Senior Director, Talent Development & Engagement
16 Days Old
Overview 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 Acadia.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
Please note that this position is based in San Diego, CA. Acadia's hybrid model requires this role to work in our office three days per week on average.
Position Summary The Senior Director, Talent Development and Engagement , will lead initiatives that enhance employee engagement, recognition, learning, talent management, and wellness. This strategic role drives People & Performance (P&P) efforts to foster a high-performance culture, support organizational change, and develop future leaders. The Sr. Director will collaborate with senior leadership, HR, and key stakeholders to implement impactful programs that elevate employee experience, strengthen company culture, and align talent strategies with business goals. Additionally, this role oversees P&P communications to ensure clear, engaging messaging across the organization.
Primary Responsibilities Manage talent development and the engagement team
Consult with senior management and function leaders regarding talent development and engagement needs
Partner with the People & Performance team (HR) and other key stakeholders in the organization to develop and promote organizational change and learning initiatives
Manage vendor relationships to produce quality outcomes and ROI
Leverage data-driven decision making and research to identify trends and make recommendations for improvement in learning, talent, and engagement processes
Support organizational transformation initiatives, helping teams navigate change and evolve in a fast-paced, growing environment
Learning and Development Define and develop a scalable, progressive strategy for learning and development tied to business objectives
Oversee the design, development, delivery, and management of high-impact Professional Development, Management Development, Career Development, and Leadership Development programs and offerings
Create and offer a variety of development solutions, including instructor-led courses, e-learning modules, assessments, coaching, and mentorship, incorporating a blended approach to delivery
Creatively develop and implement effective methods to enhance performance and provide growth opportunities to all Acadians
Facilitate innovative and dynamic training sessions to individuals and groups of varying seniority
Assess overall corporate and leadership learning needs to drive training initiatives
Lead and execute development programs for high-potential employees, including emerging leaders
Engagement, Wellness & Communications Lead the Employee Engagement efforts, including administration of all lifecycle surveys (onboarding, exit, pulse, and annual employee experience)
Analyze results from employee surveys and develop communications to share results within P&P, executives, and other stakeholders, as necessary
Collaborate with the business and P&P leadership to design effective response programs to employee feedback
Develop P&P communications and promotional strategies to raise awareness and educate Acadians on P&P initiatives
Partner with the corporate communications team to further embed Acadia’s culture through ongoing employee communications
Provide the strategy and execution of Acadia’s employee recognition programs administered by P&P, including peer-to-peer recognition and rewards program
Establish the strategy and execute employee engagement events across all Acadia locations
Manage and plans the execution of all employee events, including the coordination with vendors, stakeholders, speakers, participants, etc.
Track event performance and execution, and make recommendations for improvements
Lead the company’s wellness strategy while collaborating and partnering with key stakeholders to develop and promote employee wellness and health outcomes
Ensure effective use of the wellness budget to drive wellbeing
Develop programs and systems that support mental, physical, financial, and cultural well-being
Talent Management Lead the Performance Management program philosophy, process, and supporting resources for goal setting, quarterly check-ins, ongoing feedback, and year-end reviews
Conduct annual talent review and succession planning process to assess talent development needs, gaps, strengths, and talent risk within the organization
Deliver a scalable individual development plan process that encourages a growth mindset and continuous skill and competency development
Design a career path framework that supports individuals with personal and professional development options consistent with his/her talents and interests
Education/Experience/Skills Bachelor’s degree in Education, Instructional Design, Business Administration, or a related field, MBA preferred. A minimum of 12 years of corporate experience (biotech or pharmaceutical industry experience preferred); an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered. Must possess a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience as a leader of a talent development team and corporate initiatives.
Must possess:
Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in adult learning principles, delivery methodology, and instructional design of corporate training programs
Organizational and time management skills to prioritize workloads to meet time-sensitive deadlines required
Strong business acumen, capable of translating business goals to learning and development strategies and initiatives
Prior experience with curriculum design, development, delivery, facilitation, and maintenance of company-wide programs
Demonstrated experience with LMS systems; specifically, site administration, building of content, and developing curriculum
Knowledge of high-performing team building, coaching, and leadership
Strong leadership and teaching/facilitation ability
Detail-oriented with strong organizational and project management skills, able to work well under deadlines in a changing environment, and perform multiple tasks effectively and concurrently
Ability to manage relationships with both internal and external customers
Ability to work effectively under pressure and within a collaborative team-oriented environment, using sound judgment in decision-making
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word)
Proven ability in creating effective training materials
Excellent interpersonal skills
Organization, initiative, and self-motivation
Professionalism, integrity, and the ability to comply with strict policy, work in a highly regulated environment, and maintain confidential information and data
Negotiating capabilities and influencing senior level leaders regarding matters of significance to the organization
Proficiency at creating and communicating a clear vision among team members
Ability to align resources and activities to achieve functional area and/or organizational goals
Ability to travel up to 25% overnight or as needed
Prefer experience or certification with programs like DISC, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching, and Situational Leadership
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 in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. The 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 schedules or business needs.
Benefits
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 $221,000—$260,000 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 and Accommodations EEO Statement (US-based Employees): We are committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and innovative company and encourage applications from candidates with a variety of backgrounds. Acadia is an equal opportunity employer. We provide reasonable accommodations in our recruiting process. To request accommodations, please contact talentacquisition@acadia-pharm.com.
Please note that reasonable accommodations granted throughout the recruiting process are not guaranteed to be the same accommodations given if hired.
Notice to Applicants : California Applicants: See Additional Information for California Residents within our Privacy Policy. Canadian Applicants: See Additional Information for Canadian Residents within our Privacy Policy. Applicants in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK, and Serbia: See Additional Information for Individuals in these regions within our Privacy Policy.
This job posting may contain references to recruiters; Acadia does not accept resumes from recruiters without an executed search agreement in place.
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- Location:
- San Diego, CA, United States
- Salary:
- $125,000 - $150,000
- Category:
- Human Resources