Trade
- Manage ex-U.S. trade and distribution execution in collaboration with regional teams, managing channel partner relationships, onboarding, and reporting frameworks to support Arrowhead’s growing international commercial presence; ensure operational readiness as new markets and geographies are activated
SOP & Program Readiness
- Develop, maintain, and enforce SOPs across trade and distribution activities, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and commercial policies; support audit readiness and stakeholder training
Analytics, Reporting & Gross-to-Net
- Own trade data reporting, including channel performance dashboards and specialty pharmacy data feeds, to inform operational and strategic decisions; help establish and track KPIs for channel performance, inventory management, and distribution performance
- Conduct channel performance analyses - inventory, demand signals, distribution performance - and surface actionable insights to leadership
- Oversee product return processes and reporting in collaboration with Finance, Supply Chain, and Quality, ensuring timely resolution and accurate financial reconciliation
- Support gross-to-net execution in partnership with Finance, including trade terms optimization, distribution service agreements, and fee structures; evaluate the strategic and financial implications of trade program decisions, including assessing risk exposure related to inventory, returns, and channel mix; ensure government pricing compliance (340B, Medicaid, Medicare Part D) and communicate performance and risks through quarterly business reviews
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, health sciences, or a related field
- 7+ years of industry experience, with at least 3–5 years in Trade & Distribution, Supply Chain, or related commercial functions within biotech or pharma
- Demonstrated experience managing 3PL relationships and holding channel partners accountable to performance standards
- Experience developing and implementing SOPs in a regulated pharmaceutical environment
- Working knowledge of U.S. distribution channels (SP, SD, wholesaler) and government pricing programs (340B, Medicaid, Medicare Part D)
- Familiarity with trade data systems including 867/852 EDI, specialty pharmacy reporting, and GTN processes
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into clear insights for cross-functional audiences
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills; proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Smartsheet or equivalent
- Willingness to travel as needed to engage with channel partners, 3PL, and hub vendors
Preferred
- Advanced degree
Arrowhead provides competitive salaries and an excellent benefit package.
Candidates must have current, valid authorization to work in the country where this role is located.