---
title: 'Associate Director, Manufacturing (Drug Substance) at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-manufacturing-drug-substance-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-zug-zypm56mrmew1'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-14'
---

# Associate Director, Manufacturing (Drug Substance) at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

- **Company:** Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- **Location:** Zug, Switzerland
- **Posted:** 2026-08-24
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-14
- **Apply:** https://acadia.com/en-us/careers/job-board/8709028002?gh_jid=8709028002

## Job description

## 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:

Responsible for oversight of commercial Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMO’s), and other third-party suppliers for products as identified, including the transfer of processes from R&D/Product development to commercial third-party suppliers. Responsible for oversight of ongoing manufacturing schedules to ensure both development and commercial supply levels are maintained, and inventory targets are met. Ensures that manufacturing activities meet the needs of all internal and external constituencies with an emphasis on process, quality, budget control and profitability.

Primary Responsibilities:

- Develops and maintains good working relationships with contract manufacturers.
- Negotiate and manage CMO contracts
- Develops SOP’s and work processes needed for Commercial Manufacturing
- Works with CMOs to diagnose and correct process issues.
- Identifies, evaluates and selects CMOs for the manufacture of Commercial products
- Develops, collects appropriate metrics to measure CMO performance; leads CMO partnership teams.
- Works with Quality Group to determine the impact of process deviations and works towards resolutions
- Develops timelines, goals, and deliverables for API and related manufacturing processes.
- Optimizes the manufacturing process to maintain high product quality, improve process portability, increase process robustness, improve process efficiency, and reduce manufacturing costs.
- Assists in developing drug substance sourcing strategies.
- With Quality Assurance, ensures CMOs remain current and compliant with all GMP related requirements, guidelines and procedures.
- Tracks deviations and processes changes for the different suppliers and collaborate with Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance in assessing their impact on regulatory filings.
- Initiates and coordinates the preparation of CMC documentation as required
- Collaborates with Regulatory Affairs and other groups to support product filings.
- Assists in contract site preparation activities for regulatory inspections.
- Supports interdisciplinary working teams with recommendations, advice and action plans for manufacturing related issues.
- Provide onsite process coverage as person-in-plant as needed
- Communicates manufacturing or technology related issues and information to committees, teams and interested groups within the company.
- Supervise, train and mentor personnel as needed.

Education/Experience/Skills:

BS in Engineering/Chemistry or equivalent combination of relevant education and applicable job experience. Master's or Ph.D. preferred.    A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience within the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry with 6 years in a leadership role.

Must possess:

- Contract service provider experience.
- Understanding is required of the biopharmaceutical drug development process including regulatory filings and quality inspections and audits.
- Extensive knowledge of regulations as they pertain to post-approval manufacturing process changes; site changes, etc.
- Frequent travel to global manufacturing sites in the EU and Asia is required for this role

Scope:

Participate in strategic plans for designated function(s) and may participate with senior management to align objectives across the organization. Develops methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for projects, programs, and people. Works on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth knowledge of functional area and related organizational objectives. Erroneous decisions will have a serious impact on the overall success of functional area and may impact on the long-term success of the company.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, see, talk or hear in a standard office environment and independently from remote locations. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Ability to travel by car or airplane independently up to 50% of the time both domestically, internationally, and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues.

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](https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/43db301ada19415fa7ab365633993f33) or contact us at talentacquisition@acadia-pharm.com 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](https://acadia.com/en-us/legal-policies/privacy#18) within our Privacy Policy.

Canadian Applicants: Please see [Additional Information for Canadian Residents](https://acadia.com/en-gb/legal-policies/privacy#17) 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](https://acadia.com/en-gb/legal-policies/privacy#16) 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.

## About Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Acadia Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation for underserved neurological and rare disease communities.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NASDAQ: ACAD)
- **Headquarters**: San Diego, California, USA (with additional offices in Princeton, NJ; Oakville, Canada; Zug and Basel, Switzerland; Amsterdam, Netherlands) [acadia.com](https://acadia.com/en-us/about)
- **Founded**: 1993 [acadia.com](https://acadia.com/en-us/about) (schema.org data)
- **Founders**: Not publicly available from provided sources

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Biopharmaceuticals – neurological disorders and rare diseases
- **Target customers**: Healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers dealing with Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) and Rett syndrome; also developing therapies for Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, Lewy body dementia, major depressive disorder, essential tremor, and other conditions.
- **Mission/Purpose**: “Be Their Difference” – advancing brighter futures for those living with neurological disorders and rare diseases, guided by science and shaped by patient insight. [acadia.com](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers)

