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. Position Summary The Senior Director, Translational Sciences will lead the design and execution of disease biology and drug mechanism of action (MoA) strategies to advance therapeutics from discovery through clinical development. This role requires deep expertise in translational sciences with hands-on experience in neurology and electrophysiology, along with a strong understanding of the end-to-end drug development process.

The ideal candidate brings a proven ability to translate complex biological data into clear, actionable insights and drive cross-functional collaboration to advance programs.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead translational biology strategies to interrogate disease biology and drug MoA, driving execution across candidate targets and therapeutic programs Design and implement preclinical neurology and neurophysiology studies to address key MoA questions across the portfolio Partner across research and development teams to develop and test hypotheses supporting target validation and candidate progression Define MoA strategies for preclinical evaluation and align with biomarker strategies for clinical translation Synthesize and integrate complex biological datasets to inform decision-making across development stages Select and manage CROs while building strong collaborations to enhance scientific execution and delivery Present data and program strategies to asset teams, governance committees, and senior leadership Contribute to key regulatory and scientific documents including INDs, NDAs, study protocols, and publications Other duties as assigned Education/Experience/Skills Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or a related field 12+ years of experience in translational sciences within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment Deep expertise in neurology drug discovery and preclinical development Experience supporting clinical-stage development programs Hands-on experience with regulatory filings including IND, BLA, or NDA Experience across therapeutic platforms including small molecules, ASO, and mRNA preferred Proficiency working with complex, multifactorial biological datasets and data analysis platforms Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed 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. #LI-HYBRID #LI-CS1 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)