Director, External Innovation
Acadia Pharmaceuticals
June 25, 2026
Remote friendly (San Diego, CA)
United States
Corporate Functions
Position Summary:
- Lead the scientific assessment and evaluation of new asset and partnership opportunities aligned with the company’s corporate strategy and R&D portfolio across Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Neuro-rare, and Non-neuro Rare Disease.
- Identify promising science and determine opportunities that strengthen the pipeline and create meaningful impact for patients.
- Support global in-licensing, acquisition, and partnership opportunities; collaborate cross-functionally to drive diligence, strategic decisions, and transaction execution.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead search and evaluation of new assets, technologies, and partnership opportunities.
- Generate and prioritize opportunities via landscape monitoring and industry engagement.
- Evaluate scientific and clinical data for value and strategic fit of in-licensing/acquisition opportunities.
- Lead/co-lead cross-functional due diligence with R&D, CMC, Commercial, Legal, and Finance.
- Prepare and present opportunity assessments, recommendations, and insights to senior leadership (integrated development plans, budgets, risk assessments).
- Contribute to deal structures, term sheets, and internal business cases.
- Partner with Finance to assess ROI and key value drivers.
- Support/lead transaction process elements; coordinate due diligence teams and act as scientific interface.
- Build relationships with biotech companies, academic institutions, and key scientific leaders.
- Stay current on scientific/industry trends and emerging technologies.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline required; PhD/MD/PharmD/Master’s preferred.
- 10–12+ years in pharma/biotech, including external innovation/business development or related roles.
- Project management skills.
- Strong neuroscience and/or rare disease experience strongly preferred.
Skills:
- Ability to evaluate complex clinical/preclinical data.
- External search/opportunity evaluation/business development experience.
- Understanding of drug development and commercialization considerations.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration, influencing, and communication skills.
- Working knowledge of transaction processes, due diligence, and partnership structures.
- Familiarity with IP considerations; ability to manage multiple priorities and travel as required.
- Lead the scientific assessment and evaluation of new asset and partnership opportunities aligned with the company’s corporate strategy and R&D portfolio across Neuroscience, Psychiatry, Neuro-rare, and Non-neuro Rare Disease.
- Identify promising science and determine opportunities that strengthen the pipeline and create meaningful impact for patients.
- Support global in-licensing, acquisition, and partnership opportunities; collaborate cross-functionally to drive diligence, strategic decisions, and transaction execution.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Lead search and evaluation of new assets, technologies, and partnership opportunities.
- Generate and prioritize opportunities via landscape monitoring and industry engagement.
- Evaluate scientific and clinical data for value and strategic fit of in-licensing/acquisition opportunities.
- Lead/co-lead cross-functional due diligence with R&D, CMC, Commercial, Legal, and Finance.
- Prepare and present opportunity assessments, recommendations, and insights to senior leadership (integrated development plans, budgets, risk assessments).
- Contribute to deal structures, term sheets, and internal business cases.
- Partner with Finance to assess ROI and key value drivers.
- Support/lead transaction process elements; coordinate due diligence teams and act as scientific interface.
- Build relationships with biotech companies, academic institutions, and key scientific leaders.
- Stay current on scientific/industry trends and emerging technologies.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline required; PhD/MD/PharmD/Master’s preferred.
- 10–12+ years in pharma/biotech, including external innovation/business development or related roles.
- Project management skills.
- Strong neuroscience and/or rare disease experience strongly preferred.
Skills:
- Ability to evaluate complex clinical/preclinical data.
- External search/opportunity evaluation/business development experience.
- Understanding of drug development and commercialization considerations.
- Strong cross-functional collaboration, influencing, and communication skills.
- Working knowledge of transaction processes, due diligence, and partnership structures.
- Familiarity with IP considerations; ability to manage multiple priorities and travel as required.