Sr. Manager Events

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.

Please note that this position is based in San Diego, CA, OR Princeton, NJ. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.

Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, Events brings internal meetings and incentive experiences to life — turning business strategy into well-run, memorable programs. You’ll support end-to-end planning and on-site delivery, partner closely with cross-functional teams and vendors, and ensure every event is executed smoothly, compliantly, and within budget.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end planning and on-site execution for internal meetings, events, incentive trips, and related programs
• Develop and manage timelines, project plans, budgets, and vendor deliverables
• Source venues, support site selection, and negotiate hotel contracts
• Manage room blocks, rooming lists, no-show reports, and post-event reconciliation
• Manage registration, communication, graphics and signage, and meeting materials
• Coordinate meeting specifications including food and beverage, gifting, production/AV needs, décor, entertainment, and ground transportation

Internal Meetings

• Support the planning and execution of meetings from 10-person regional sales meetings to all-company events with 1,000+ attendees
• Source venues and effectively negotiate hotel contracts
• Manage vendor contracts and performance (AV/production companies, DMCs, logistics partners, hotels)
• Own the attendee journey: registration, communications, travel details, on-site execution, and post-event follow-ups
• Provide on-site support to ensure an exceptional experience for all attendees

Incentive Trips:

• Help project manage annual incentive trip calendar, timelines, and budgets; track expenses, and reconcile upon program completion
• Support research and recommendations for extraordinary destinations and venues
• Plan and execute memorable on-the-ground experiences for attendees, including group meals, outings, and activities
• Brainstorm and source attendee gifts and gifting experiences
• Oversee attendee travel arrangements to ensure a VIP experience
• Provide on-site support to ensure an optimal attendee experience
• Track winner awards and rewards; report relevant information to Acadia Finance to ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures

Congresses & Conferences:

• Provide occasional on-the-ground support for medical congresses and conferences in support of Acadia’s congress-planning leads

Education/Experience/Skills:

Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education and applicable job experience. A minimum of 5+ years’ experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries in progressively responsible meeting planning positions, including meetings, congresses, and incentive trips.

Must possess:

• Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation
• Cvent certification or comparable experience with Cvent Event Management, Attendee Hub, and Venue Sourcing modules
• Experience independently managing pre to post-event requirements for internal meetings of 30 – 50 attendees; Experience supporting meeting planning for internal meetings of 250+ attendees
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• MS Office proficiency in Copilot, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Understanding of Regulatory, Legal and Medical requirements for pharmaceutical marketing/events
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to lead without authority
• Strong organizational abilities and detail orientation
• Ability to prioritize effectively to manage multiple programs at one time
• Excellent budget management skills
• Experience negotiating hotel contracts
• Self-direction and a sense of urgency
• Flexibility, adaptability, and solution-orientation; able to pivot without skip