Director Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance Medical Safety

Position Summary

The Director of Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance is a medical safety expert within the Drug Safety & Pharmacovigilance (PV) function, reporting to the Executive Director of Medical Safety. This role serves as the primary medical safety resource for assigned products across the Acadia portfolio, providing hands-on medical evaluation of safety data, signal detection and assessment, and clinical oversight of pharmacovigilance activities throughout the product lifecycle. The Director contributes product-level medical input to cross-functional safety governance, collaborates with the Executive Director of Medical Safety on complex or escalated safety issues, and supports regulatory submissions and health authority interactions for assigned products. 

Primary Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary medical safety resource for assigned Acadia products, providing product-level clinical safety and pharmacovigilance expertise across all stages of development and post-marketing surveillance
• Performs medical evaluation and interpretation of aggregate safety data for assigned products, including signal detection and evaluation, ad hoc safety assessments, and benefit-risk analyses; escalates complex or novel safety issues appropriately
• Assesses safety signals and trends for assigned products and proactively manages potential safety issues in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders
• Contributes product-level medical input to the Medical Safety team and other cross-functional safety governance bodies
• Performs medical review of all serious adverse events from Acadia clinical trials for assigned products
• Performs retrospective medical review of adverse events for post-marketed products
• Authors Analysis of Similar Events (AOSE) and individual case narratives and comments for ICSRs for assigned products
• Provides oversight for the safety aspects of clinical studies for assigned products, including development and maintenance of product-specific core safety information
• Reviews and approves safety sections of clinical documents for assigned products, including protocols, DSURs, final study reports, and other documents as required
• Formulates response strategies and authors health authority responses for safety-related queries pertaining to assigned products, in collaboration with the Head of Medical Safety
• Provides medical input into Periodic Benefit Risk Evaluation Reports (PBRERs) for assigned products, including clinical interpretation of safety data
• Provides medical and scientific input into Risk Management Plans (RMPs/dRMPs) and REMS programs for assigned products
• Ensures all PV Medical Safety activities for assigned products are performed in compliance with applicable regulations and Acadia standards
• Maintains current knowledge of global regulatory authority regulations and guidance
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Education/Experience/Skills

• MD (Doctor of Medicine) or equivalent medical degree from an accredited institution, with relevant postgraduate clinical training and experience; candidates who are eligible for U.S. medical board certification are preferred. MPH or pharmacoepidemiology training is a plus. 
• 6 to 7 years of relevant drug safety experience, including expertise in safety signal management (signal detection, evaluation, aggregate data review, ICSRs), preferably in a pharmaceutical or biotech environment.  
• Neurology, psychiatry, rare disease, or CNS-related therapeutic area experience strongly preferred
• Advanced knowledge of FDA, EU, and ICH regulations and guidelines related to pharmacovigilance, including clinical trial safety monitoring, post-marketing surveillance, ICSR processing, aggregate reporting, and health authority reporting requirements
• Ability to assess product benefit-risk profiles and interpret clinical and post-market safety data
• Demonstrated expertise in safety signal detection methodologies and medical evaluation of aggregate safety databases
• Ability to author and critically review regulatory safety documents (DSURs, PBRER safety sections, health authority responses)
• Strong analytical and critical decision-making skills; ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines with minimal oversight
• Experience with pharmacovigilance safety databases (Argus) and signal detection tools
• Familiarity with pharmacoepidemiology concepts and study design
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; ability to effectively communicate complex safety findings to internal and external stakeholders
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work cross-functionally in a fast-paced environment
• Must be willing and 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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