Patient Access Navigator

Patient Access Navigator

Waltham, Massachusetts, United States

Cogent Biosciences is a publicly traded biotechnology company focused on developing novel precision therapies to treat a broad range of patients with unmet medical needs. Cogent's lead program, bezuclastinib, is designed to selectively and potently inhibit exon 17 mutations found within the KIT receptor tyrosine kinase, including KIT D816V. KIT D816V is responsible for driving a rare and serious condition called Systemic Mastocytosis, and exon 17 mutations are also found in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a type of cancer with strong dependence on oncogenic KIT signaling. Bezuclastinib has exhibited promising initial data across all three trials: APEX in AdvSM, SUMMIT in NonAdvSM and PEAK in GIST, including an encouraging safety profile across 600+ patients in single agent and combination dosing.

Cogent Biosciences is searching for compassionate and highly motivated Patient Access Navigators to establish the inaugural Patient Services team. The Patient Access Navigator will be responsible for delivering a high-touch, patient-centered access experience across the prescription fulfillment journey. The Patient Access Navigator will own the end-to-end patient experience within an assigned geographic region and partners closely with patients, caregivers, healthcare providers (HCPs), specialty pharmacies, internal field teams, and external patient services partners to ensure timely access to therapy and continuity of care. While primarily remote/office-based (depending on location), the Patient Access Navigator will support limited non-promotional on-site visits to HCP offices, when appropriate, to support complex access, reimbursement or care coordination needs. The successful candidate will have deep experience with insurance navigation, reimbursement problem-solving, affordability support, cross-functional collaboration (both internal and external) and operational excellence. Cogent is seeking empathetic, dedicated, operational-minded and genuinely patient-focused team members to support the anticipated launch of bezuclastinib. This is a home-office based role with a twice weekly (Monday and Wednesday) in-office presence at the Waltham Headquarters.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point of contact and case owner for patients and caregivers navigating insurance coverage, reimbursement, and access to therapy
• Guide patients and HCP offices through benefits verification, prior authorization, appeals, and coverage requirements
• Proactively identify and resolve access barriers to minimize time-to-therapy and prevent treatment delays or abandonment
• Educate patients and caregivers on insurance coverage, financial responsibility, and available affordability or assistance programs using approved resources
• Monitor patient access milestones from referral through therapy initiation and continuation
• Deliver a high-touch, empathetic patient experience through personalized communication, active listening, and proactive follow-up
• Maintain long-term relationships with patients, caregivers, and HCPs throughout the treatment journey
• Support treatment continuation by addressing access-related challenges that arise over time
• Provide product and disease education focused on the treatment experience and access journey
• Collaborate closely with internal field teams, market access colleagues, safety, and compliance partners to ensure a coordinated and consistent patient experience
• Coordinate with HCP offices, specialty pharmacies, health insurance plans and external patient services vendors to resolve access, reimbursement, and logistical issues
• Conduct non-promotional on-site visits to HCP offices, when appropriate, to support complex patient access cases, clarify reimbursement requirements, or improve operational coordination related to patient access
• Communicate timely, clear updates to patients, caregivers, and HCPs regarding case status and next step
• Apply program business rules, standard operating procedures, and work instructions to deliver consistent, compliant, and high-touch patient services experience
• Document all patient interactions, access milestones, and case outcomes accurately within the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system
• Maintain confidentiality of patient health information and ensure compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and company policies, including HIPAA
• Ensure all interactions with HCP offices, including on-site engagements, are conducted in a non-promotional manner and in alignment with approved patient services scope and compliance guidance
• Support adverse event and product complaint reporting in accordance with established procedures
• Ability to travel up to 15% in each calendar year for customer or company meetings

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in patient services, access navigation, reimbursement support, or case management within the healthcare or pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry
• Experience may include roles in patient access services, reimbursement support, case management, social work, or patient support programs
• Demonstrated expertise in private payer, Medicare Part D, and Medicaid reimbursement structures and processes
• Experience coordinating with patients, HCP offices, specialty pharmacies, health insurance plans and patient services vendors
• Proficiency with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and ability to quickly learn internal workflows and systems
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple patient cases and priorities simultaneously
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a patient-centered, empathetic approach
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook
• Oncology and/or rare disease experience
• Demonstrated success improving patient access outcomes, such as reducing time-to-therapy or treatment abandonment

Salary Range: $170k - $200k USD

Target Bonus: 15% Exact compensation will vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Our Locations:

Waltham, MA: Our headquarters is located in the Greater Boston life sciences community, with an open, collaborative office environment designed to support teamwork and connection. Employees benefit from convenient on-site amenities, including free on-site parking and gym facilities in the building.

Boulder, CO: Our Boulder location is home to Cogent's discovery research organization and a key scientific hub with strong leadership based on site. Situated in the greater Denver-Boulder biopharmaceutical corridor, this office plays a central role in advancing our discovery efforts and pipeline.

Our Offer To You:

At Cogent Biosciences, we offer a competitive salary, bonus, and ongoing stock awards, alongside a benefits package that sets us apart. We cover 100% of medical, dental, and vision premiums for you and your family, and help reduce out-of-pocket costs by funding up to 75% of in-network deductibles. Our benefits also include a 401(k) match with immediate vesting, generous paid time off, 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave, paid family and medical leave for all employees regardless of location, and company-paid short-term disability coverage for up to 20 weeks. Additional perks like wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, and inclusive family-forming support help you thrive at work and beyond.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our goal is to have a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or disability, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.