Associate Director

Location: This position can be based in San Diego, CA, 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, R&D AI Solutions & Analytics will serve as a strategic and technical leader responsible for advancing AI-enabled analytics and digital innovation capabilities across Research & Development (R&D). This role will focus on leading the design, implementation, scaling, and adoption of analytics and AI‑driven solutions that improve decision‑making, optimize clinical development operations, and enhance portfolio insights across the organization. The individual will partner closely with R&D stakeholders, Digital/IT teams, and external vendors to deliver scalable analytics products, intelligent workflows, AI‑enabled solutions, and operational insights capabilities. This role requires a highly collaborative and execution‑oriented leader who thrives in fast‑paced innovative environments and can balance strategic thinking with hands‑on solution delivery. Primary Responsibilities Drive build and adoption of R&D analytics and AI solutions through stakeholder engagement, user feedback, and performance measurement. Support development of a high‑performing innovative culture focused on experimentation, agility, collaboration, and measurable impact. Promote scalable and reusable approaches to R&D analytics delivery, AI enablement, and operational intelligence. Provide mentorship and technical guidance to junior team members, contractors, and project contributors as appropriate. Lead rapid prototyping, proof‑of‑concept development, and innovation initiatives aligned with enterprise R&D priorities. Collaborate with Digital/IT organizations and external vendors to support deployment and integration of enterprise AI and analytics solutions. Support implementation and scaling of AI‑powered use cases including clinical operations copilots, enrollment analytics, workflow automation, and decision‑support tools. Partner with R&D stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and execute high‑value analytics and AI use cases aligned with business objectives. Drive development and operationalization of scalable dashboards, operational metrics, and intelligent analytics products to improve clinical and operational performance. Lead the design and scaling of insights through analytics and AI‑enabled solutions supporting Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Portfolio Strategy, and broader R&D functions. Other responsibilities as assigned. Education / Experience / Skills Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Life Sciences, Business Analytics, or a related field. 8+ years of experience in analytics, AI solutions, or digital innovation within pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare environments. Hands‑on experience developing AI‑driven data products, analytics solutions, and operational dashboards. Experience working within regulated R&D environments including clinical development, safety, or regulatory. Knowledge of industry data standards such as CDISC and FHIR. Experience partnering with Digital/IT teams and external vendors to implement enterprise analytics and AI solutions. Ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives and deliver scalable analytics products aligned to business priorities. Willingness to travel 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. Salary Range $156,000 — $195,600 USD Benefits 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 View email address on click.appcast.io‑pharm.com or View phone number on click.appcast.io. 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 see Additional 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr