Director, External Innovation

About the role

Acadia Pharmaceuticals is seeking a Director of External Innovation to lead the scientific assessment and evaluation of new asset and partnership opportunities that align with its corporate strategy and R&D portfolio across neuroscience, psychiatry, neuro‑rare, and non‑neuro rare disease areas. This senior position will be based in either Princeton, NJ or San Diego, CA and operates under a hybrid work model.

Key responsibilities

• Lead search and evaluation activities to identify promising assets, technologies, and partnership opportunities.
• Generate and prioritize opportunities through proactive monitoring of biotech, pharma, and academic landscapes.
• Assess scientific and clinical data to determine strategic fit of in‑licensing and acquisition targets.
• Co‑lead cross‑functional due diligence with R&D, CMC, Commercial, Legal, and Finance teams.
• Prepare and present opportunity assessments, integrated development plans, budgets, and risk analyses to senior leadership.
• Contribute to deal structuring, term‑sheet development, and internal business cases.
• Partner with Finance to evaluate return on investment and key value drivers.
• Support transaction processes, including coordination of due‑diligence teams and scientific interface with target companies.

Required profile

• Extensive experience in external innovation, licensing, or partnership roles within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Strong understanding of neuroscience, psychiatry, and rare disease therapeutic areas.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical and strategic decision‑making skills.

Required skills

• Scientific assessment and evaluation of drug development assets.
• Due‑diligence coordination across R&D, CMC, Commercial, Legal, and Finance.
• Deal structuring and term‑sheet development.
• Financial modeling and ROI analysis.

What we offer

• Opportunity to shape Acadia’s pipeline through high‑impact external collaborations.
• Hybrid work environment with three days per week onsite.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.