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
The Commercial Chief of Staff and Transformation Lead serves as a strategic operating partner and trusted advisor to the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), helping translate Commercial priorities into clear plans, governance, communications, and execution. Working across Acadia's Commercial Leadership Team and key enterprise partners, including Brand, Field, Market Access, Patient Services, Finance, Analytics, Commercial Operations, Medical Affairs, Research and Development, Business Development, and other functional leaders, this role drives alignment and execution across the Commercial organization. The position owns and continuously enhances the Commercial operating cadence, advances strategic initiatives, strengthens decision making, and ensures follow through on critical commitments. By identifying gaps, connecting workstreams, escalating risks, and clarifying decisions, the role ensures the CCO and Commercial Leadership Team have the information, alignment, and visibility needed to act effectively. Success in this role requires strong commercial acumen, executive judgment, discretion, and the ability to influence senior leaders without formal authority while operating as an extension of the CCO's leadership agenda.
Primary Responsibilities
- Serve as a strategic operating partner to the CCO, helping translate Commercial priorities into clear objectives, operating plans, communications, and execution across the Commercial organization.
- Own and continuously improve the Commercial operating cadence, including Commercial Leadership Team meetings, quarterly business reviews, brand performance reviews, launch readiness forums, planning processes, and follow-up on key decisions and actions.
- Develop agendas, objectives, pre-reads, executive materials, decision logs, and post-meeting communications to ensure leadership forums are focused, efficient, and action-oriented.
- Track key Commercial commitments, risks, decisions, and action items to ensure organizational accountability, timely escalation, and disciplined execution.
- Partner across Brand, Field, Market Access, Patient Services, Analytics, Finance, Medical Affairs, R&D, BD, IT, and other enterprise functions to ensure Commercial priorities are integrated into enterprise decision-making and execution plans.
- Act as an internal consultant and integrator across functional teams, identifying resource needs, process bottlenecks, decision gaps, and opportunities to improve speed, quality, and impact.
- Support the CCO in identifying Commercial priorities, decision points, risks, opportunities, and recommendations that require discussion at Commercial Leadership Team, ELT, Board, portfolio governance, or other senior leadership forums.
- Synthesize complex commercial issues into clear executive-level narratives, recommendations, and decision points for the CCO, ELT, Board, and external audiences, as appropriate.
- Partner with Brand, Analytics, Finance, Market Access, Patient Services, and Field teams to diagnose business performance, identify root causes, articulate risks and opportunities, and translate insights into actionable recommendations.
- Develop the core Commercial performance story and provide input to earnings scripts, investor-related materials, Board updates, and other senior executive communications where Commercial perspective is required.
- Lead selected enterprise-critical Commercial transformation initiatives, including operating model improvements, launch readiness workstreams, integration planning, capability building, planning discipline, process simplification, and adoption of analytics, AI, digital tools, or new ways of working.
- Examples may include redesigning Commercial governance and operating cadence; improving launch readiness processes; strengthening brand planning and performance management; streamlining field, market access, patient services, and analytics ways of working; enabling adoption of AI, data, and digital tools; supporting integration of new assets or partnerships; and building scalable capabilities, processes, and forums to support growth.
- Design and support training, curriculum, and change management efforts that build Commercial acumen, strengthen planning capabilities, and improve consistency of execution across the organization.
- Partner with Finance to support effective quarterly close-out, forecasting, investment prioritization, resource planning, and business planning processes.
- Partner with Business Development to assess commercial fit, support diligence, frame value drivers and risks, and help plan integration for external partnerships or acquired assets.
- Partner with R&D, Medical Affairs, Global Product Commercial Strategy, and portfolio governance teams to ensure Commercial insights are incorporated into asset strategy, stage-gate decisions, launch readiness, lifecycle planning, and enterprise investment choices.
- Support the CCO in driving Commercial Leadership Team effectiveness, communication, engagement, culture, and ways of working.
- Maintain a high compliance posture and ensure adherence to company policies, quality system requirements, and applicable legal and regulatory directives.
Education/Experience/Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Life Sciences, or related field and a minimum of 12 years professionally relevant experience or MBA/advanced degree preferred with a minimum of 10 years of professionally relevant experience.
- Proven professional experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology commercial strategy, business operations, transformation, launch planning, finance, consulting, portfolio strategy, or related role is required.
