Please note that this position is based in San Diego, CA. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.
Serves as a highly trusted strategic partner providing executive-level administrative and operational support to the Chief Legal Officer and the Legal/Compliance/Government Affairs Leadership Team. Acts as a central coordination point for legal operations, governance, and executive communications while exercising sound judgment, discretion, and autonomy in managing complex, confidential, and sensitive matters. Enables the effectiveness of the Legal organization through proactive planning, prioritization, and execution in a fast‑paced, highly regulated environment.
Primary Responsibilities
Executive & Legal Leadership Support
- Provides advanced administrative and operational support to the Chief Legal Officer and senior Legal leaders, managing multiple competing priorities with precision and professionalism.
- Serves as a trusted liaison between Legal leadership and internal stakeholders, external counsel, regulators, and Board‑level contacts.
- Manages highly confidential legal, business, and personnel matters with discretion, integrity, and sound judgment.
Legal Operations, Coordination & Strategic Support
- Prepares, edits, and assembles executive‑level legal materials, including Board and Committee presentations, reports, correspondence, and sensitive communications.
- Coordinates with internal partners (Finance, Procurement, Compliance, HR) to support the creation, execution, tracking, and administration of statements of work, purchase orders, master service agreements, and other department‑related legal documentation.
- Interfaces with outside counsel and legal service providers to support engagement logistics, information exchange, and administrative coordination.
- Maintains Legal department records, trackers, calendars, and reporting tools while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and confidentiality.
- Coordinates domestic and international travel for Legal executives; manages expense reporting and reconciliation through Concur and corporate credit card systems in accordance with company policies.
- Plans and supports logistics for Legal offsites, leadership meetings, compliance initiatives, training sessions, and cross‑functional forums.
- Partners with Legal Operations, Compliance, and cross‑functional stakeholders to streamline workflows, improve administrative processes, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
- Provides backup administrative coverage during peak periods or absences to ensure continuity of Legal operations.
- Supports special projects, process improvements, and departmental initiatives as assigned.
Education/Experience/Skills
Education & Experience
- High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree preferred.
- 6+ years of progressive administrative experience supporting senior or C‑suite executives.
- Prior experience supporting Legal, Compliance, or Governance functions strongly preferred.
- Experience within a regulated environment (pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, or public company) highly desirable.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Key Skills & Competencies
- Demonstrated ability to support senior leaders with professionalism, discretion, and executive presence.
- Strong understanding of confidentiality, legal sensitivity, and ethical standards.
- Exceptional organizational and prioritization skills with strong attention to detail and follow‑through.
- Ability to independently manage complex tasks and execute from end to end with minimal direction.
- Strong written communication and editing skills, including preparation of executive‑level materials.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
- Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and making informed decisions with limited information.
- Ability to work collaboratively and build trusted relationships across functions and leadership levels.
- Willingness and ability to travel on occasion as business needs arise.
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.
#LI-SM1 #LI-HYBRID
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.
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.
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.
