Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Commercial Chief of Staff (Senior Director)
Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, us, 08543
About Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that benefits underserved neurological and rare disease communities. Our portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson's disease psychosis and Rett syndrome, with a pipeline in Alzheimer's disease psychosis, Lewy body dementia psychosis, and other programs. Our mission is to be the difference for patients.
Position Summary
Commercial Chief of Staff (Sr. Director)
plays a pivotal role in strategy, performance, and operational excellence of Acadia's Commercial organization. Acting as a trusted advisor to the
Chief Commercial Officer , this role ensures clarity, alignment, and execution across Marketing, Sales, Market Access, and Strategic Operations. The Chief of Staff leads high-impact initiatives that connect strategy to execution, oversees brand planning, Commercial budget governance, and cross-functional collaboration with partners across Finance, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory, and IT. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the direction of a growing biopharmaceutical company. The Chief of Staff translates vision into measurable business outcomes, ensuring the Commercial organization operates with precision, agility, and purpose.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Execution
Partner with the CCO and Commercial Leadership Team to develop and operationalize strategic priorities and business plans Translate strategic vision into actionable goals and track progress against key deliverables
Brand Planning Leadership
Lead coordination and execution of the annual brand planning process Drive cross-functional collaboration and alignment across franchises and corporate priorities Maintain consistency and rigor in planning frameworks and deliverables
Budget Oversight & Resource Management
Oversee Commercial budget planning, tracking, and reporting in partnership with Finance Ensure resource allocation aligns with strategic priorities Support scenario planning and investment decision-making
Program & Project Leadership
Lead and monitor cross-functional initiatives from inception to completion Track milestones, identify risks, and ensure accountability for results
Cross-Functional Integration
Serve as liaison between Commercial and Finance, Medical, Clinical, IT, Regulatory Foster collaboration and ensure alignment on timelines, deliverables, and priorities
Executive Communications & Governance
Develop high-impact presentations and materials for the CCO and Commercial Leadership Prepare content for Board, EMC, and PSC meetings Shape agendas, manage meeting logistics, and ensure follow-up on key decisions
Operational Excellence
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency across Commercial operations Standardize best practices to drive scalability and cross-functional effectiveness
Organizational Effectiveness
Partner with the CCO on workforce planning, capability development, and change management Support the build-out of future-ready Commercial capabilities
Insight Generation & External Benchmarking
Monitor industry trends, competitive intelligence, and peer benchmarks Leverage insights to inform strategy and innovation within the Commercial organization
Education/Experience/Skills
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with a focus on Commercial operations, marketing, brand strategy, and cross-functional leadership Demonstrated experience in leading brand planning processes and managing Commercial budgets Experience supporting or working with executive leadership in a Chief of Staff, Strategy, or Commercial Operations capacity is highly desirable
Key Competencies & Attributes
Proven ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders Deep understanding of pharmaceutical commercialization, including product launch, lifecycle management, and brand strategy Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and financial acumen Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex topics into clear, actionable insights High emotional intelligence, discretion, and integrity Adept at managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word); experience with project management and collaboration tools a plus Willingness to travel up to 20%
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 standard office and remote work environments. May occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Travel by car or airplane independently overnight up to 20% of the time; international travel may be required.
#LI-SW1 #LI-HYBRID
Compensation & Benefits
In addition to a competitive base salary, this position is eligible for discretionary bonus and equity awards. Salary range: $222,500 — $278,100 USD. Actual amounts vary by experience 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 24 and January 1 10 days of paid sick time Paid parental leave Tuition assistance
EEO & Accommodation
Acadia is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact talentacquisition@acadia-pharm.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that benefits underserved neurological and rare disease communities. Our portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson's disease psychosis and Rett syndrome, with a pipeline in Alzheimer's disease psychosis, Lewy body dementia psychosis, and other programs. Our mission is to be the difference for patients.
Position Summary
Commercial Chief of Staff (Sr. Director)
plays a pivotal role in strategy, performance, and operational excellence of Acadia's Commercial organization. Acting as a trusted advisor to the
Chief Commercial Officer , this role ensures clarity, alignment, and execution across Marketing, Sales, Market Access, and Strategic Operations. The Chief of Staff leads high-impact initiatives that connect strategy to execution, oversees brand planning, Commercial budget governance, and cross-functional collaboration with partners across Finance, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory, and IT. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence the direction of a growing biopharmaceutical company. The Chief of Staff translates vision into measurable business outcomes, ensuring the Commercial organization operates with precision, agility, and purpose.
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Execution
Partner with the CCO and Commercial Leadership Team to develop and operationalize strategic priorities and business plans Translate strategic vision into actionable goals and track progress against key deliverables
Brand Planning Leadership
Lead coordination and execution of the annual brand planning process Drive cross-functional collaboration and alignment across franchises and corporate priorities Maintain consistency and rigor in planning frameworks and deliverables
Budget Oversight & Resource Management
Oversee Commercial budget planning, tracking, and reporting in partnership with Finance Ensure resource allocation aligns with strategic priorities Support scenario planning and investment decision-making
Program & Project Leadership
Lead and monitor cross-functional initiatives from inception to completion Track milestones, identify risks, and ensure accountability for results
Cross-Functional Integration
Serve as liaison between Commercial and Finance, Medical, Clinical, IT, Regulatory Foster collaboration and ensure alignment on timelines, deliverables, and priorities
Executive Communications & Governance
Develop high-impact presentations and materials for the CCO and Commercial Leadership Prepare content for Board, EMC, and PSC meetings Shape agendas, manage meeting logistics, and ensure follow-up on key decisions
Operational Excellence
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency across Commercial operations Standardize best practices to drive scalability and cross-functional effectiveness
Organizational Effectiveness
Partner with the CCO on workforce planning, capability development, and change management Support the build-out of future-ready Commercial capabilities
Insight Generation & External Benchmarking
Monitor industry trends, competitive intelligence, and peer benchmarks Leverage insights to inform strategy and innovation within the Commercial organization
Education/Experience/Skills
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with a focus on Commercial operations, marketing, brand strategy, and cross-functional leadership Demonstrated experience in leading brand planning processes and managing Commercial budgets Experience supporting or working with executive leadership in a Chief of Staff, Strategy, or Commercial Operations capacity is highly desirable
Key Competencies & Attributes
Proven ability to influence without authority and drive alignment across diverse stakeholders Deep understanding of pharmaceutical commercialization, including product launch, lifecycle management, and brand strategy Strong strategic thinking, analytical, and financial acumen Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to distill complex topics into clear, actionable insights High emotional intelligence, discretion, and integrity Adept at managing multiple priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word); experience with project management and collaboration tools a plus Willingness to travel up to 20%
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 standard office and remote work environments. May occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Travel by car or airplane independently overnight up to 20% of the time; international travel may be required.
#LI-SW1 #LI-HYBRID
Compensation & Benefits
In addition to a competitive base salary, this position is eligible for discretionary bonus and equity awards. Salary range: $222,500 — $278,100 USD. Actual amounts vary by experience 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 24 and January 1 10 days of paid sick time Paid parental leave Tuition assistance
EEO & Accommodation
Acadia is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact talentacquisition@acadia-pharm.com.
#J-18808-Ljbffr