---
title: 'Senior Director, Clinical Development at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-clinical-development-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-princeton-new-2wrmt6y8d034'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-07'
---

# Senior Director, Clinical Development at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

- **Company:** Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- **Location:** Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- **Posted:** 2026-08-26
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07
- **Apply:** https://acadia.com/en-us/careers/job-board/8742693002?gh_jid=8742693002

## 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

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.

Primary Responsibilities

- 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

Education and Experience

- 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.

## #LI-RE1 #LI-HYBRID

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.

Salary Range

$306,100—$382,600 USD

## #LI-RE1 #LI-HYBRID

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)

## Other roles at Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.

- [Director, Content Development](https://feeny.ai/job/director-content-development-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-princeton-new-jersey-zwp4wzg8daxg) — Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- [Family Support Educator, Lead - West](https://feeny.ai/job/family-support-educator-lead-west-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-united-states-v2dfvy0039pk) — United States
- [Director, GCP Quality Assurance](https://feeny.ai/job/director-gcp-quality-assurance-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-princeton-new-jersey-zn0y9hh7196s) — Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- [Director, AI Engineering](https://feeny.ai/job/director-ai-engineering-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-princeton-new-jersey-yagkqxfgzs9k) — Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- [Sr. Medical Scientific Liaison (Northern) Italy](https://feeny.ai/job/sr-medical-scientific-liaison-northern-italy-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-italy-wv36jjjfvqsz) — Italy
- [Director, Global Program Lead, External Innovation & Due Diligence](https://feeny.ai/job/director-global-program-lead-external-innovation-due-diligence-acadia-vztcgp3f2mdt) — Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- [Director, Clinical Development](https://feeny.ai/job/director-clinical-development-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-princeton-new-jersey-5mdtf2f6sjhr) — Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- [Director, Regulatory Affairs CMC](https://feeny.ai/job/director-regulatory-affairs-cmc-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-princeton-new-jersey-pckhmcxxpn4v) — Princeton New Jersey, United States / San Diego California, United States / South San Francisco California, United States
- [Associate Director, Manufacturing (Drug Substance)](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-director-manufacturing-drug-substance-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-zug-zypm56mrmew1) — Zug, Switzerland
- [Director, EU Supply Chain](https://feeny.ai/job/director-eu-supply-chain-acadia-pharmaceuticals-inc-amsterdam-north-holland-gk1sy33jyqer) — Amsterdam North Holland, Netherlands