Job Description
About Acadia Pharmaceuticals
Acadia is committed to turning scientific promise into meaningful innovation that makes the difference for underserved neurological and rare disease communities around the world. Our commercial portfolio includes the first and only FDA-approved treatments for Parkinson’s disease psychosis and Rett syndrome. We are developing the next wave of therapeutic advancements with a robust and diverse pipeline that includes mid- to late-stage programs in Alzheimer’s disease psychosis and Lewy body dementia psychosis, along with earlier-stage programs that address other underserved patient needs. At Acadia, we’re here to be their difference.
Please note that this position can be based in San Diego, CA OR San Francisco, CA OR Princeton, NJ. Acadia’s hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.
Position Summary
The Associate Director, Trial Master File (TMF) Oversight & Inspection Readiness (IR) is responsible for leading the operational oversight of the TMF and supporting the framework that ensures Trial Master File integrity, sustained inspection readiness, and regulatory compliance within Clinical Operations. This role leads TMF health governance, inspection preparedness, and risk identification processes to safeguard the organization during regulatory inspections and audits. The Associate Director serves as the Clinical Operations lead for inspection defense, by advancing consistent standards, proactive risk visibility, and clear organizational insight into TMF integrity and inspection readiness.
Primary Responsibilities
TMF Oversight & Governance
Establish TMF health oversight framework across studies, ensuring compliance with GCP and industry standards.
Monitor TMF quality metrics across programs, ensuring completeness, timeliness, and accuracy of essential documents; Escalate any TMF metrics falling outside of KPIs to appropriate stakeholders for resolution and corrective action.
Lead and share TMF best practices with internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate. Oversee TMF risk trending and remediation plans.
Maintain inspection-readiness standards for documentation.
Inspection Readiness Leadership
Develop and maintain a sustainable inspection readiness model, including development and maintenance of comprehensive inspection readiness tools, reference materials and coordinating training guidance to staff on preparation efforts for health authority inspections.
Lead inspection storyboarding and narrative development. Coordinate inspection preparation activities. Lead designated Clinical Operations activities during regulatory inspections.
Support post-inspection CAPA alignment, in partnership with Quality.
Support Clinical Operations team on all inspection commitments, responses, post-inspection activities and implementation of corrective and preventative actions; provide lessons learned from mock and actual inspections. Ensure portfolio-level visibility of inspection risk.
Other Responsibilities
Partner cross-functionally to align on audit and inspection strategy, as well as TMF platform integrity. Align with functional study teams on TMF accountability expectations. Maintain awareness of industry trends and developments to help define the future strategic direction for TMF and Inspection Readiness.
Other responsibilities as required.
Education/Experience/Skills
Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or related field; Advanced degree preferred. Targeting at least 8 years pharmaceutical industry and/or clinical research organization experience, with at least 5 years TMF experience in a leadership role. Health Authority inspection and eTMF experience is required. An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.
Key Skills
Thorough understanding of GCP and ICH guidelines; thorough understanding of the drug development process.
Knowledge and understanding of the current regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EMA, MHRA) in a global environment.
Thorough understanding of the CDISC TMF Reference model; direct experience with the TMF Reference Model working group is preferred.
Veeva Vault eTMF/CTMS experience preferred.
Ability to lead, motivate, and influence others, including prior leadership experience, is strongly preferred.
Adept at creating and communicating a clear vision among, effectively aligning resources and motivating stakeholders to achieve goals.
Demonstrated analytical abilities and proficient planning and negotiation skills. Demonstrated technical, administrative and project management capabilities.
Strong interpersonal, organizational and workload planning skills along with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated success with cross-functional collaboration and managing multiple assignments with timely and accurate output. Demonstrated problem-solving abilities, with strong attention to detail.
Able and willing to travel both domestically and internationally.
Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, see, talk or hear in a standard office environment and independently from remote locations. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Ability to travel independently overnight and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business needs.
#LI-Hybrid #LI-SL1
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
$145,300—$181,600 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 [email protected] 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.
California Applicants: Please see Additional Information for California Residents within our Privacy Policy.
Canadian Applicants: Please seeAdditional Information for Canadian Residents within our Privacy Policy.
Applicants in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Serbia: Please see Additional Information for Individuals in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Serbia within our Privacy Policy.
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.
