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Acadia Pharmaceuticals

Director Corporate Counsel, Contracts

Acadia Pharmaceuticals See More Job Openings by This EmployerArrow
  • Contractor
  • San Diego, CA
April 7, 2025 Attorney Business Law

Job Description

Position Summary

This position will lead and manage Acadia’s Contracts Team.  They will oversee contract negotiation and act as a review expert for all company contracts activities. Provides support for the company’s contract processes, including policies.  Will oversee Agiloft, Acadia’s electronic contract management system. Works closely with Legal colleagues and internal stakeholders across the organization. May interact with law firms and other external agencies.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Oversees Acadia contracts process, and management contracts team and resources with a continuous improvement mindset to identify and implement measures to increase efficiency and decrease risk.
  • Coordinates and manages Acadia’s external contracting resources, including outside counsel.
  • Review, draft, and negotiate contracts relating to the company’s business needs, such as confidentiality agreements, master services agreements, distribution agreements, lease agreements, university agreements, manufacturing and supply agreements, clinical trial agreements, marketing agreements, consulting agreements, and the like.
  • Coordinate and assist in developing policies, procedures and systems to support and facilitate efficient contract development and analysis.
  • Keep abreast of current case law and trends in contract law and privacy program requirements and legislative developments.
  • Develop strong working relations with all relevant internal stakeholders and provide training to internal stakeholders as needed.
  • Manage and provide leadership to a team of contract professionals, including coaching, training and performance management.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

 

Education/Experience/Skills

  • Juris Doctor degree required. 
  • Targeting 8-10 years of progressively responsible experience including 5 years in a leadership role.  Must have contract review and negotiation experience.  An equivalent combination of relevant education and experience may be considered.
  • Pharmaceutical or biotech industry experience strongly preferred.
  • Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to accommodate and lead teams through shifting priorities, demands and timelines.
  • Ability to elicit cooperation from a wide variety of sources and to be persuasive, encouraging and motivating.
  • Adept at creating and communicating a clear vision for a program among team members to facilitate alignment of resources to achieve program and corporate goals.
  • Ability to gain trust and work with all levels of the organization.
  • High level of integrity with the ability to maintain the protection of proprietary and confidential information.
  • Resourceful, solution oriented team player with the ability to collaborate with other members on challenging projects.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Proven track record of driving organizational change, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Effective problem solving and conflict resolution abilities.
  • Must be able to travel both domestically and internationally.

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.

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