Associate Director, R&D Quality Transformation and Data Science

AbbVie; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 142,000 - 269,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an Associate Director of R&D Quality Transformation and Data Science in North Chicago, IL. This role leads data-driven quality initiatives, AI/ML capabilities, and KPI-driven improvements across R&D QA, partnering with IT and cross-functional teams to advance transformation efforts and governance.

The position emphasizes statistical rigor, analytics maturity, and change management to elevate quality culture and operational performance within a regulated environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Data Science, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in data science, analytics, AI/ML, process improvement, transformation, or operational excellence within life sciences or another regulated industry.
• Experience supporting or leading cross-functional initiatives in pharmaceutical, medical device, combination products, research, development, clinical operations, manufacturing, or quality environments.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, analytics, and structured problem-solving to support process improvement and business decisions.
• Understanding of quality systems, compliance expectations, and transformation/change management principles in regulated environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization and influence without direct authority.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing KPI frameworks, balanced scorecards, or enterprise performance management systems.
• Strong statistical proficiency, including regression analysis, SPC/SQC, multivariate analysis, predictive modeling, and hypothesis testing.

Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of a focused R&D QA transformation roadmap, including analytics, AI/ML, and operational excellence initiatives anchored to organization-wide priorities, regulatory requirements, and diagnostic insights.
• Analyze survey, diagnostic, and performance data to identify trends, opportunities, and root causes, and help prioritize improvement actions targeting both quality culture and business operations.
• Lead or support cross-functional transformation projects that improve quality operations, reporting, decision-making and ways of working.
• Partner with and across R&D QA, IT, and R&D, to implement improvements and support adoption of new tools, methods, and operating models.
• Contribute to the use of advanced analytics, automation, and AI/ML-enabled solutions to improve efficiency, consistency and insight generation.
• Support development and refinement of functional KPIs and executive-level dashboards.
• Support business cases through financial modeling, scenario analysis, quantitative benchmarking, and clear articulation of strategic and operational value.
• Translate quality and operational data into clear business value narratives, including benefits, cost avoidance, and operational impact of selected improvement initiatives.
• Monitor progress, risks, dependencies, and outcomes for assigned initiatives, and provide concise status updates and recommendations to leaders and stakeholders.
• Promote collaboration, change management, continuous improvement, and capability building in digital tools, analytics, and process excellence across R&D QA.

Skills

Data science

Analytics

AI/ML

Process improvement

Transformation

Operational excellence

KPIs

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor’s in Data Science or related

Advanced degree preferred (MBA/MS in Analytics)

Tools

Python

R

SQL

Power BI/Tableau

Job description

Associate Director, R&D Quality Transformation and Data Science

• Full-time
• Salary Min: 141500
• Salary Max: 268500
• Workday Global Grade: 20
• Compensation: USD 141,500 - USD 268,500 - yearly

About AbbVie

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

AbbVie is dedicated to delivering a consistent stream of innovative, safe, and effective medicines and products that solve serious health issues and have a remarkable impact on people's lives. As a quality organization in research development, R&D Quality Assurance is committed to driving quality excellence across all stages of discovery and development for the product's lifecycle to achieve product realization and accelerate access to innovative therapies and products for our patients.

Patient needs, stakeholder demands, industry innovation, the regulatory landscape, and AbbVie's business strategy continue to evolve rapidly. Emphasizing and embedding quality in the execution of clinical trials, post-market vigilance, and post-market studies helps assure patient safety, maintain data integrity, foster regulatory compliance, and contribute to the overall success of drug/device development programs.

The Associate Director, R&D Quality Transformation and Data Science supports the development and execution of transformation initiatives across R&D Quality Assurance, integrating digital capabilities, analytics (including AI/ML), process improvement, and operational best practices. This role helps enable the use of data, insights, and emerging technologies to improve quality processes, strengthen quality culture, and support continuous improvement efforts across the organization.

This position is suited for a collaborative and analytical leader passionate about improving how R&D QA operates through data-driven decision-making, process optimization, and change management. The role partners with leaders across R&D Quality Assurance and cross-functional stakeholders to help translate organizational feedback, diagnostic findings, and business needs into practical improvement initiatives. This role reports directly to the Sr. Director, R&D Quality Transformation & Data Science.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of a focused R&D QA transformation roadmap, including analytics, AI/ML, and operational excellence initiatives anchored to organization-wide priorities, regulatory requirements, and diagnostic insights.
• Analyze survey, diagnostic, and performance data to identify trends, opportunities, and root causes, and help prioritize improvement actions targeting both quality culture and business operations.
• Lead or support cross-functional transformation projects that improve quality operations, reporting, decision-making and ways of working.
• Partner with and across R&D QA, IT, and R&D, to implement improvements and support adoption of new tools, methods, and operating models.
• Contribute to the use of advanced analytics, automation, and AI/ML-enabled solutions to improve efficiency, consistency and insight generation.
• Support development and refinement of functional KPIs and executive-level dashboards.
• Support business cases through financial modeling, scenario analysis, quantitative benchmarking, and clear articulation of strategic and operational value.
• Translate quality and operational data into clear business value narratives, including benefits, cost avoidance, and operational impact of selected improvement initiatives.
• Monitor progress, risks, dependencies, and outcomes for assigned initiatives, and provide concise status updates and recommendations to leaders and stakeholders.
• Promote collaboration, change management, continuous improvement, and capability building in digital tools, analytics, and process excellence across R&D QA.

Qualifications

• Bachelors in Data Science, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related discipline required, advanced degree preferred. Candidates with a Life Sciences degree and an MBA or MS in Analytics are preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in data science, analytics, AI/ML, process improvement, transformation, or operational excellence within life sciences or another regulated industry.
• Experience supporting or leading cross-functional initiatives in pharmaceutical, medical device, combination products, research, development, clinical operations, manufacturing, or quality environments.
• Demonstrated ability to use data, analytics, and structured problem-solving to support process improvement and business decisions.
• Understanding of quality systems, compliance expectations, and transformation/change management principles in regulated environments.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization and influence without direct authority.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing KPI frameworks, balanced scorecards, or enterprise performance management systems.
• Strong statistical proficiency, including regression analysis, Statistical Process Control (SPC/SQC), multivariate analysis, predictive modeling, and hypothesis testing.
• Proficiency in Python, R, and/or SQL, plus experience with at least one BI/visualization platform (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or equivalent).
• Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal law: The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at the timeof this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
• This job is eligible toparticipatein our long-term incentiveprograms.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.The amount and availability of any bonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company's sole andabsolutediscretion unless and until paid andmay bemodifiedat the Company’s sole andabsolute discretion, consistent withapplicable law.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

By clicking the link above or any third-party link within this posting, you are leaving this site and going to a third-party website where the third-party website's terms and privacy policy apply