Neuroscience Associate Sales Specialist

Job description

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 us at Acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Seeking talent near: Jacksonville, FL; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA: Orlando, FL

Position Summary:

Responsible for providing interim coverage of open sales territories, including all aspects of sales territory management - including selling specialty Neurology product to Movement Disorder Specialists and Neurologists. Able to move within the U.S. as business needs dictate. Interim coverage would likely span a 1-6 month period and then role would be reassigned to a different opening for a 1-6 month span of time. Once this individual has performed successfully in role for 12 months, they will be eligible to apply for any open territory in United States for a full-time, long-term territory assignment.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Effectively impacts existing and new customers by providing exceptional value and service, which ultimately helps providers to identify and start appropriate patients on therapy.
• Educates physicians and physicians’ staff on the value of the Company’s products for patient care.
• Utilizes knowledge, critical thinking, and dialogue skills to deliver meaningful customer experiences that result in satisfaction, equity, and loyalty.
• Anticipates, identifies and appropriately addresses healthcare professionals (HCP) objections, questions, and concerns.
• Utilizes appropriate techniques to gain consistent access to customers.
• Utilizes appropriate sales aids, clinical reprints, etc. according to training.  Tailors appropriate resources and information depending on customer needs.
• Develops strong relationships with HCP customers including key opinion leaders (KOLs’) within the territory.
• Identifies and investigates customer concerns and communicates with appropriate staff to solve problems in a timely manner.
• Analyzes sales potential and then executes in the territory to ensure appropriate calls, reach, frequency, business meals, speaker programs, etc. to achieve consistently strong business results.  Works within given budgets and policy guidelines.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and adjusts as needed to develop effective quarterly business/action plans.
• Prepares and submits timely reports of business transactions and keeps accurate expense account records.
• Provides appropriate guidance around pricing and reimbursement for promoted products to customers.  Acts as liaison between customers and Company when specific reimbursement questions arise.
• Communicates and collaborates with sales management and region/area teammates, as well as cross-functional teammates (i.e. managed markets, operations, sales training, marketing, etc.) as business needs dictate.
• Attends conferences, trainings, exhibits, meetings, and product launches as required.
• Takes on leadership opportunities as appropriate, and consistently operates with a positive, collaborative attitude.
• Remains compliant with all regulations in the course of carrying out responsibilities.
• May participate in the training of new Sales Specialists in the field.
• May participate in training activities during Area, Regional and National meetings.
• Consistently carries out responsibilities with proficiency and professionalism.
• May participate in cross-functional projects affecting area, regional and commercial objectives.
• May provide mentoring support to new and/or junior Sales Specialists.
• Other duties as assigned.

Selling Responsibilities

• Proudly represent Acadia and its culture, mission, and values
• Meet or exceed sales expectations
• Exhibit a firm understanding of the selling process
• Develop and execute territory business plans
• Exercise professionalism, leadership, and teamwork at all times
• Adhere to all Acadia company policies.

Customer Service

• Partner and build relationships with customers to understand and meet their needs – including providing disease, product, and reimbursement information
• Interact and sell to the entire spectrum of applicable customer types, including staff, nursing, physicians, and other healthcare professionals
• Provide approved resources to customers as appropriate, including product samples, clinical trial data, and patient brochures
• Manage relationships with important customers, including key opinion leaders, Acadia speakers, local medical societies and advocacy groups, long-term care facilities, local and regional payers, pharmacists, etc.

Knowledge

• Develop deep neuroscience and Acadia product knowledge, and an understanding of local and regional market trends
• Aggressively pursue ongoing personal development
• Earn a reputation throughout the neuroscience medical community as a subject-matter expert and a valued resource
• Disease state and product information expert

Education/Experience/Skills:

Bachelor’s degree required, with an emphasis in the life sciences, preferred. A preferred minimum of 2 years of healthcare sales. Ability to travel 90% of the time and live in assigned geographies for 1-6 months at a time. Must be in good standing with the FDA and OIG.

Once this individual has performed successfully in role for 12 months, they will be eligible to apply for an open territory.

Must possess:

• Demonstrated selling skills and ability to dialogue effectively with customers
• Ability to quickly build relationships with key customers and build networks within the neuroscience community
• Must be able to live within the assigned territory in temporary housing paid for by Acadia and be able to relocate every 3 to 6 months as business needs dictate
• Ability to demonstrate exceptional disease state and product knowledge
• Strong persuasive selling and negotiation skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to assess territory business opportunities and customer needs, operating with a business owner mentality to maximize impact in a short time frame
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply technical/scientific knowledge and business analyses
• Organization, initiative, and self-motivation
• Consistently models professionalism, integrity, and the ability to comply to strict policy, work in a highly regulated environment, and maintain confidential information and data
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and maintenance of an acceptable driving record. Must follow all applicable guidelines as set forth in the Company Fleet Management Program including periodic DMV reviews
• Requires significant and extensive driving of company-provided car on a daily basis as well as overnight travel depending on the territory’s geography.  Air travel also required, based on territory’s geography, to the Company’s headquarters and for regional and national meetings and events.

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 needs.

Travel up to 90% of the time (depending on territory geography) and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues.  Must be able to temporarily live within the territory for 3-6 month at a time.  Depending on the territory’s geography and work requirements, may also be required to live within a reasonable distance to a major airport.

#LI-REMOTE

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

$85,000—$105,000 USD

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 single 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 would strongly encourage you to apply – especially if the reason you are the best candidate isn’t exactly as we describe it 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 accommodation 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 absence of an executed search agreement will not obligate Acadia in any way with the 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.