Head of Medicines Adoption Policy

Job title: Head of Medicines Adoption Policy
Reporting to: Executive Director, Patient Access
Department: Patient Access
Location: London Bridge, hybrid working

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.

Our members and affiliates include established research-based pharmaceutical companies, specialist service providers that support pharmaceutical R&D, and organisations that work and interact with the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.

We work in partnership with the government, regulators, and the NHS, enabling patients to access new and effective treatments and vaccines more quickly. We collaborate with our partners across the life sciences ecosystem to make the UK an attractive location to invest and scale.

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, and value the unique skills and perspectives you bring.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons, from all backgrounds and from people who have disabilities.

If you need any adjustments to take part in the recruitment process, please let us know and we will support you.

Job purpose and background

The ABPI represents innovative research-based biopharmaceutical companies, large, medium and small, leading an exciting new era of biosciences in the UK.

Our industry, a major and significant contributor to the UK economy, brings lifesaving and life-enhancing medicines to patients. We represent companies supplying more than 80 per cent of all branded medicines used by the NHS, and those researching and developing the majority of the future medicines pipeline. Globally, our industry is researching and developing more than 7,000 new medicines. 

To remain a global player in life sciences, at a time of increasing geopolitical complexity and competition for investment, the UK needs to deliver ambitious changes to the way medicines are made available to patients. The NHS 10 Year Health Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan, alongside the commitments the UK Government has made in the recent Arrangement with the US  provide a unique opportunity to work on bold policy reform that can make a huge difference for NHS patients and the economy.

The Head of Medicines Adoption Policy will be responsible for leading improvements to the national and local access environment for medicines in England, working with companies and system partners including a wide range of stakeholders at the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England (until transition into DHSC) and sub-national NHS leads. 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 Executive Director, Patient Access.
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.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Head of Medicines Adoption Policy are:

• Work as part of the ABPI’s Patient Access team to develop and implement the organisation’s strategy to improve the speed and equity of adoption of new medicines in the NHS, in line with the ABPI’s strategic objectives as set by the ABPI Board.
  
  
• Design, create, plan and manage the delivery of projects which will support our goal of improving access to innovative medicines, including supporting ABPI member and stakeholder engagement, budgetary management and quality assurance.
  
  
• Support the delivery of government commitments and initiatives to improve the speed and equity of adoption of medicines in the NHS, including representing the ABPI on stakeholder working groups.
  
  
• Develop and enhance the evidence base to drive forward policy and advocacy goals associated with medicines adoption in the NHS in England, including engaging with the development or evolution of national data sets (for example, the Innovation Scorecard and Life Sciences Competitiveness Indicators).
  
  
• Collaborate with the Head of Access and Adoption policy - Devolved Nations, to ensure effective linkage between the strategy and execution of projects across the UK.
  
  
• Provide input into relevant government and NHS consultations, with lead responsibility for adoption of medicines policy content. 
  
  
• Build relationships and have regular engagement with ABPI member companies and our external stakeholders, managing key relationships with the DHSC Medicine Policy Team, NHSE Strategic Innovations Team and Regional and Local NHS leads.
  
  
• Represent the ABPI’s policy positions and messaging in external forums, including at 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 the 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 Market Dynamics, Government Affairs and Communications teams.
  
  
• Drive continuous improvement by regularly extracting key learnings and insights from projects - sharing these across the ABPI and with member companies.
  
  
• Engage with the international market access agenda, including with other Trade Associations (e.g. EFPIA, PhRMA).

Person specification, experience and skill set

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

• Ideally, a degree or higher qualification in a relevant scientific, technical or pharmaceutical discipline or equivalent relevant work experience.
  
  
• Demonstrable experience working with the NHS at national, regional and local levels.
  
  
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the pharmaceutical industry and medicines access pathways in the UK, the key challenges and access barriers that exist and have the ability to think creatively about how to overcome them.
  
  
• Expert knowledge of the NHS, its resourcing, infrastructure and commissioning and prescribing processes for medicines. 
  
  
• Proven ability to work collaboratively at senior levels with health systems, build relationships and influence stakeholders.
  
  
• Demonstrated ability of achieving results in a complex environment where it has been necessary to collaborate cross-functionally and trans-nationally.
  
  
• Strong analytical skills and ability to understand data sets required to define and drive policy positions.
  
  
• Excellent written and presentation skills.
  
  
• Excellent project management skills with the proven ability to execute initiatives and achieve positive results.
  
  
• Collaborative and inclusive working style.
  
  
• Confident and assertive manner and approach, able to chair meetings and facilitate discussion.
  
  

Inclusivity

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for everyone who works with us, visits our offices, or engages with our content.

Our workplace and events are designed with accessibility in mind, including step-free access, hearing support, and accessible restrooms.

Our online materials follow accessibility best practice to ensure they can be used by as many people as possible.

We are PIF tick certified, meaning our health information is trusted, evidence-based and easy to use and understand.

We actively seek to work with partners and suppliers who share our commitment to disability inclusion, and who demonstrate good practice in accessibility and inclusive employment.

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 Jurgen Wurfel, j.wurfel@finiten.com. Closing date 3 September 2026.

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.