Executive Director External Innovation

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

Responsible for the scientific assessment and sourcing of new asset and partnership opportunities that are consistent with the corporate strategy and complement our R&D and product portfolios (both Neuroscience/Psychiatry/Neuro-rare and Non-neuro Rare Disease) with the objective to identify, evaluate and help execute on growth opportunities for new potential products and product candidates in the US and globally. Leads scientific evaluation and participates in diligence and negotiation activities.

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

Primary Responsibilities

• Responsible for search and evaluation efforts within the Business Development External Innovation organization and contributes to all processes and activities designed to identify, evaluate and execute on growth opportunities for new potential products and product candidates
• Generates leads, researches and identifies potential new in-licensing and acquisition opportunities in existing, as well as new geographic markets
• Assesses scientific value of in-licensing opportunities taking into account resource requirements within the organization for identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and executing new investment and partnership opportunities
• Contributes to the preparation and presentation of findings on research to company executive leadership
• Participates in the development of the proposals and term sheets for prospective business partnerships as well as internal documentation required for approval
• Develops timetables for new assets
• Participates in the assessment of the potential returns on investment
• Provides leadership from a scientific perspective on transaction processes, including coordination of internal working groups, management of external consultants and advisors, development of relationships with target company management teams, agreement negotiation, due diligence process, etc
• Participates in establishing and engaging relationships with the scientific and R&D community within the pharmaceutical and biotech community as well as academic community within the scope of the company therapeutic focus and product development interests
• Serves as a knowledge base for the company on all matters regarding current and past transactions
• Perform other duties as assigned

Education/Experience/Skills

Requires a Ph.D. in a related field.  Targeting 15 years of progressively responsible experience within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, including 3 years of experience in external innovation.  Must have experience with CNS, including rare neurologic/psychiatric disorders and/or non-neuro rare diseases.  An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

Key Skills:

• Superior knowledge and understanding of neuroscience and/or rare diseases from both a clinical and/or preclinical and basic science perspective
• Experience in external search and scientific evaluation, transactional/licensing and/or mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical industry
• Experience working with genetic technologies is a plus
• Understanding of scientific trends and new concepts in pharmaceutical development
• Established reputation and unquestioned credibility in the scientific and business community
• Ability to work independently and cross-functionally
• Strong persuasion skills and ability to work successfully with peers and colleagues at all levels in the organization
• R&D savvy, with a good understanding of principles of new product development, high-level commercial assessment, and business case building