Director, Global Program Lead, External Innovation & Due Diligence

Acadia Pharmaceuticals; Princeton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 196,000 - 245,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid vacation days

Job summary

Acadia Pharmaceuticals seeks a Director, External Innovation to lead due diligence on external opportunities, focusing on clinical-stage assets and drug development programs within neuroscience and rare diseases. You will coordinate clinical, scientific, and strategic input across functions to generate executive-ready recommendations.

The role requires strong cross-functional leadership, strategic analysis, and experience in global R&D program management, with travel as needed across domestic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10-12 years of industry experience in pharma/biotech.
• Experience in global R&D program management, portfolio strategy or project leadership.
• Experience with clinical-stage assets is required.
• Strong ability to synthesize complex information for senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead external opportunity diligence with cross-functional input from Clinical, Regulatory, CMC, Finance, Legal, and others.
• Develop diligence workplans, timelines, risk assessments, and value drivers for investments.
• Build preliminary development scenarios and resource assumptions for decisions.
• Evaluate scientific rationale, development strategy, and commercial potential.
• Translate data into actionable recommendations for executives.
• Support in-licensing, acquisitions, and partnership evaluations with internal business cases.

Skills

R&D program management

Cross-functional leadership

Due diligence

Strategic analysis

Neuroscience knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree (PhD/PharmD/MD)

Job description

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference.

Location

Please note that this position can be based in San Diego, CA, San Francisco, 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 Director, External Innovation will serve as the R&D project/program lead for external opportunity due diligence, with a particular focus on clinical-stage assets and drug development programs. The role will lead cross-functional clinical, scientific, and strategic evaluation of opportunities aligned with Acadia’s corporate strategy and R&D portfolio across neuroscience, psychiatry, neuro-rare, and rare disease.

The Director will support the development of preliminary integrated development scenarios, resource assumptions, and value drivers to inform opportunity evaluation, investment decisions, and governance discussions. As a strategic integrator across Business Development, Clinical and Nonclinical Development, Regulatory, CMC, Commercial, Finance, Legal, and other functions, the Director will synthesize complex scientific, clinical, competitive, and financial information into clear recommendations and executive-ready decision materials to support external asset evaluation, due diligence, and potential transaction execution.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the R&D project lead for external opportunity due diligence, coordinating cross-functional input from Clinical and Nonclinical Development, Regulatory, CMC, Commercial, Finance, Legal, and other key stakeholders
• Lead or co-lead the development of diligence workplans, including key questions, timelines, risk assessments, decision frameworks, and preliminary integrated development scenarios, resource assumptions, and value drivers to inform investment decisions
• Build preliminary integrated development scenarios, resource assumptions, and value drivers to inform diligence and investment decisions
• Contribute to the development of integrated opportunity assessments that evaluate scientific rationale, clinical development strategy, unmet need, competitive differentiation, regulatory considerations, development risk, commercial potential, and strategic fit
• Apply clinical development and asset leadership expertise to identify key diligence questions, development risks, opportunities, and assumptions associated with external assets
• Translate complex scientific, clinical, competitive, and financial information into clear recommendations for senior leadership and governance decision-making
• Partner with Business Development to support in-licensing, acquisition, collaboration, and partnership evaluations, including preparation of internal business cases and transaction-related materials
• Provide strategic input into therapeutic area and portfolio prioritization based on external landscape trends, emerging science, competitive activity, and internal capabilities
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal R&D, Commercial, Finance, Legal, and business stakeholders to ensure alignment throughout evaluation and diligence processes
• Represent Acadia in external scientific, biotech, academic, and industry interactions as appropriate to support opportunity evaluation and external innovation efforts
• Contribute to knowledge management, diligence best practices, evaluation templates, and consistent decision frameworks across external opportunities
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education/Experience/Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline required; advanced degree (PhD, PharmD, MD, or Master’s) preferred
• 10-12 years of industry experience in the pharma or biotech industry
• Experience in global R&D program management (clinical-stage assets), portfolio strategy or project leadership is required
• Experience with clinical-stage assets is required
• Experience leading cross-functional asset evaluations, scientific due diligence, portfolio assessments, and/or drug development strategy initiatives
• Strong scientific expertise with the ability to evaluate complex clinical and preclinical data
• Experience in neuroscience and/or rare disease (neurologic/psychiatric and/or non‑neuro rare disease) preferred
• Understanding of drug development, commercialization considerations, and industry dynamics
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, actionable insights for senior stakeholders
• Strong cross‑functional collaboration and influencing skills in a matrixed environment
• Working knowledge of transaction processes, due diligence, and partnership structures
• Experience developing strategic recommendations and governance materials for senior leadership and investment decision-making
• Experience integrating scientific, clinical, regulatory, commercial, and financial considerations into asset evaluations and portfolio recommendations
• Experience supporting or leading external opportunity assessments, due diligence activities, and cross-functional evaluation teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a fast‑paced environment
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required

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 both in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. 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 schedule or business needs.

Compensation

In addition to a competitive base salary, this position is also eligible for discretionary bonus and equity awards based on factors such as individual and organizational performance. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance, and location.

Salary Range

$196,000—$245,200 USD

What we offer US-based Employees

• Competitive base, bonus, new hire and ongoing equity packages
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life, disability, business travel and EAP coverage
• 401(k) Plan with a fully vested company match 1:1 up to 5%
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 2-year purchase price lock-in
• 15+ vacation days
• 13 -15 paid holidays, including office closure between December 24th and January 1st
• 10 days of paid sick time
• Paid parental leave benefit
• Tuition assistance

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 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 strongly encourage you to apply, especially if the reason you are the best candidate isn’t exactly what we describe 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 [e-mail] or 858-261-2923.

Please note that reasonable accommodations granted throughout the recruiting process are not guaranteed to be the same accommodations given if hired. A new request will need to be submitted for any ADA accommodations after starting employment.

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