- Demonstrated experience working with senior executives and cross-functional leadership teams to drive strategic priorities, commercial performance, governance, decision-making, and organizational execution.
- US Commercial Strategy within the healthcare sector is strongly preferred.
Key Candidate Qualities:
- Strong commercial acumen, including understanding of brand strategy, field execution, market access, patient services, analytics, forecasting, launch readiness, and pharmaceutical commercialization across in-market and development-stage assets.
- Exceptional executive communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex issues into clear recommendations, decision points, and leadership-ready materials.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders without formal authority and build alignment across functions with differing priorities.
- Proven strategic, financial, and analytical skills, including the ability to diagnose performance drivers, assess trade-offs, and recommend practical actions.
- Proven ability to manage ambiguity, anticipate issues, exercise sound judgment, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities.
- High discretion, integrity, maturity, and executive presence, with the ability to handle confidential and sensitive business matters appropriately.
- Strong organizational and project leadership skills, including the ability to create structure, manage timelines, track commitments, and ensure follow-through.
- Experience leading transformation, operating model, integration, launch readiness, capability building, or process improvement initiatives preferred.
- Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, inclusion, and trust.
- Ability to travel up to 40% both domestically and internationally.
Recognized as an influential leader and trusted advisor with the ability to operate across senior leadership forums and influence without authority. Works on issues of diverse scope and strategic importance that require evaluation of commercial, financial, operational, organizational, and cross-functional factors. Serves as an integrator and facilitator of decision quality, prioritization, and execution, while maintaining clear functional accountability across Brand, Field, Market Access, Patient Services, Finance, Analytics, Commercial Operations, Medical Affairs, R&D, BD, and other enterprise partners. Decisions and recommendations may materially impact short-term and long-term Commercial performance, organizational effectiveness, resource allocation, launch readiness, and enterprise priorities.
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.
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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.
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.
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Canadian Applicants: Please see Additional Information for Canadian Residents within our Privacy Policy.
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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.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Life Sciences, or a related field
- At least 12 years of professionally relevant experience, or at least 10 years with an MBA or advanced degree
- Professional experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology commercial strategy, business operations, transformation, launch planning, finance, consulting, portfolio strategy, or a related role
- Experience working with senior executives and cross-functional leadership teams to drive strategic priorities, commercial performance, governance, decision-making, and organizational execution
- US Commercial Strategy experience within the healthcare sector
- Strong understanding of brand strategy, field execution, market access, patient services, analytics, forecasting, launch readiness, and pharmaceutical commercialization
- Exceptional executive communication and ability to synthesize complex issues into recommendations, decision points, and leadership materials
- Ability to influence senior leaders without formal authority and build cross-functional alignment
- Strategic, financial, and analytical skills, including diagnosing performance drivers and assessing trade-offs
- Ability to manage ambiguity, anticipate issues, exercise sound judgment, and operate in a fast-paced environment
- High discretion, integrity, maturity, and executive presence
- Strong organizational and project leadership skills, including managing timelines and tracking commitments
- Experience leading transformation, operating model, integration, launch readiness, capability building, or process improvement initiatives
- Ability to travel up to 40% domestically and internationally
What We Do
Our Acadia family of care-ageous warriors aspire to enable brighter moments for patients and their loved ones. For 30 years, 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 approved therapies for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis and for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on treating the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and neuropsychiatric symptoms in central nervous system disorders. Important Notice for Candidates - Be Aware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activity Acadia Pharmaceuticals has become aware of fraudulent recruiting activity being circulated via email and LinkedIn by individuals impersonating Acadia Talent Acquisition employees. These communications may appear legitimate due to an official-looking Acadia email address or website, referencing of an actual recruiter and/or manager at Acadia (easily found on LinkedIn), and/or offer documents falsely signed by an Acadia executive. The impostor uses the incentive of a job interview and job offer to solicit sensitive personal information from the intended victim. Please note that the Acadia Talent Acquisition and HR Team will ONLY interact with a candidate from "Acadia-pharm.com" domain sourced emails. We do not request sensitive personal information, such as a Social Security Number, or payments of any kind during the interview or job offer process. Acadia strongly recommends individuals, who receive email solicitations, to carefully verify the authenticity of the correspondence before responding. Never provide personal information or click on links if you are unsure a communication’s legitimacy. If in doubt, please contact [email protected] to verify.
