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About the Role

The Senior Director, Translational Sciences will lead the design and execution of disease biology and drug mechanism of action (MoA) strategies to advance therapeutics from discovery through clinical development. This role requires deep expertise in translational sciences with hands-on experience in neurology and electrophysiology, along with a strong understanding of the end-to-end drug development process. The ideal candidate brings a proven ability to translate complex biological data into clear, actionable insights and drive cross-functional collaboration to advance programs.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead translational biology strategies to interrogate disease biology and drug MoA, driving execution across candidate targets and therapeutic programs
Design and implement preclinical neurology and neurophysiology studies to address key MoA questions across the portfolio
Partner across research and development teams to develop and test hypotheses supporting target validation and candidate progression
Define MoA strategies for preclinical evaluation and align with biomarker strategies for clinical translation
Synthesize and integrate complex biological datasets to inform decision-making across development stages
Select and manage CROs while building strong collaborations to enhance scientific execution and delivery
Present data and program strategies to asset teams, governance committees, and senior leadership
Contribute to key regulatory and scientific documents including INDs, NDAs, study protocols, and publications
Other duties as assigned

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or a related field
12+ years of experience in translational sciences within a pharmaceutical or biotechnology environment
Deep expertise in neurology drug discovery and preclinical development
Experience supporting clinical-stage development programs
Hands-on experience with regulatory filings including IND, BLA, or NDA
Experience across therapeutic platforms including small molecules, ASO, and mRNA preferred
Proficiency working with complex, multifactorial biological datasets and data analysis platforms
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed

Skills

Neurology
Electrophysiology
Translational Sciences
Drug Development
Data Analysis

Location

US-based

Work Type

Hybrid

Experience Level

Senior Director
12+ years

Education Level

Bachelor’s degree

Salary/Compensations

$245,000—$306,200 USD

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

About the Company

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

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 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.