Senior Director, Portfolio Management

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc.•San Diego, CA

12h•$240,000 - $285,000•Hybrid

About The Position

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 maximize 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.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in life science or related field; Advanced degree preferred.
Targeting 12 years of progressively responsible, relevant experience focusing on program 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 program management.
An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.
Significant amount of experience required in portfolio management, strategic planning, or program 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, commercialization strategies, and financial modeling.
Executive presence and exceptional communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Advanced meeting facilitation skills and ability to lead cross-functional teams that include executive and senior management without direct authority.
Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources and to be persuasive, encouraging and motivating.
In-depth knowledge and skill with Microsoft (MS) suite including MS PowerPoint, MS Project, MS Word, MS Excel.
Must be able and willing to travel on occasion.

Nice To Haves

Experience with governance frameworks and enterprise operating models is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and implementation of portfolio prioritization frameworks that balance scientific innovation, commercial potential, and financial impact.
Partner closely with Finance to assess investment scenarios, optimize 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.

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