Sr. Manager Events

Acadia Pharmaceuticals•San Diego, NJ

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Acadia Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to transforming scientific discoveries into impactful innovations for neurological and rare disease communities. Their portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome, with a robust pipeline in development for Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, among other patient needs. The company operates on a hybrid model, requiring this role to work in the office three days per week on average, based in San Diego, CA, or Princeton, NJ. The Sr. Manager, Events is responsible for bringing internal meetings and incentive experiences to life by translating business strategy into well-executed, memorable programs. This role involves end-to-end planning and on-site delivery, close collaboration with cross-functional teams and vendors, and ensuring all events are executed compliantly and within budget.

Requirements

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
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 skipping a beat
Ability to thrive in an environment of growth and continual improvement

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
Support the planning and execution of meetings from 10-person regional sales meetings to all-company events with 1,000+ attendees
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
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
Provide occasional on-the-ground support for medical congresses and conferences in support of Acadia’s congress-planning leads