Executive Director, Consumer Marketing - Rare Disease

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia is advancing breakthroughs in neuroscience to elevate life. Since our founding, we have been working at the forefront of healthcare to bring vital solutions to people who need them most. We developed and commercialized the first and only FDA-approved drug to treat hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease psychosis, and the first and only approved drug in the United States and Canada for the treatment of Rett syndrome. Our clinical-stage development efforts are focused on Prader-Willi syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease psychosis, and multiple other programs targeting neuro-psychiatric and neuro-rare diseases. For more information, visit Acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Position Summary
The Executive Director, Rare Disease Marketing (Patient Channel) will be a key commercial leader shaping the future of Acadia’s rare disease franchise. This highly visible role will drive strategy and execution across the patient channel and digital ecosystem, spanning both inline and pipeline brands. As the primary voice for patient engagement, this leader will define and deliver best-in-class patient and caregiver marketing strategies, while also advancing HCP initiatives that support disease awareness and earlier diagnosis.

Reporting directly to the SVP of the Business Unit, the Executive Director will work at the center of a broad cross-functional network—including Advocacy, Corporate Affairs, Medical Affairs, Market Access, and Commercial Operations—while overseeing multiple agencies to bring innovative, impactful campaigns to market. With responsibility across disease state awareness, branded and unbranded campaigns, non-personal promotion, and digital strategy, this leader will play a pivotal role in shaping brand direction, accelerating launch readiness, and ensuring an exceptional experience for patients, caregivers, and providers.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assess US market landscape and market insights to refine and implement best-in-class go-to-market launch plan, re-assessing as needed to drive results
• Lead the development of US Patient marketing strategy and launch plans for Trofinetide in close collaboration with Brand Marketing team & key functional partners (i.e. Sales, Training, Commercial operations, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Patient Services, and Market Research).
• Key strategic focus areas include:
• Manage relationship with advertising agency and other key vendors to ensure expected deliverables are met. Collaborate closely with MLR team for approval of marketing tactics and big ideas.
• Ensure marketing programs and campaigns are executed effectively and efficiently and within budget.
• Define, track and report metrics on key strategies and tactics.
• Support global market expansion needs in Rett syndrome, as needed.
• May support upcoming pipeline therapies (e.g. Prader-Willi)
• Input to Brand positioning
• Rett Disease state awareness, education narrative and campaign development
• HCP focused strategy and execution to drive disease state awareness and earlier diagnosis
• Branded patient/Caregiver messaging & campaign development and tactical execution
• Development of Non personal promotion strategy and Digital ecosystem development
• Patient pre-launch, launch and post launch tactical execution (for new brand)
• Input on congress commercial strategy and execution
• OPDP Strategy for patient channel across inline and new products

Education/Experience/Skills:

Requires a Bachelor’s degree in marketing, health care, business administration or related field; Master's degree preferred.  A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience within the pharmaceutical or biotech industry; and, at least 5 years of marketing experience with specific experience in Patient marketing.  Previous ,launch experience in the U.S. is recommended especially in rare disease.    

Must Possess:

• Strong scientific/medical aptitude with the ability to understand & communicate complex scientific/medical concepts in a simple and understandable manner
• Experience in leading media strategy and in leading media agencies
• Strong strategic mindset and business acumen
• Demonstrated ability to think innovatively and drive best in class customer experience
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Strong presentation and storytelling skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated track record and ability to drive results as an effective team member and cross-functional leader.
• Excellent problem-solving skills
• High sense of ethics and responsibility
• Ability to travel as required to meet business needs
• Employee must be fully vaccinated in accordance with third-party requirements for conducting in-person field coaching days, customer visits, admittance into local Community HCP Offices, as well as for attendance at Medical Congresses and Local Conferences for in person participation and exhibiting.

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.  This position requires the ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required by travel schedule or business need

#Li-Sw1

#Li-Hybrid

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$268,800—$336,000 USD

What We Offer Us-Based Employees:

• Competitive base, bonus, new hire and ongoing equity packages
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid life, disability, business travel and EAP coverage
• 401(k) Plan with a fully vested company match 1:1 up to 5%
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan with a 2-year purchase price lock-in
• 15+ vacation days
• 13 -15 paid holidays, including office closure between December 24th and January 1st
• 10 days of paid sick time
• Paid parental leave benefit
• Tuition assistance

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 isn’t 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 Acadia’s 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.