Commercial Chief of Staff (Senior Director)

Position Summary

The Commercial Chief of Staff (Sr. Director) plays a pivotal role in driving the strategy, performance, and operational excellence of Acadias Commercial organization. Acting as a trusted advisor and right hand to the Chief Commercial Officer , this leader ensures clarity, alignment, and execution across all Commercial functions including Marketing, Sales, Market Access, and Strategic Operations.

This is a unique opportunity for a forward-thinking, results-driven professional to influence the direction of a growing biopharmaceutical company. The Chief of Staff will lead high-impact initiatives that connect strategy to execution, overseeing brand planning, Commercial budget governance, and cross-functional collaboration with partners across Finance, Medical Affairs, Clinical Development, Regulatory, and IT .

The ideal candidate combines strategic acumen with operational discipline and thrives in a fast-paced, highly collaborative environment. This person will play a critical role in translating vision into measurable business outcomes, ensuring that Acadias Commercial organization operates with precision, agility, and purpose.

Primary Responsibilities :

Strategic Planning & Execution

Partner with the CCO and Commercial Leadership Team to develop and operationalize strategic priorities and business plans

Translate strategic vision into actionable goals and track progress against key deliverables

Brand Planning Leadership

Lead the coordination and execution of the annual brand planning process

Drive cross-functional collaboration and ensure alignment across franchises and corporate priorities

Maintain consistency and rigor in planning frameworks and deliverables

Budget Oversight & Resource Management

Oversee Commercial budget planning, tracking, and reporting in partnership with Finance

Ensure resource allocation aligns with strategic priorities

Support scenario planning and investment decision-making

Program & Project Leadership

Lead and monitor cross-functional initiatives from inception to completion

Track key milestones, identify risks, and ensure accountability for results

Cross-Functional Integration

Serve as liaison between Commercial and other functions (Finance, Medical, Clinical, IT, Regulatory)

Foster collaboration and ensure alignment on timelines, deliverables, and priorities

Executive Communications & Governance

Develop high-impact presentations and materials for the CCO and Commercial Leadership

Prepare content for Board, EMC, and PSC meetings

Shape agendas, manage meeting logistics, and ensure follow-up on key decisions

Operational Excellence

Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency across Commercial operations.

Standardize best practices to drive scalability and cross-functional effectiveness.

Organizational Effectiveness

Partner with the CCO on workforce planning, capability development, and change management

Support the build-out of future-ready Commercial capabilities

Insight Generation & External Benchmarking

Monitor industry trends, competitive intelligence, and peer benchmarks

Leverage insights to inform strategy and innovation within the Commercial organization

Education / Experience / Skills

• Bachelors degree in Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
• Minimum 12 years of progressive experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry, with a strong focus on Commercial operations, marketing, brand strategy, and cross-functional leadership
• Demonstrated experience in leading brand planning processes and managing Commercial budgets
• Experience supporting or working closely with executive leadership in a Chief of Staff, Strategy, or Commercial Operations capacity is highly desirable

Key Competencies & Attributes

Physical Requirements :

This role involves regular standing, walking, sitting, and the use of hands for handling or operating equipment. The employee may also need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication both in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. Employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 20 pounds. Ability to travel by car or airplane independently overnight up to 20% of the time and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues. International travel may be required.

In addition to a competitive base salary, this position is also eligible for discretionary bonus and equity awards based on factors such as individual and organizational performance. Actual amounts will vary depending on experience, performance, and location.

Salary Range

$222,500 — $278,100 USD

What we offer US-based Employees :

EEO Statement (US-based Employees) : Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications in the exact way they are described in job postings. We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company, and we are looking for the BEST candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background or may meet the qualifications in a different way. We strongly encourage you to apply, especially if the reason you are the best candidate isnt exactly what we describe here.

It is the policy of Acadia to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to considerations of race, including related to hairstyle, color, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, gender transition, country of origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, legally-protected medical condition or information, marital status, domestic partner status, family care status, military caregiver status, veteran or military status (including reserve status, National Guard status, and military service or obligation), status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, enrollment in a public assistance program, or any basis protected under federal, state or local law.

As an equal opportunity employer, Acadia is committed to a diverse workforce. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. Furthermore, you may request additional support if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access Acadias career website due to your disability, along with any accommodations throughout the interview process. To request or inquire about your reasonable accommodation, please complete our  Reasonable Accommodation Request Form  or contact us at  talentacquisition@acadia-pharm.com  or  858-261-2923 .

Please note that reasonable accommodations granted throughout the recruiting process are not guaranteed to be the same accommodations given if hired. A new request will need to be submitted for any ADA accommodations after starting employment.

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Notice to Search Firms / Third-Party Recruitment Agencies (Recruiters) : The Talent Acquisition team manages the recruitment and employment process for Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (Acadia). Acadia does not accept resumes from recruiters or search firms without an executed search agreement in place. Resumes sent to Acadia employees in the absence of an executed search agreement will not obligate Acadia in any way with respect to the future employment of those individuals or potential remuneration to any recruiter or search firm. Candidates should never be submitted directly to our hiring managers or employees.