TDOQ Operational Excellence Intern

Acadia Pharmaceuticals • San Diego, CA

1d • $22 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Intern supports the TDOQ team by contributing to strategic initiatives, operational projects, and day-to-day business activities. This Intern will support the TDOQ team by launching an operational excellence program comprised of a team of representatives from 4 functions: Program Management, Pharmaceutical Development, Manufacturing/Supply Chain and Quality. This team will identify projects to improve department efficiency and collaboration, evaluate tools (AI and technology) and train the team. This role is designed to provide meaningful, hands-on experience in a professional pharmaceutical environment, offering exposure to cross-functional collaboration, business processes, and industry best practices. The Intern will work closely with department leadership and team members to gain insight into functional strategies, compliance requirements, and performance objectives while delivering tangible contributions that support organizational goals. Learn more about our internship program here .

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in an accredited college or university pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business, Life Sciences, Marketing, Human Resources, Finance, or related field.
• Basic understanding of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 preferred.
• Familiarity with management tools like Microsoft Project, Smartsheet (Preferred)
• Interest in process improvement and data analysis
• Ability to organize information, identify patterns, and clearly communicate findings in writing and presentations
• Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to ask questions to learn new concepts
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and identify trends.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and professionally.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word)
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team-based environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, curiosity, and willingness to learn in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

• Prior internship, leadership experience, campus involvement, or project-based work preferred.
• Interest in the pharmaceutical and/or biotechnology industry strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support day to day improvement projects focused on making work simpler, more consistent, and more efficient across technical and operational teams.
• Help collect, organize, and summarize data (such as timelines, process steps, or issue trends) to support fact based decision making. Data will primarily be managed using Smartsheet, Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Assist with process mapping, which means visually documenting how work flows from start to finish.
• Participate in team meetings, take notes, and help track follow up actions to ensure improvement initiatives stay on track.
• Learn and apply basic continuous improvement concepts (for example, identifying root causes of problems and testing small improvements) with guidance from experienced team members.
• Collaborate with colleagues from different functions (such as operations, quality, engineering, or program management) to gain exposure to how technical organizations work together.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and alignment with company values in all interactions.
• Complete a capstone project or final presentation summarizing internship contributions and key learnings.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern