Associate General Counsel, R&D Innovation Legal

AbbVie; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 182,000 - 346,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an Associate General Counsel for the R&D Innovation Legal group to support the R&D organization on enterprise-critical issues in a evolving regulatory landscape. The role emphasizes strategic counsel, FDA regulatory expertise, and guidance on pipeline strategies.

The position requires a J.D. and bar admission, with 10+ years in life sciences law, including experience in law firms, in-house at a pharma company, or FDA settings.

Qualifications

• Specialized FDA regulatory and drug development experience.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; able to present complex issues to senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams and work independently.

Responsibilities

• Develop strategic counsel for senior leaders on legal and regulatory issues impacting pipeline development and product innovation.
• Provide regulatory filings and agency engagement support to Regulatory Affairs on R&D issues.
• Educate AbbVie legal and business stakeholders on emerging laws and industry trends.
• Identify complex legal issues and propose creative, business‑oriented solutions.
• Advise Vice Presidents and Officers and serve as a trusted expert in the field.

Skills

FDA regulatory experience

Drug development experience

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

J.D. and bar admission

Job description

Associate General Counsel, R&D Innovation Legal

• Full-time
• Salary Min: 182000
• Salary Max: 346000
• Workday Global Grade: 22
• Compensation: USD 182,000 - USD 346,000 - yearly

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.

As an Associate General Counsel in the R&D Innovation Legal group, you will support AbbVie’s R&D organization in navigating enterprise‑critical issues in an evolving legal and regulatory environment as we work to bring new, innovative products to patients. This individual will be motivated by the opportunity to address and solve emerging issues with a strategic and creative business‑oriented approach and provide expert counsel on decisions impacting our long‑term pipeline strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and provide strategic counsel to senior leaders within the Legal and Regulatory Strategy organizations on legal regulatory issues that impact pipeline development and product innovation. Assigned matters have significant impact to AbbVie overall. This is a role advising the R&D organization and not on FDA promotional considerations or advising the Commercial organization.

Provides legal support to Regulatory Affairs on critical and strategic regulatory filings and agency engagements relating to R&D issues impacting our investigational and on‑market drug products.

Willing to develop an understanding of the Inflation Reduction Act and other "Most Favored Nation" policies to provide strategic counsel to the R&D organization.

Educates other AbbVie legal departments and business stakeholders on emerging laws, regulations and industry trends impacting AbbVie portfolio.

Proactively identifies highly complex legal issues related to assigned matters, develops creative and alternative solutions, and implements resolution.

Adopts a business oriented and creative approach to problem solving.

Identifies unmet needs and future legal issues and proactively proposes strategies to optimize outcomes and results for the company.

Advises Vice Presidents, Presidents and Officers. Recognized by these clients as both expert in substantive area and relied upon for individual advice.

Qualifications

• You offer specialized FDA regulatory and drug development experience.
• J.D. and currently admitted to the bar in at least one U.S. state.
• Minimum of 10+ years (12+ preferred) of relevant experience practicing as a member of a nationally recognized law firm in a life sciences practice, practicing in‑house at a pharmaceutical company or practicing as an attorney for the FDA, or any combination of the above (experience working in‑house or at FDA is preferred).
• Individual will have substantial expertise in FDA regulations and guidance around innovator drug development, including on regulatory exclusivities, orphan drug designations, clinical trial design and data requirements and combination products, and have familiarity with policies to advance innovation in the industry.
• Experience working for, or having interactions with, government health authorities is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with the Inflation Reduction Act, Most Favored Nation and CMS policies and their impact on drug development strategies is a plus.
• Knowledge and understanding of pharmaceutical laws and regulations to help business clients assess issues in a highly regulated landscape.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and lead cross‑functional teams collaboratively.
• Ability to adapt to a changing environment while handling multiple priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Comfortable presenting complicated information accurately and concisely to senior leaders.
• To enable success in the role, an individual must be in the office 3 days/week at our offices in North Chicago, IL or the Washington, DC metro area.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees. This job is eligible to participate in our short‑term incentive programs.

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.

Equal Opportunity

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.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company’s sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.