## Products & Services
- **NUPLAZID (pimavanserin)** – First and only FDA-approved therapy for hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP). Commercial drug, small molecule. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **DAYBUE (trofinetide)** – First and only FDA-approved therapy for Rett syndrome. Commercial drug. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **DAYBUE STIX** – Powder formulation of trofinetide, approved in 2025 based on patient feedback, offering flexibility and portability. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **Remlifanserin (ACP-204)** – Late-stage pipeline candidate for Alzheimer’s disease psychosis (ADP) and Lewy body dementia psychosis (LBDP). Phase 2 studies initiated. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **ACP-211** – Phase 2 candidate for major depressive disorder (MDD). [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **ACP-711** – Early-stage candidate for essential tremor. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- Additional early-stage research programs in neurological and rare diseases.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available from provided sources. The company ended 2025 with $820 million in cash. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **Key Metric**: **$1.07 billion total revenue in 2025** (first time exceeding $1 billion). NUPLAZID net sales: $680 million (up 12% YoY); DAYBUE net sales: $391 million (up 12% YoY). [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not listed in provided sources. As a public company, institutional and retail shareholders.
- **Growth Signals**:
  - Surpassed $1B revenue milestone.
  - FDA approval of DAYBUE STIX (patient-informed formulation).
  - 40% of NUPLAZID prescribers in 2025 were new to the brand.
  - DAYBUE approved in U.S., Canada, Israel; named-patient programs in additional countries.
  - Initiated Phase 2 studies for remlifanserin (ADP, LBDP) and ACP-211 (MDD).
  - Combined peak sales opportunity for four key pipeline assets estimated at ~$11 billion.
  - Over 100,000 patients treated with NUPLAZID in U.S. since launch; ~1,000 active DAYBUE patients globally. [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)

## Competitive Advantages
- **First-to-market position** in two underserved indications: the only FDA-approved therapies for PDP (NUPLAZID) and Rett syndrome (DAYBUE).
- **Strong commercial portfolio** generating over $1B in annual revenue and growing.
- **Diverse pipeline** targeting large, high-unmet-need markets with differentiated mechanisms (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, which has no approved therapy).
- **Patient-centric approach** (DAYBUE STIX developed from direct caregiver feedback) and deep expertise in neurology and rare diseases.
- **Global expansion** capabilities and established regulatory pathways in multiple regions.

## Strategic Focus
- **Accelerate growth** of NUPLAZID and DAYBUE in the U.S. by expanding prescriber base, improving diagnosis rates, and launching new formulations.
- **Advance global access** through regulatory approvals in new markets and named-patient programs.
- **Progress pipeline** toward late-stage trials, particularly remlifanserin for Alzheimer’s disease psychosis (Phase 2) and Lewy body dementia psychosis, as well as ACP-211 for MDD.
- **Build organizational capabilities** for scale: strengthened leadership team, operational excellence, and disciplined capital allocation (ended 2025 with $820M cash). [sec.gov Annual Report](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Purpose**: “Be Their Difference” – employees are driven by a mission to bring therapies to patients with few or no options. [acadia.com Careers](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers)
- **DEIB Commitment**: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging is core to the work environment; diverse perspectives are cited as driving curiosity and innovation. [acadia.com DEIB](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers)
- **Total Rewards**: Competitive compensation, benefits, and programs designed to support employees and their families. [acadia.com Why Acadia](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers)
- **Work Flexibility**: Job listings indicate both **hybrid** and **remote** options available. [acadia.com Job Board](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers/job-board)
- **Growth Environment**: A company that went from ~$958M to >$1B revenue in one year, with a deep pipeline and global expansion – offering opportunity for career development in a high-impact therapeutic area.
- **Collaborative & Resourceful**: “Independent thinking and resourceful collaboration” highlighted as values; every role is seen as contributing to the mission. [acadia.com Job Board](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers/job-board)
- **Beware of recruitment scams**: The company notes that legitimate recruiters only use @acadia-pharm.com email domains and do not request personal info like SSN or payments. [acadia.com Job Board](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers/job-board)

## Sources
1. [acadia.com – About & Company Info](https://acadia.com/en-us/about)
2. [acadia.com – Careers Page](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers)
3. [acadia.com – Job Board / Current Openings](https://acadia.com/en-us/careers/job-board)
4. [SEC.gov – Acadia Pharmaceuticals 2025 Annual Report (10-K)](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1070494/000119312526174167/acad_2025_annual_report.pdf)
5. [acadia.com – News Release: Q1 2026 Financial Results](https://acadia.com/en-us/media/news-releases/acadia-pharmaceuticals-reports-first-quarter-2) (referenced)

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