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.

Please note that this position can be based in either Princeton, NJ, San Diego, CA, or South San Francisco, CA. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office an average of 3 days per week.

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Portfolio Management will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the strategic direction of the company’s development and commercialization portfolio. Operating within a dynamic, matrixed environment, this leader will drive enterprise-wide portfolio prioritization, facilitate cross-functional alignment, and enable efficient decision-making to maximize value creation. This role requires deep collaboration with key stakeholders across Finance, R&D, and Commercial to ensure that portfolio investments are strategically sound, financially viable, and aligned with market opportunities and scientific innovation.

Primary Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of portfolio prioritization frameworks that balance scientific innovation, commercial potential, and financial impact.
Partner closely with Finance to assess investment scenarios, optimize resource allocation, and ensure portfolio decisions are grounded in financial rigor.
Collaborate with R&D leadership to align pipeline strategy with portfolio goals, ensuring scientific feasibility and milestone-driven execution.
Engage with Commercial teams to incorporate market insights, competitive intelligence, and launch readiness into portfolio planning.
Facilitate governance processes that promote transparency, agility, and accountability across the portfolio lifecycle.
Drive continuous improvement in portfolio operations, leveraging data and analytics to inform strategic decisions and enhance execution efficiency.
Lead focused initiatives supporting continuous improvement of Acadia’s Portfolio Governance and Operating Model.
Serve as a trusted advisor to Portfolio Governance (PG), providing clear, actionable insights on portfolio performance, trade-offs, and strategic risks.
Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation across teams and functions.
Other responsibilities as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skills

Bachelor’s degree in life science or related field; Advanced degree preferred. Targeting 12 years of progressively responsible, relevant experience focusing on program management with 8 years in a leadership role which includes experience managing cross-functional project teams. A successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the drug development process from preclinical pharmacology through to regulatory approval and the principles, concepts, practices, and standards of pharmaceutical program management. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

Key Skills:

Significant amount of experience required in portfolio management, strategic planning, or program leadership within the biotech or life sciences industry.
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
Strong understanding of drug development processes, commercialization strategies, and financial modeling.
Executive presence and exceptional communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Experience with governance frameworks and enterprise operating models is highly desirable.
Advanced meeting facilitation skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams that include executive and senior management without direct authority.
Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources and to be persuasive, encouraging and motivating.
In-depth knowledge and skill with Microsoft (MS) suite including MS PowerPoint, MS Project, MS Word, MS Excel.
Must be able and willing to travel on occasion.

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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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

$240,000—$285,000 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 [email protected] 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.

California Applicants: Please see Additional Information for California Residents within our Privacy Policy.

Canadian Applicants: Please see Additional Information for Canadian Residents within our Privacy Policy.

Applicants in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Serbia: Please see Additional Information for Individuals in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Serbia within our Privacy Policy.

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.

Senior Director, Portfolio Management

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