Director, People Business Partner

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Princeton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 172,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base pay

Bonus

Equity

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k) with match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Vacation days

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Job summary

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking a seasoned Director, HR Business Partner based in Princeton, NJ, to act as a strategic partner to assigned business groups.

This role will provide expert advice on workforce planning, performance management, compensation, and organizational development while guiding leaders on people-related challenges. The position requires a minimum of 10 years in HR with at least 6 years in a leadership capacity, preferably in biotech/pharma.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent combination of education and applicable job experience.
• A minimum of 10 years’ progressively responsible related experience with at least 6 years in leadership.
• Biotech/Pharma HRBP experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with business group leadership and employees.
• Provide expert HR counsel to group leaders on organization and people issues.
• Partner with executives to develop talent strategies and workforce plans.
• Drive performance management and succession planning for assigned groups.
• Support employee development planning and training needs.
• Collaborate on leadership engagement initiatives and culture alignment.
• Oversee annual performance and compensation planning and ensure total rewards alignment.
• Coach managers on documentation, performance results, and promotions.
• Address employee relations issues and identify root causes for improvement.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Coaching & influence

Communication skills

Leadership

Change management

Employee relations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Please note that this position is based in Princeton, NJ. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office on average three days per week.

Position Summary:

For assigned business group(s), the Director PBP will act as a strategic business partner and serve as an expert advisor across all aspects of human resources, including workforce planning, organizational development, employee relations, performance management, compensation, and leadership development.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain effective relationships with business group leadership and employees.
• Ensure regular presence to build and enhance relationship with employees.
• Provides expert advice and counsel to assigned group leaders on organization and human resources issues.
• Partners with the group executives and their teams to develop strategies and implement talent plans to address organizational talent needs; partners with Talent Acquisition to ensure talent gaps are filled appropriately.
• Drives performance management and succession planning process within client group(s) to develop key talent and bench strength for future needs and to ensure the best talent is retained.
• Consults with clients to understand training and development needs across their groups and partners in creating employee development plan.
• Works with business leaders to establish and drive employee engagement actions.
• Offers objective and balanced advice to leaders on business challenges and people implications, leadership effectiveness, culture, and alignment.
• Oversees annual performance and compensation planning for assigned group(s) to ensure alignment of total rewards to performance.
• Assists managers and provides constructive feedback and coaching for all aspects of the company performance management process including coaching leaders on effective documentation practices for good and poor performance, evaluating performance results, and making promotion recommendations.
• Provides guidance to objectively assess and resolve employee relations issues. Identifies root causes as opportunities to improve team effectiveness; coaches managers to be proactive in employee relations issues.
• Partners with leaders on employee relations issues; involves Director, Employee Relations as appropriate.
• Develops and implements appropriate change management plans as needed.
• Works effectively with the process owners for one or more sub-section HR process (i.e., Performance Management, Compensation Planning, Learning and Development, On Boarding Programs and Organizational Effectiveness).
• Participates in the design and management of company-wide compensation programs.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skills:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and applicable job experience may be considered. A minimum of 10 years’ progressively responsible related experience with a minimum of 6 years in a leadership role. Prior experience as an HR Business Partner experience in Biotech or Pharma industry strongly preferred.

Essential Qualifications:

• Strategic thinking capability and “hands on” HR plan implementation experience.
• Strong working knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local employment law.
• Demonstrated skills and abilities in coaching, influencing, facilitation, development, and problem solving with a passion to deliver results.
• Excellent communication, presentation, consultative, partnership, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in business analysis and compensation planning.
• Familiarity with benefit program design and delivery.
• Strong adaptability to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to influence mid-level and senior management.
• Effective conflict resolution skills.
• Prior experience working with teams across multiple geographies.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong trusting relationships in order to gain support and achieve results; skilled in bringing alignment to different views of constituents across the business.
• Skilled at negotiating with business partners or management and influencing senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization.
• Proficient at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members effectively aligning resources and activities to achieve functional area and/or organizational goals.
• Ability to travel up to 10% of the time, primarily domestic.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, see, talk or hear in a standard office environment and independently from remote locations. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Ability to travel by car or airplane independently up to 10% of the time and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues.

Salary Range

$171,600—$214,500 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.

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