Neuroscience Sales Specialist

Summary

Join Acadia Pharmaceuticals as a Sales Specialist, Senior Sales Specialist, or Executive Sales Specialist and manage your assigned sales territory, selling products and addressing customer needs. You will educate healthcare professionals on Acadia's products, build strong customer relationships, and analyze sales potential to achieve strong business results. Responsibilities include developing and executing territory business plans, meeting sales expectations, and adhering to company policies. The role requires a Bachelor's degree and relevant sales experience, with specific experience requirements varying by position level. Additional preferred qualifications include experience in neuroscience and specialty distribution. Competitive base salaries, discretionary bonuses, and equity awards are offered.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required, with an emphasis in the life sciences preferred
• To qualify for Sales Specialist requires 2 years of sales experience with at least 1 year in pharmaceutical, and/or other related healthcare sales, with an emphasis on neuroscience preferred
• To qualify for Sr. Specialist level, requires a minimum of 5 years of healthcare sales with at least 2 years of experience in complex or account-based selling environments is required
• To qualify for Executive level, requires a minimum of 8 years of healthcare sales with at least 3 years of experience in complex or account-based selling environments is required
• Must be in good standing with the FDA and OIG
• Demonstrated advanced selling skills and ability to dialogue effectively with customers
• Demonstrated strong leadership ability
• In depth knowledge of the Total Account Call and proficient ability to influence diverse customer types across the health care provider landscape
• Strong understanding of payer dynamics, including Part D access and Specialty Pharmacy/Hub distribution
• Demonstrate a higher level of curiosity with strong coachability
• Strong aptitude for change agility, learning agility, continuous improvement, accountability, and grit
• Ability to effectively work independently and consistently deliver strong results in a highly empowered as well as fast-paced organizational environment
• Strong persuasive selling and negotiation skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain lasting relationships with key customers and build networks within the neuroscience community
• Ability to demonstrate exceptional disease state and product knowledge
• Ability to anticipate future business opportunities and customer needs, operating with a business ownership mentality
• Demonstrated ability to learn and apply technical/scientific knowledge and business analyses
• Organization, initiative, and self-motivation
• Consistently models professionalism, integrity, and the ability to comply to strict policy, work in a highly regulated environment, and maintain confidential information and data
• Must live within the territory or within 30 miles of the territory border. Depending on the territory’s geography and work requirements, may also be required to live within a reasonable distance to a major airport
• Must possess a valid driver's license and maintenance of an acceptable driving record. Must follow all applicable guidelines as set forth in the Company Fleet Management Program including periodic DMV reviews
• Requires significant and extensive driving of company provided car on a daily basis as well as overnight travel depending on the territory’s geography. Air travel also required, based on territory’s geography, to the Company’s headquarters and for regional and national meetings and events
• Meet all local, state, and federal vaccination requirements for admittance into local Community HCP Offices and Long Term Care Facilities, as well as for attendance at Medical Congresses and Local Conferences for in person participation and exhibiting
• 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 both in a standard office environment and while working independently from remote locations. 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 schedule or business needs
• Ability to personally drive and remain eligible for a company provided car for day to day work requirements and to travel by airplane independently as needed. Travel up to 80% of the time (depending on territory geography) and work after hours if required by travel schedule or business issues. Must live within the territory or within 30 miles of the territory border. Depending on the territory’s geography and work requirements, may also be required to live within a reasonable distance to a major airport
• Employee must meet any independent vaccination requirements that our clients and client facilities may have

Responsibilities

• Effectively impact existing and new customers by providing exceptional value and service in an in-person setting, which ultimately helps providers to identify and start appropriate patients on therapy
• Educate physicians and physicians’ staff on the value of the Company’s products for patient care in an effective and compliant manner
• Utilize knowledge, critical thinking, and dialogue skills to deliver meaningful customer experiences that result in satisfaction, equity, and loyalty
• Anticipate, identify, and appropriately address healthcare professionals (HCP) objections, questions, and concerns
• Utilize appropriate techniques to gain consistent access to customers
• Utilize appropriate sales aids, clinical reprints, approved brand content etc. according to training and compliance policies. Tailor appropriate resources and information depending on customer needs
• Develop strong relationships with HCP customers including key opinion leaders’ (KOLs’) within the territory
• Identify and investigate customer concerns and communicate with appropriate staff to solve problems in a timely manner
• Analyze sales potential and then execute in the territory to ensure appropriate calls, reach, frequency, business meals, speaker programs, etc. to achieve consistently strong business results. Work within given budgets and policy guidelines
• Analyze, evaluate, and adjust as needed to develop effective quarterly business/action plans
• Prepare and submit timely reports of business transactions and keep accurate expense account records
• Provide appropriate guidance around pricing and reimbursement for promoted products to customers. Act as liaison between customers and Company when specific reimbursement questions arise
• Communicate and collaborate with sales management and region/area teammates, as well as cross-functional teammates (i.e. managed markets, operations, sales training, marketing, etc.) as business needs dictate
• Attend conferences, trainings, exhibits, meetings, and product launches as required
• Take on leadership opportunities as appropriate, and consistently operate with a positive, collaborative attitude
• Remain compliant with all regulations in the course of carrying out responsibilities
• May participate in the training of new Sales Specialists in the field
• May participate in training activities during Area, Regional and National meetings
• Consistently carry out responsibilities with a high degree of excellence, proficiency and professionalism
• May participate in cross functional projects affecting area, regional and commercial objectives
• May provide mentoring support to new and/or junior Sales Specialists
• Provide field strategic insights
• Other duties as assigned
• Proudly represent Acadia and its culture, mission, and values
• Meet or exceed sales expectations
• Exhibit a firm understanding of the selling process
• Develop and execute territory business plans
• Execute both in-person and virtual meetings, prioritizing in-territory Face to Face customer interactions
• Exercise professionalism, leadership, and teamwork at all times
• Adhere to all Acadia company policies
• Partner and build relationships with customers in an in-person setting to understand and meet their needs – including providing disease, product, and reimbursement information
• Interact and sell to the entire spectrum of applicable customer types, including staff, nursing, physicians, and other healthcare professionals
• Provide approved resources to customers as appropriate, including product samples, clinical trial data, and patient brochures
• Manage relationships with important customers, including key opinion leaders, Acadia speakers, local medical societies and advocacy groups, long-term care facilities, local and regional payers, pharmacists, etc
• Develop deep neuroscience and Acadia product knowledge, and an strong understanding of local and regional market trends
• Aggressively pursue ongoing personal development
• Earn a reputation throughout the neuroscience medical community as a subject-matter expert and a valued resource
• Disease state and product information expert
• Fundamental experience using Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Proficient competency utilizing web-based platforms (e.g. WebEx, Zoom) for effective virtual customer engagement

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with specialty distribution (specialty hub and reimbursement), partnering with customers/stakeholders such as key opinion leaders, academic institutions, centers of excellence, hospitals, long-term care, nurses, advocacy organizations and patients/caregivers in therapeutic areas such as neurology (movement disorders) and psychiatry (antipsychotics) strongly desired

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
• $115,000 — $147,000 USD