Associate Director Toxicology

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 programs that address other underserved patient needs.

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

Location The position can be based in San Diego, CA OR San Francisco, CA OR Princeton, NJ. Acadia’s hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.

The Associate Director will be responsible for the oversight of Translational Science preclinical safety assessment/toxicology deliverables, with a clear understanding of functional interdependence and critical path activities. The role will contribute to the research and/or development of the products, projects, and programs in support of the pipeline. Collaborate cross‑functionally to conduct basic research and development, including designing and overseeing preclinical safety and toxicology studies in support of diverse projects and long‑term company objectives.

Ensure timely and effective communication of project status and issues to drive alignment and successful completion of team goals and deliverables.

• Plans experimental safety assessment/toxicology programs to include design, logistics, resource allocation, schedules. Identifies critical support needs, and other necessary details to implement the program(s).
• Provides oversight on scientific management of preclinical safety assessment/toxicology studies supporting early drug development spanning lead optimization through IND and NDA submissions and nonclinical post‑marketing approval requirements.
• Monitors CROs for quality and compliance in the conduct of preclinical safety assessment/toxicology studies.
• Manages vendors and consultants, encompassing study design, detailed coordination of study execution, overview of quality compliance, and scientific rigor.
• Reviews and contributes to preparation of toxicology reports.
• Maintains oversight of test compound delivery, shipment and supply requirements.
• Works cross‑functionally on projects including an understanding of when broader discussion is required and the organization ad hoc working groups as needed to move project activities forward.
• Communicates project status and proactively identifies issues to ensure that project team goals and regulatory deliverables are met.
• Provides guidance to team members to objectively assess and resolve preclinical safety assessment/toxicology project issues to improve project effectiveness.
• Other duties as assigned.

BS or MS in a relevant discipline or a related field. Targeting 8 years of relevant experience in pre‑clinical safety assessment/toxicology supporting drug development within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry. DABT Certification strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.

• Understanding of the drug development process and the principles, concepts, practices, and standards of executing preclinical safety assessment/toxicology strategies.
• Knowledge in the tools and procedures of preclinical safety assessment/toxicology experimentation, including the various experimental designs, statistical tools of data analyses, software applications available for data manipulation and presentation, and instrumentation pertinent to the research and ability to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each, in terms of applicability to the research at hand.
• Knowledge of the preclinical study types necessary during drug development, including acute and chronic toxicology, safety pharmacology, developmental and reproductive toxicology, genotoxicity and carcinogenicity.
• Experience working in…