Senior Director Federal Government Affairs & Policy

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. Since our founding, we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis and the first and only approved drug in the United States and Canada for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and multiple other programs targeting neuro-psychiatric and neuro-rare diseases. For more information, visit us at Acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

 

Position Summary

The Senior Director / Executive Director is responsible for overseeing portfolio-level federal policy and advocacy.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, execute and nurture federal policy initiatives across the development, access and reimbursement paradigms to support and promote Acadia portfolio products and pipeline assets. 
• In partnership with relevant internal subject matter experts, lead engagement with relevant regulatory agencies, including HHS, CMS, FDA policy staff, NIH, and other relevant agencies. 
• Lead engagement with Congress, representing Acadia with lawmakers to advance policy priorities. 
• Monitor, analyze and assess relevant pharmaceutical, healthcare and regulatory policy and legislation. 
• Engages selected industry organizations, coalitions and allied advocacy organizations to advance Acadia policy priorities. 
• Grow visibility by representing Acadia in relevant policy arenas, and by developing alliances with policy counterparts at key patient organizations, provider associations, payor community and industry partners.
• Collaborates with relevant functions to develop position papers and policy materials to support external advocacy activities. 
• Serve as Government Affairs “go-to” source of knowledge and insight regarding reimbursement, regulatory and health care policy landscape. 
• Cultivate strong working relationships with cross-functional internal partners, including managed markets, brand teams, commercial leadership, regulatory, medical and corporate teams.
• Briefs business partners on changes and potential changes to relevant public policies that may directly impact business. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education/Experience/Skills

Bachelor’s degree in a related field. Master’s degree preferred.  Targeting 12 years of progressively responsible experience in government affairs and policy.  An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

Key Skills:

• Experience working in a corporate environment is required, with a strong preference for direct experience in the bio-pharma industry. 
• Strong understanding of the current political environment and of policy-making processes, including both legislative and regulatory processes.
• In-depth understanding of the policy issues dominating the healthcare sector and experience anticipating public policy trends. 
• Experience working across multiple functions within an organization to advance team- and enterprise-level goals.
• Proven ability to distill complex policy issues and communicate effectively in both verbal and written formats.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and achieve consensus across a matrix environment
• Must be able to travel both domestically and internationally.

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 independently overnight and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business needs.

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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 single 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 o