Please note that this position is based in Princeton, NJ. Acadia’s hybrid work model requires this role to be on-site an average of three days per week.
Position Summary:
The Executive Director, Corporate Strategy & Capabilities is a senior leader responsible for enabling ACADIA’s corporate and business development (BD) engine. This role defines and refines strategic priorities, oversees BD infrastructure, tools, and processes, and from time to time provides financial and/or strategic modeling expertise to assist in corporate and business development decision-making early in the assessment process. The position requires a balance of strategic vision, operational execution, and cross-functional collaboration.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Work with Chief Business and Strategy Officer and BD functional heads to drive corporate strategy efforts, consolidating views from external environment, KOLs, scientific & enterprise strategy, and commercial input to shape the BD roadmap and ensure alignment with ACADIA’s pipeline and LRP.
- Drive early opportunity evaluations, including financial modeling, valuation analyses, and market assessments.
- Define, refine and challenge assumptions and provide data-driven insights for BD decisions.
- Oversee BD infrastructure, tools, and processes to enable consistent, scalable evaluation, decision-making and governance.
- Support due diligence and transaction enablement in partnership with BD Transactions and External Innovation leads.
- Collaborate cross-functionally (R&D, Commercial, Finance, Legal, Strategy) to build organizational alignment and shared intelligence.
- Serve as a thought partner to senior BD and corporate leaders, helping to define priority therapeutic and market segments, shape portfolio strategy and focus areas, and how to determine target areas for growth and expansion long term.
- Represent ACADIA externally as needed with advisors, partners, and key stakeholders.
- Manage and develop a team including the Director, BD Alliance Operations and Sr. Coordinator, BD Ops & Capabilities
- Provide coaching and stretch opportunities for internal talent engaged in project-based assignments.
Education/Experience/Skills:
- 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in corporate and business development, strategy, consulting within the pharmaceutical/biotech sector.
- Advanced degree (MBA, PhD, or equivalent) strongly preferred.
- Proven experience in financial modeling, valuation, and strategic assessments preferred.
- Experience consolidating insights across scientific, commercial, and external environments into actionable strategies.
- Demonstrated success building or managing infrastructure, tools, and processes to enable BD decision-making.
- Strong collaboration skills with the ability to flex across different projects and needs.
- Experience managing and developing teams; ability to mentor and inspire.
- Exceptional analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
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-HYBRID #LI-BG1
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.
Top Skills
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.
