Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Lead Patient Support Educator
Acadia Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation in the underserved neurological and rare disease communities. The commercial portfolio includes the first FDA‑approved treatments for Parkinson's disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. Acadia seeks a field‑based leader to engage patients and caregivers living with Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP) while guiding a team of Patient Educators.
Seeking talent near: New York, NY; Boston, MA; San Diego, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Minneapolis, MN; Atlanta, GA. Field‑based role requiring ~60% travel; proximity to a major US airport essential.
Primary Responsibilities Direct Patient & Caregiver Engagement
Deliver one‑on‑one education (virtual and in‑person) to patients, caregivers, and families on PDP, Nuplazid, and Acadia Connect.
Provide support, ensuring patients and caregivers feel heard and connected throughout their journey.
Partner with advocacy groups, community organizations, and professional societies to expand reach and impact.
Coordinate smooth handoffs to Patient Access Managers (PAMs) for coverage and access support.
Team Leadership & Coaching
Serve as a mentor and role model to Patient Navigators, providing coaching, best practice sharing, and ongoing professional development.
Lead onboarding and training of new Patient Navigators to ensure consistency in disease education and patient support delivery.
Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback to drive excellence and compliance.
Act as a primary point of escalation for complex patient/caregiver situations and provide guidance to team members.
Program Development & Execution
Lead planning and execution of patient and caregiver educational programs, workshops, and webinars, ensuring alignment with brand strategy.
Coordinate field‑supported patient events, speaker programs, coaching patient/caregiver speakers, and serve as a key contact for program execution.
Partner with Marketing, Advocacy, and Sales to identify opportunities for impactful education and engagement initiatives.
Insights
Collaborate with Marketing to support patient and caregiver advisory boards, including, where appropriate, participant identification and coordination.
Capture and synthesize insights from patients, caregivers, and community events to inform brand strategy and resource development.
Identify unmet educational needs and propose innovative solutions to address them.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Actively collaborate with Field Sales, Patient Support Services, Marketing, and Advocacy to increase disease awareness and support earlier diagnosis.
Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of PDP, Nuplazid, and Acadia’s patient support services through ongoing education and conference participation.
Serve as a field voice to internal stakeholders, representing the patient and caregiver perspective in strategic discussions.
Ensure all activities are conducted in compliance with legal, regulatory, and company policies, while demonstrating Acadia’s values.
Key Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; healthcare or life sciences preferred. Advanced degree preferred.
8‑10 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry with a focus on patient support, education, or advocacy.
Prior experience leading or mentoring a field‑based team strongly preferred.
Background in patient navigation, clinical care, pharmacy, or community health education highly valued.
Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills, with a proven ability to develop others.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills; able to translate complex science into patient‑friendly language.
Compassionate, patient‑focused mindset with ability to navigate sensitive conversations with empathy.
Self‑starter who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and demonstrates innovation in patient engagement.
Strong understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks within pharma/biotech.
Field‑based role requiring ~60% extensive travel, including some evenings and weekends; proximity to a major airport is essential.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
Core Competencies
Patient‑Centered Focus – Dedicated to improving patient and caregiver experiences.
Empathy & Emotional Intelligence – Skilled at providing compassionate support.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Works effectively across functions and with external partners.
Strong Communication – Clear and effective educator with patients, caregivers, and internal teams.
Adaptability & Initiative – Proactive in meeting evolving patient needs.
Privacy, Compliance & Confidentiality – Consistently safeguards patient health information and adheres to company compliance and privacy standards; exercises discretion in all patient and caregiver interactions.
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.
Benefits
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
Salary Range $112,000—$140,000 USD
EEO Statement Acadia is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company, and we are looking for the best candidate for the job. We strongly encourage you to apply, especially if the reason you are the best candidate isn't exactly what we describe here. As an equal opportunity employer, Acadia is an equal‑employment opportunity provider and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, heritage, ancestry, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, and other protected characteristics in violation of federal, state, or local law. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. Acadia values a diverse workforce and accepts applications from individuals with a disability or a disabled veteran.
