Senior Director, Translational Sciences
Acadia Pharmaceuticals
June 24, 2026
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
Clinical Research and Development
Position Summary:
The Senior Director, Translational Sciences will lead the design and execution of disease biology and drug mechanism of action (MoA) strategies to advance therapeutics from discovery through clinical development.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develop and lead translational biology strategies to interrogate disease biology and drug MoA across candidate targets and therapeutic programs
- Design and implement preclinical neurology and neurophysiology studies to address key MoA questions
- Partner with R&D teams to develop and test hypotheses for target validation and candidate progression
- Define MoA strategies for preclinical evaluation and align with biomarker strategies for clinical translation
- Synthesize and integrate complex biological datasets to inform decisions across development stages
- Select and manage CROs and build collaborations to enhance scientific execution and delivery
- Present data and program strategies to asset teams, governance committees, and senior leadership
- Contribute to regulatory and scientific documents (INDs, NDAs, study protocols, publications)
Education/Experience/Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field
- 12+ years in translational sciences in pharma/biotech
- Deep expertise in neurology drug discovery and preclinical development
- Experience supporting clinical-stage programs
- Hands-on regulatory filings experience (IND, BLA, or NDA)
- Experience across platforms including small molecules, ASO, and mRNA (preferred)
- Proficiency analyzing complex multifactorial biological datasets
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Benefits (as stated):
- Competitive base; discretionary bonus and equity awards; medical/dental/vision; 401(k) match; equity; paid time off; parental leave; tuition assistance.
Salary Range: $245,000—$306,200 USD
The Senior Director, Translational Sciences will lead the design and execution of disease biology and drug mechanism of action (MoA) strategies to advance therapeutics from discovery through clinical development.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develop and lead translational biology strategies to interrogate disease biology and drug MoA across candidate targets and therapeutic programs
- Design and implement preclinical neurology and neurophysiology studies to address key MoA questions
- Partner with R&D teams to develop and test hypotheses for target validation and candidate progression
- Define MoA strategies for preclinical evaluation and align with biomarker strategies for clinical translation
- Synthesize and integrate complex biological datasets to inform decisions across development stages
- Select and manage CROs and build collaborations to enhance scientific execution and delivery
- Present data and program strategies to asset teams, governance committees, and senior leadership
- Contribute to regulatory and scientific documents (INDs, NDAs, study protocols, publications)
Education/Experience/Skills:
- Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field
- 12+ years in translational sciences in pharma/biotech
- Deep expertise in neurology drug discovery and preclinical development
- Experience supporting clinical-stage programs
- Hands-on regulatory filings experience (IND, BLA, or NDA)
- Experience across platforms including small molecules, ASO, and mRNA (preferred)
- Proficiency analyzing complex multifactorial biological datasets
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed
Benefits (as stated):
- Competitive base; discretionary bonus and equity awards; medical/dental/vision; 401(k) match; equity; paid time off; parental leave; tuition assistance.
Salary Range: $245,000—$306,200 USD