New · posted Oct 31
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals · Pharmaceuticals
Senior Director, Clinical Development
- Princeton, NJ +2 more
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- Director
The role
Join Acadia as the Senior Director, Clinical Development and play a critical leadership role in advancing innovative therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders and rare diseases. In this highly visible position, you will help shape clinical development strategies, provide scientific and medical leadership across development programs, and drive key clinical milestones. Leveraging your deep clinical expertise, strong scientific foundation, and established network within the medical community, you will contribute to the successful design and execution of clinical programs. This is a unique opportunity to impact the development of transformative treatments that improve outcomes for patients with significant unmet medical needs.
What you need
- MD or equivalent required; Board Certified/Eligible strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered
- Targeting 5 years of relevant medical/clinical practice, related research, or academic experience within the pharmaceutical industry
- Ideal candidate will have experience with medical monitoring, including clinical research, creating and implementing development plans and clinical studies. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered
- Applicable industry experience across several phases of development is strongly desired
- Established relationships with thought leaders and investigators in depression and other mood disorders
- Experience in rare disease and/or neurology strongly preferred
- Demonstrated leadership to work well within a geographically diverse cross-functional team environment
- Ability to work within a growing organization within and evolve over time into the world leader in psychiatry and neurology, thereby improving the quality of life of those suffering from CNS disorders
- Experience interacting with senior leaders, including global regulatory agencies
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills as well as interpersonal, management, and organizational skills
- Demonstrated problem solving abilities and conflict resolution skills
- Ability to engage in an open, constructive and continuous dialogue with the Company’s stakeholders
- Highly motivated, self-driven and dependable
- Willing and able to travel both domestically and internationally
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.
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 you'll do
- Create and execute global clinical development plans consistent with Company vision and mission
- Ensure the optimal planning, implementation and interpretation of clinical studies, including synopsis/protocol development, medical monitoring, data analysis and writing of final reports
- Maintain and build productive relationships with investigators, thought leaders and centers of excellence across the scientific community, as well as with colleagues across the Acadia organization
- Interact frequently with sites to support study awareness, patient recruitment, and quality of study conduct
- Communicate appropriate program issues and results to key internal and external stakeholders
- Support regulatory interactions, including the submission of regulatory documents and presentations
- Provide clear and insightful clinical and scientific expertise to advance the successful transition of compounds from discovery to full development, and subsequently to life cycle management
- Review business development opportunities, translating business needs to cost-effective development strategies that provide a competitive advantage and meet regulatory requirements
- Comply with current local and international regulations, laws, scientific and regulatory guidance, Good Clinical Practices, and Acadia’s policies and procedures
- Other duties as assigned
Pay and benefits
$306,100 – $382,600 a year
Employer provided$306,100—$382,600 USD
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
5%
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
10days
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.
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.
Where you'll work
Princeton, NJ +2 moreHybridOpen in Maps (opens in a new tab)
Also posted for: San Diego, CA · South San Francisco, CA
More jobs in Princeton, NJ +2 more
From the posting
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.
Equal opportunity, accessibility and legal noticesACADIA Pharmaceuticals's statements, word for word
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.
Job intelligence
The context around this role
Live data · October 31, 2026
Salary intelligence
How the pay compares
This role's midpoint is 16% above the US median for Clinical Development roles at this level.
This roleEmployer provided
Director roles in New Jersey9 roles publishing pay
Director roles in the US93 roles publishing pay
| Annual base pay | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| This role | $306,100 | — | $382,600 |
| New Jersey (middle half) | $298,000 | $306,000 | $306,000 |
| All US (middle half) | $258,000 | $298,000 | $318,500 |
This role: ACADIA Pharmaceuticals's own published range. Comparisons: the base pay employers published on open Clinical Development roles at the same level on Regulatory Jobs, October 31, 2026. Nothing is estimated.
Career trajectory
Where this role sits in Clinical Development
The general path across 116 open Clinical Development roles on Regulatory Jobs, with the titles they carry most. Not ACADIA Pharmaceuticals's own promotion track.
Skills DNA
What this role leans on
How many of the posting's 27 duty, requirement and summary lines touch each area. The posting's emphasis, not a proficiency score.
- Collaboration and leadership7
- Clinical trial conduct6
- Documentation and SOPs3
- GMP and compliance2
- Investigations and CAPA2
- Regulatory submissions1
Regulatory intelligence
The rules behind this role
Frameworks and standards this posting's work falls under, matched from its own words, each linked to the official source.
Company hiring pulse
ACADIA Pharmaceuticals on Regulatory Jobs
- 9
- Open roles
- 9
- Distinct roles
- 1
- Locations
By discipline
- Clinical4 44%
- Regulatory3 33%
- Quality2 22%
By level
- Director6 67%
- Manager2 22%
- Senior & Principal1 11%
More roles at ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
- View role
Director, Clinical Development
Princeton, NJ +2 more · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$231K
- View role
Senior Director/Executive Director, Clinical Development
Princeton, NJ +2 more · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$306K
- View role
Senior Medical Safety Scientist
Princeton, NJ +1 more · HybridSenior & PrincipalPharmaceuticals$145K
- View role
Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Operations
Princeton, NJ +2 more · HybridManagerPharmaceuticals$104K
Similar Clinical Development roles elsewhere
- View role
Senior Medical Director, Clinical Science, NS TAU - Sleep Medicine
TakedaCambridge, MA · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$258K–$405K
- View role
Medical Director, Clinical Science, GI2 TAU
TakedaCambridge, MA · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$237K–$373K
- View role
Medical Director, Clinical Science, Neuroscience TAU- Psychiatry
TakedaCambridge, MA · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$237K–$373K
- View role
Associate Medical Director, Clinical Science, GI2 TAU
TakedaCambridge, MA · HybridDirectorPharmaceuticals$199K–$312K
Senior Director, Clinical Development at ACADIA Pharmaceuticals
Open until filled. $306K–$383K a year, employer provided.