About Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. Since our founding, we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis and the first and only approved drug in the United States and Canada for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and multiple other programs targeting neuro-psychiatric and neuro-rare diseases. For more information, visit us at
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Please note that this position is based in San Diego, CA or Princeton, NJ. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.
Position Summary:
The Associate Director, Program Management for Pharmaceutical Development, Manufacturing, and Quality drives high-priority, complex programs and provides strategic and operational support to the TDOQ teams. This role ensures alignment on program objectives, timelines, and deliverables, while collaborating with teams and leadership to shape development strategies and monitor progress. The Associate Director advises on program priorities, resources, and strategic decisions for governance committees and ensures the accuracy of program reporting.
As the operational leader for the global TDOQ team, the Program Manager oversees the integrated development plan, ensuring alignment between strategic, operational, and tactical plans to meet program objectives and priorities.
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Understanding of overall aspects of manufacturing product (API, Drug Product and packaging) via CMO for both clinical trials, clinical trials materials, and commercial sales.
- Knowledge of global drug development, registration and market launch requirements.
- A thorough understanding of each functional area’s role and contribution to the process
- Advanced meeting facilitation skills with Executive and Sr. Management and a demonstrated ability to lead brainstorming and scenario planning discussions
- Financial management knowledge
- Drives development of project level goals that contribute to the overall goals of TDOQ and drives execution of the program in a manner that achieves delivery of the goals/objectives and the agreed plan without compromising project deliverables or relationships.
- Facilitates data needed for decision analysis with the team including development and assessment of outcome scenarios and alternative development options, robust go/no go decision criteria, probability of technical and regulatory success, value and investment implications.
- Consistently assesses program and project-level strategy relative to the overall TDOQ workload prioritization to ensure an appropriate balance between project priority and resource consumption. Proactively recommends and drives the operational plan and resource adjustments to improve productivity and return for the program.
- Drives development of the program-level goals that contribute to the overall objectives for TDOQ. Monitors and reports to executive management on progress of the program goals.
- Drives milestone decision-point planning and associated deliverables across functions to achieve the overall program objectives. Clearly defines the critical path and generates clear decision criteria for the program..
- Develops project-level budgets and resource plans on behalf of the team. Proactively manages the overall program budget and resource demand including potential business development projects. Ensures that cross-functional efficiencies are identified and maximized
- Manages an integrated program budget and resource plan in partnership with the Team Lead, Finance team member and functional line representatives on the team.
- Identifies operational and project/program issues for discussion with appropriate team leadership. Drives resolution across the team through options assessment, effectively documenting decisions and rationale. Identifies team performance issues and partners with the leader to recommend and develop appropriate action.
Education/Experience/Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences. Advanced degree (MS/PhD) highly desirable but not required. Equivalent combination of relevant education and applicable job experience may be considered
- Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible, relevant experience focusing on program management with 4 years in a leadership role which includes experience managing cross-functional project teams
- Bachelor’s degree in a science related field required. Advanced degree in science related field preferred
- 8 years of relevant experience in biotechnology or pharmaceutical field with minimum of 3 years direct project management experience, an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience and training may be considered
- Project Management Certification preferred
- Excellent knowledge of project management discipline and its application to drug development required to deliver time, cost, quality and risk management to teams
- A strong understanding of drug development and manufacturing and the principles, concepts, practices, quality and standards of pharmaceutical project management
- Understanding of FDA, EMA, Health Canada and CPID preferred. ICH and ISO Guidelines & GXPs governing the conduct of clinical trials is required
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to support multiple project teams simultaneously, be well organized and have strong time management skills and attention to detail
- In-depth knowledge and skill with Microsoft Project, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Smartsheet and other reporting and tracking tools
- Ability to work under limited supervision, determine personal work plan, and schedule tasks and activities accordingly
- Ability to accommodate shifting priorities, demands and timelines
- Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources and to be persuasive, encouraging and motivating
- Ability to learn, understand and apply new technologies, strategies and approaches that enhance the team’s ability to achieve goals and meet timelines/deliverables.
- Skilled at negotiating with business partners or management and influencing senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the department or segments of the organization
- Adept at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members effectively aligning resources to achieve functional area goals
- You may be required to travel for up to 15% of your time
Physical Requirements:
This role involves regular standing, walking, sitting, and the use of hands for handling or operating equipment. The employee may also need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. This position requires the ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required by travel schedules or business needs.
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EEO Statement (US-Based Employees): Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in the exact way they are described in job postings. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company and we are looking for the BEST candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background or may meet the qualifications in a different way. We would strongly encourage you to apply – especially if the reason you are the best candidate isn’t exactly as we describe it here.
It is the policy of Acadia to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to considerations of race, including related to hairstyle, color, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, country of origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, legally-protected medical condition or information, marital status, domestic partner status, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran or military status (including reserve status, National Guard status, and military service or obligation), status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, or any basis protected under federal, state or local law.
As an equal opportunity employer, Acadia is committed to a diverse workforce. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. Furthermore, you may request additional support if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Acadia’s career website due to your disability, along with any accommodations throughout the interview process. To request or inquire about your reasonable accommodation, please complete our Reasonable Accommodation Request Form or contact us at talentacquisition@acadia-pharm.com or 858-261-2923.
Please note that reasonable accommodations granted throughout the recruiting process are not guaranteed to be the same accommodation given if hired. A new request will need to be submitted for any ADA accommodations after starting employment.
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Notice to Search Firms/Third-Party Recruitment Agencies (Recruiters): The Talent Acquisition team manages the recruitment and employment process for Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (“Acadia”). Acadia does not accept resumes from recruiters or search firms without an executed search agreement in place. Resumes sent to Acadia employees in absence of an executed search agreement will not obligate Acadia in any way with the respect to the future employment of those individuals or potential remuneration to any recruiter or search firm. Candidates should never be submitted directly to our hiring managers or employees.