Senior Manager R&D Learning & Development
Acadia Pharmaceuticals
6 months ago
Remote friendly (San Diego, CA)
United States
Human Resources
Position Summary
The Senior Manager R&D Learning & Development supports the development, implementation, and ongoing management of onboarding, training strategies, systems training, and learning processes that build scientific, operational, and future-ready capabilities across the Research and Development organization and pipeline.
Primary Responsibilities
- Assist in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a tiered onboarding and capability-building curriculum aligned to the evolving needs of the R&D pipeline (discovery, early development, late-stage programs).
- Utilize experiential learning best practices to engage adult learners and ensure knowledge transfer.
- Support management of GxP, congress, and data training with internal stakeholders.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D subject matter experts to develop disease area, modality, platform, and pipeline-focused training, including investigational asset education and emerging science.
- Lead and support training initiatives with internal stakeholders.
- Facilitate management and development of learning modules with external vendors.
- Oversee development of advanced, recurrent, and future-focused training programs, including non-technical skills (e.g., scientific storytelling, data interpretation, matrix leadership, decision-making).
- Ensure training content complies with internal policies and external regulations.
- Lead cross-functional collaboration to enable systems and digital capability development for scalable, data-driven learning across R&D.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Education/Experience/Skills
- Master’s degree in Life Sciences or related field; advanced science degree strongly preferred (PharmD, PhD, MD).
- Targeting 7 years of progressively responsible experience in psychiatry, neurology, or rare disease (preferably in a pharmaceutical/biotech environment).
- Psychiatry, neurology, or rare disease experience strongly desired.
- Education or training experience including design, delivery, and evaluation of learning programs (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered).
Key Skills (Preferred/Required as listed)
- Knowledge of scientific, clinical and/or therapeutic area.
- Skilled presenter; communicates complex scientific information clearly.
- Excellent oral and writing skills.
- Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Experience working with external vendors.
- Highly detail oriented; self-disciplined; ability to work independently with limited direction to resolve discrepancies/issues.
- Initiative and follow-through.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills.
- Effective interpersonal skills for matrix collaboration across all organizational levels.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally.
Physical Requirements
- Regular standing, walking, sitting, and use of hands; may need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch.
- Maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication; work in standard office environment and while working remotely.
- Occasionally lift/move up to 20 pounds.
- Ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required.
Benefits (as explicitly stated)
- 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 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 Dec 24 and Jan 1)
- 10 days of paid sick time
- Paid parental leave benefit
- Tuition assistance
The Senior Manager R&D Learning & Development supports the development, implementation, and ongoing management of onboarding, training strategies, systems training, and learning processes that build scientific, operational, and future-ready capabilities across the Research and Development organization and pipeline.
Primary Responsibilities
- Assist in the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of a tiered onboarding and capability-building curriculum aligned to the evolving needs of the R&D pipeline (discovery, early development, late-stage programs).
- Utilize experiential learning best practices to engage adult learners and ensure knowledge transfer.
- Support management of GxP, congress, and data training with internal stakeholders.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D subject matter experts to develop disease area, modality, platform, and pipeline-focused training, including investigational asset education and emerging science.
- Lead and support training initiatives with internal stakeholders.
- Facilitate management and development of learning modules with external vendors.
- Oversee development of advanced, recurrent, and future-focused training programs, including non-technical skills (e.g., scientific storytelling, data interpretation, matrix leadership, decision-making).
- Ensure training content complies with internal policies and external regulations.
- Lead cross-functional collaboration to enable systems and digital capability development for scalable, data-driven learning across R&D.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Education/Experience/Skills
- Master’s degree in Life Sciences or related field; advanced science degree strongly preferred (PharmD, PhD, MD).
- Targeting 7 years of progressively responsible experience in psychiatry, neurology, or rare disease (preferably in a pharmaceutical/biotech environment).
- Psychiatry, neurology, or rare disease experience strongly desired.
- Education or training experience including design, delivery, and evaluation of learning programs (an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered).
Key Skills (Preferred/Required as listed)
- Knowledge of scientific, clinical and/or therapeutic area.
- Skilled presenter; communicates complex scientific information clearly.
- Excellent oral and writing skills.
- Proficient computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Experience working with external vendors.
- Highly detail oriented; self-disciplined; ability to work independently with limited direction to resolve discrepancies/issues.
- Initiative and follow-through.
- Excellent planning and organizational skills.
- Effective interpersonal skills for matrix collaboration across all organizational levels.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Willing and able to travel domestically and internationally.
Physical Requirements
- Regular standing, walking, sitting, and use of hands; may need to reach, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch.
- Maintain visual, verbal, and auditory communication; work in standard office environment and while working remotely.
- Occasionally lift/move up to 20 pounds.
- Ability to travel independently overnight and/or work after hours as required.
Benefits (as explicitly stated)
- 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 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 Dec 24 and Jan 1)
- 10 days of paid sick time
- Paid parental leave benefit
- Tuition assistance