Director, Trade Contracting

Company introduction:

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. The Company is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York City in the US. We focus on developing novel treatments that have the potential to improve the lives of those who are suffering with mental health conditions and who are not helped by current treatments.  

We are pioneering a new paradigm for treating mental health conditions focused on rapid and durable responses through the development of our investigational COMP360 synthetic psilocybin treatment, potentially a first in class treatment. COMP360 has Breakthrough Therapy designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has received Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) due to the pressing unmet need in this area.

We are currently in phase 3 for TRD, have completed phase 2 studies for both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anorexia nervosa and are planning a further late-stage study in PTSD. We envision a world where mental health means not just the absence of illness but the ability to thrive. - Compass Pathways.

Job overview:  

The Director, Trade Contracting is responsible for leading the strategy, development, negotiation, and governance of trade contracts across Compass Pathways’ commercial distribution ecosystem, including 3PL provider, specialty distributors, and specialty pharmacies. This role is critical to establishing and scaling a compliant, efficient, and sustainable trade infrastructure in preparation for launch and ongoing commercialization.

The Director serves as the primary trade contracting lead and strategic partner to cross functional teams, ensuring agreements align with Compass’s go to market strategy, market access objectives, regulatory requirements, and long term growth plans. This role requires strong commercial judgment, deep understanding of trade economics, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast evolving, pre launch environment.

Location: Hybrid in our New York City office or remote in the East Coast.

Reports to: Senior Director, Trade & Distribution.

Roles and responsibilities 
(Include but are not limited to): 

• Lead the end to end trade contracting strategy across 3PLs, specialty distributors, and specialty pharmacies
• Develop, negotiate, and manage commercial, operational, and service level agreements in alignment with launch readiness and commercialization goals
• Serve as the primary owner of trade contract governance, including interpretation of terms, renewals, amendments, performance monitoring, and issue resolution
• Partner closely with Legal, Compliance, Finance, Market Access, Commercial Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure cross functional alignment and contract integrity
• Ensure contracts appropriately reflect pricing structures, service fees, performance metrics, and Gross to Net considerations
• Lead or oversee RFP processes for trade partners, including evaluation, negotiation, and contracting recommendations
• Proactively identify contracting risks, operational gaps, or inefficiencies and implement mitigation strategies
• Support launch preparedness by ensuring contracting timelines, partner readiness, and service scopes align with commercialization milestones
• Maintain strong relationships with external trade partners and serve as a trusted internal advisor on trade contracting strategy and execution
• Monitor industry trends, distribution model evolution, and regulatory developments to inform contracting decisions and future strategy
• Provide guidance and mentorship to team members supporting trade contracting activities, as applicable

Candidate Profile:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university, or equivalent relevant experience
• Minimum of 8 years of experience within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, with direct experience in trade or distribution contracting
• Demonstrated experience negotiating contracts with 3PLs, specialty distributors, and/or specialty pharmacies
• Strong understanding of pharmaceutical distribution models, trade economics, and service‑level frameworks
• Proven ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders without direct authority
• Solid financial acumen, including understanding of pricing and Gross‑to‑Net dynamics
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to lead through ambiguity in a pre‑launch or early commercialization environment
• Experience supporting first‑launch or early commercial builds
• Experience with limited or specialty distribution models
• Prior experience in small or mid‑size biotech organizations

Benefits & Compensation:

For an overview of our benefits package and compensation information, please visit  "Working at Compass".  

Equal opportunities: 

Reasonable accommodation

We are committed to building a workplace where everyone’s wellbeing matters. If you need reasonable accommodation during the interview process to be at your best, please let our recruiting team know. 

UK applicants

We are proud of our commitment to diversity and equality (pursuant to the Equality Act 2010). We do not discriminate based upon race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability.

US applicants

Compass Pathways is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military service, genetic information, familial or marital status, or any other status, category, or characteristic protected by applicable law.

Sponsorship:

Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor employment visas and can only accept applications if you have employment rights in the country to which you are applying.

Data Privacy:

All data is confidential and protected by all legal and data privacy requirements, please see our recruitment Privacy Notice to learn more about how we process personal data.