Executive Director, P&P Technology & Operations

ACADIA Pharmaceuticals Inc.; Princeton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 248,000 - 310,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) match

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid vacation

Job summary

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. is seeking an Executive Director, P&P Technology & Operations for a hybrid role in the US, headquartered in Princeton, NJ or San Diego, CA.

The leader will design and deliver a multi‑year blueprint integrating P&P operations, technology, data, automation and self‑service to enable scalable, insights‑driven People Operations. The role requires transforming the operating model, expanding self-service, and delivering measurable business and workforce

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Significant progressive experience leading P&P operations, HR technology, service delivery, people analytics or enterprise transformation.
• Track record transforming HR operating model or enterprise service delivery ecosystem.
• Experience building people analytics capabilities with multiple data sources.

Responsibilities

• Define future-state P&P operations and service delivery model, including self-service and automation.
• Build a multiyear transformation roadmap.
• Lead implementation, change, adoption, training and stabilization for major initiatives.
• Build and lead a high‑performing P&P team and manage vendors.

Skills

P&P operations

HR technology

People analytics

vendor management

change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Workday

Job description

Please note that this position is based in either 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 Executive Director, P&P Technology & Operations will define and deliver the future-state blueprint for how P&P operations, technology, data, automation and self-service work together as Acadia grows.

This leader will simplify processes, expand self-service, automate repeatable work and create an integrated technology and service delivery ecosystem. The role will also establish Acadia’s enterprise People Intelligence capability, turning trusted workforce data into actionable insights for leaders.

The successful candidate will operate as a strategist, architect and hands‑on transformation leader, translating the future state into a sequenced roadmap and measurable business, employee and operational outcomes.

Primary Responsibilities

P&P Operating Model & Service Delivery

• Define the future-state P&P operations and service delivery model, including self-service, automation, People Operations, specialist teams, PBPs and cross‑functional partners.
• Establish a service catalog, delivery tiers, decision rights, handoffs, standards and escalation pathways.
• Build a multiyear roadmap that balances immediate improvements with longer‑term transformation.

Process Simplification, Automation & Employee Experience

• Redesign priority employee‑lifecycle processes, eliminating unnecessary steps, approvals, handoffs and manual work before applying technology.
• Build and prioritize a portfolio of workflow, automation and AI opportunities based on employee value, business impact, risk and feasibility.
• Create an intuitive front door for P&P information, transactions and support through effective portal, knowledge, case management and workflow capabilities.
• Use employee and manager feedback to continuously improve service quality, cycle time and experience.

P&P Technology Strategy & Governance

• Own the enterprise P&P technology strategy, architecture and roadmap, including Workday and the broader technology ecosystem.
• Establish product governance for prioritization, investment, design standards, releases, security, testing and adoption.
• Partner with IT, Finance, Legal and other functions to deliver integrated, scalable solutions and evaluate emerging technology based on value, risk, user experience and total cost.

People Intelligence & Workforce Insights

• Establish Acadia’s People Intelligence capability by connecting workforce, talent, organization, engagement, performance, recruiting, learning, compensation and planning data.
• Create a scalable data and analytics strategy with clear architecture, definitions, quality standards, ownership and governance.
• Deliver executive and manager insights on workforce trends, organizational health, talent risks and business performance.
• Advance reporting toward predictive and prescriptive insights, applying AI and advanced analytics where they improve decision quality and speed.
• Partner with Finance, IT and business leaders to connect people insights with enterprise planning and investment decisions.

Transformation Execution & Team Leadership

• Translate strategy into a focused portfolio with clear outcomes, milestones, resources, owners and measures of success.
• Lead implementation, change, adoption, testing, training and stabilization for major operational and technology initiatives.
• Manage portfolio tradeoffs, dependencies, risks and investments with transparent governance.
• Build and lead a high‑performing P&P Operations, Technology and People Analytics team, while effectively managing vendors and implementation partners.

Measures of Success

• Greater adoption of intuitive employee and manager self‑service.
• Reduced manual work, avoidable case volume, process complexity and administrative burden.
• Faster, more consistent and higher‑quality P&P service delivery.
• Trusted People Intelligence that improves workforce decisions and anticipates talent and organizational risks.
• Greater business value from Workday and the broader P&P technology ecosystem.
• A clear, prioritized and effectively governed transformation portfolio that redirects P&P capacity to higher‑value work.

Education, Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Significant progressive experience leading P&P operations, HR technology, service delivery, people analytics or enterprise transformation, including multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated success transforming an HR operating model, shared‑services capability or enterprise service delivery ecosystem and converting a future‑state blueprint into a sequenced roadmap.
• Track record simplifying and automating employee‑lifecycle processes and implementing workflow, self‑service and AI‑enabled solutions.
• Deep experience with Workday and related service delivery, knowledge, case management, integration and workflow technologies.
• Demonstrated success building people analytics or workforce intelligence capabilities that integrate multiple data sources into executive‑ready insights and support workforce planning.
• Strong product, portfolio and program leadership, with advanced analytical and business acumen and the ability to build business cases and prioritize investments.
• Ability to influence executives and partner across P&P, IT, Finance, Legal and the business; strong vendor, implementation, change and benefit‑realization capabilities.
• Comprehensive knowledge of employment compliance, data privacy, information security and governance. Experience in a fast‑paced, growing and highly regulated environment preferred.

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 15 pounds. Ability to travel by car or airplane independently overnight up to 40% of the time and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues.

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

$248,000—$309,600 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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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 the absence of an executed search agreement will not obligate Acadia in any way with 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.