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Seeking talent near: New York, NY; Boston, MA; San Diego, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Cleveland, OH; Minneapolis, MN; Atlanta, GA. Field‑based role requiring ~60% travel; proximity to a major US airport essential.
Primary Responsibilities Direct Patient & Caregiver Engagement
Deliver one‑on‑one education (virtual and in‑person) to patients, caregivers, and families on PDP, Nuplazid, and Acadia Connect.
Provide support, ensuring patients and caregivers feel heard and connected throughout their journey.
Partner with advocacy groups, community organizations, and professional societies to expand reach and impact.
Coordinate smooth handoffs to Patient Access Managers (PAMs) for coverage and access support.
Team Leadership & Coaching
Serve as a mentor and role model to Patient Navigators, providing coaching, best practice sharing, and ongoing professional development.
Lead onboarding and training of new Patient Navigators to ensure consistency in disease education and patient support delivery.
Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback to drive excellence and compliance.
Act as a primary point of escalation for complex patient/caregiver situations and provide guidance to team members.
Program Development & Execution
Lead planning and execution of patient and caregiver educational programs, workshops, and webinars, ensuring alignment with brand strategy.
Coordinate field‑supported patient events, speaker programs, coaching patient/caregiver speakers, and serve as a key contact for program execution.
Partner with Marketing, Advocacy, and Sales to identify opportunities for impactful education and engagement initiatives.
Insights
Collaborate with Marketing to support patient and caregiver advisory boards, including, where appropriate, participant identification and coordination.
Capture and synthesize insights from patients, caregivers, and community events to inform brand strategy and resource development.
Identify unmet educational needs and propose innovative solutions to address them.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Actively collaborate with Field Sales, Patient Support Services, Marketing, and Advocacy to increase disease awareness and support earlier diagnosis.
Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of PDP, Nuplazid, and Acadia’s patient support services through ongoing education and conference participation.
Serve as a field voice to internal stakeholders, representing the patient and caregiver perspective in strategic discussions.
Ensure all activities are conducted in compliance with legal, regulatory, and company policies, while demonstrating Acadia’s values.
Key Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; healthcare or life sciences preferred. Advanced degree preferred.
8‑10 years of relevant experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech industry with a focus on patient support, education, or advocacy.
Prior experience leading or mentoring a field‑based team strongly preferred.
Background in patient navigation, clinical care, pharmacy, or community health education highly valued.
Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills, with a proven ability to develop others.
Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills; able to translate complex science into patient‑friendly language.
Compassionate, patient‑focused mindset with ability to navigate sensitive conversations with empathy.
Self‑starter who thrives in a fast‑paced environment and demonstrates innovation in patient engagement.
Strong understanding of compliance and regulatory frameworks within pharma/biotech.
Field‑based role requiring ~60% extensive travel, including some evenings and weekends; proximity to a major airport is essential.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
Core Competencies
Patient‑Centered Focus – Dedicated to improving patient and caregiver experiences.
Empathy & Emotional Intelligence – Skilled at providing compassionate support.
Collaboration & Teamwork – Works effectively across functions and with external partners.
Strong Communication – Clear and effective educator with patients, caregivers, and internal teams.
Adaptability & Initiative – Proactive in meeting evolving patient needs.
Privacy, Compliance & Confidentiality – Consistently safeguards patient health information and adheres to company compliance and privacy standards; exercises discretion in all patient and caregiver interactions.
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.
Benefits
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
Salary Range $112,000—$140,000 USD
EEO Statement Acadia is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company, and we are looking for the best candidate for the job. We strongly encourage you to apply, especially if the reason you are the best candidate isn't exactly what we describe here. As an equal opportunity employer, Acadia is an equal‑employment opportunity provider and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, heritage, ancestry, citizenship, age, disability, genetic information, and other protected characteristics in violation of federal, state, or local law. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. Acadia values a diverse workforce and accepts applications from individuals with a disability or a disabled veteran.
#J-18808-Ljbffr