Senior Director, Portfolio Management

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 programmes that address other underserved patient needs.

At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference.

Please note that this position can be based in either Princeton, NJ, San Diego, CA, or South San Francisco, CA. Acadia’s hybrid model requires this role to work in our office an average of 3 days per week.

The Senior Director of Portfolio Management will play a pivotal role in shaping and executing the strategic direction of the company’s development and commercialization portfolio. Operating within a dynamic, matrixed environment, this leader will drive enterprise‑wide portfolio prioritization, facilitate cross‑functional alignment, and enable efficient decision‑making to maximise value creation. This role requires deep collaboration with key stakeholders across Finance, R&D, and Commercial to ensure that portfolio investments are strategically sound, financially viable, and aligned with market opportunities and scientific innovation.

• Lead the development and implementation of portfolio prioritisation frameworks that balance scientific innovation, commercial potential, and financial impact.
• Partner closely with Finance to assess investment scenarios, optimise resource allocation, and ensure portfolio decisions are grounded in financial rigor.
• Collaborate with R&D leadership to align pipeline strategy with portfolio goals, ensuring scientific feasibility and milestone‑driven execution.
• Engage with Commercial teams to incorporate market insights, competitive intelligence, and launch readiness into portfolio planning.
• Facilitate governance processes that promote transparency, agility, and accountability across the portfolio lifecycle.
• Drive continuous improvement in portfolio operations, leveraging data and analytics to inform strategic decisions and enhance execution efficiency.
• Lead focused initiatives supporting continuous improvement of Acadia’s Portfolio Governance and Operating Model.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Portfolio Governance (PG), providing clear, actionable insights on portfolio performance, trade‑offs, and strategic risks.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation across teams and functions.
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in life science or related field; advanced degree preferred. Targeting 12 years of progressively responsible, relevant experience focusing on programme management with 8 years in a leadership role which includes experience managing cross‑functional project teams. A successful candidate will have a strong understanding of the drug development process from preclinical pharmacology through to regulatory approval and the principles, concepts, practices, and standards of pharmaceutical programme management.
  
  An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

• Significant amount of experience required in portfolio management, strategic planning, or programme leadership within the biotech or life sciences industry.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders in a matrixed environment.
• Strong understanding of drug development processes, commercialisation strategies, and financial modelling.
• Executive presence and exceptional communication, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with governance frameworks and enterprise operating models is highly desirable.
• Advanced meeting facilitation skills and ability to lead cross‑functional teams that include executive and senior management without direct authority.
• Ability to elicit…