Director, Quality Control at Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Parsippany, New Jersey, United States

Acadia Pharmaceuticals Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
BiopharmaceuticalIndustries

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a scientific discipline
  • 15+ years of experience in pharmaceutical QC operations across development and commercial portfolios

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic direction for the Quality Control department to achieve corporate and site-level objectives
  • Build and lead high-performing team
  • Coach, mentor, and engage team to ensure business goals and development plans are met
  • Oversee manufacturing unit operations, including review and approval of preventive maintenance activities and changes
  • Review and approve issues and investigations related to critical equipment, systems, and utilities
  • Establish and monitor operational metrics to track performance and identify trends
  • Develop and implement short- and long-term plans to ensure corporate and operational compliance with GxP standards
  • Ensure deployment and maintenance of quality processes aligned with regulatory requirements and internal policies
  • Manage planning and budgeting for Quality Control activities
  • Ensure third-party labs and CMOs comply with quality standards and regulatory expectations to meet product quality attributes
  • Provide QC oversight and approval of cGMP documentation (e.g., change controls, deviations, CAPAs, SOPs, validation protocols)
  • Lead or support QC-related projects and propose improvements using risk-based approaches
  • Maintain robust training programs to meet GMP and company requirements
  • Coordinate lab activities and actively participate in regulatory inspections, third-party audits, and customer audits
  • Monitor emerging regulatory requirements and assess organizational impact
  • Lead remediation efforts for identified gaps and drive continuous improvement initiatives
  • Perform other duties/projects as assigned by the Vice President, Technical Operations
  • Strategic leadership and oversight of the Quality Control (Analytical and Microbiology) function, including testing at contract labs for drug substance, drug product, and stability programs across commercial and development portfolios
  • Partner cross-functionally with Pharmaceutical Development, Technical Operations, QA, and CMC Regulatory Affairs to manage method transfers, validations, and data oversight aligned with development and production timelines
  • Manage vendor oversight, data review, external audits, and GMP-related exceptions (e.g., deviations, CAPAs, OOS/OOT, change controls)
  • Oversee designation of critical quality attributes, specification setting, and trending of method and product performance
  • Provide direction on method transfers and validations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and laboratory control requirements

Skills

Quality Control
Analytical Testing
Microbiology
GMP
Method Validation
Method Transfer
Vendor Oversight
Data Review
External Audits
Deviations
CAPAs
OOS/OOT
Change Controls
Critical Quality Attributes
Specification Setting
Stability Testing
CMC Regulatory Affairs

Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Develops therapies for neurological disorders

About Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Acadia Pharmaceuticals develops therapies for neurological disorders, focusing on conditions like Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and Rett syndrome. The company conducts extensive research and clinical trials to create drugs that are safe and effective, seeking approval from regulatory bodies like the FDA before bringing them to market. Acadia differentiates itself by targeting areas with significant unmet medical needs, ensuring that their products address critical health challenges. Their goal is to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from these disorders while also promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within their operations.

Dallas, TexasHeadquarters
1993Year Founded
$813.4MTotal Funding
ACQUISITIONCompany Stage
Biotechnology, HealthcareIndustries
501-1,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Paid Vacation
Paid Holidays
Paid Sick Leave
Paid Parental Leave
Tuition Reimbursement

Risks

Increased competition in CNS drug market may impact Acadia's market share.
Potential clinical trial delays could affect drug approval timelines.
Dependence on partnerships poses risks if collaborations face challenges or dissolve.

Differentiation

Acadia focuses on CNS disorders with unmet medical needs, like Parkinson's and Rett syndrome.
The company has a strong R&D foundation, developing innovative small molecule drugs.
Acadia's strategic partnerships enhance its research capabilities and market reach.

Upsides

Acadia's collaboration with Saniona expands its portfolio with SAN711 for neurological disorders.
Health Canada's approval of Daybue boosts Acadia's presence in the Canadian market.
The rise of personalized medicine aligns with Acadia's targeted therapy approach.

Land your dream remote job 3x faster with AI