California Comparative Medicine Training Specialist

AbbVie Inc.; Lake Forest (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. in California seeks a Comparative Medicine Training Specialist to lead training initiatives across Irvine and the ABA campus in South San Francisco, ensuring personnel are trained, qualified, and prepared to support animal care, procedures, and research operations.

You will design and deliver instructor-led and hands-on programs, maintain records for audits, partner with leadership to meet regulatory requirements, and support global training efforts across the AbbVie network.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience developing, coordinating, and delivering classroom, technical, and hands-on training programs.
• Knowledge of laboratory animal care and welfare regulations and industry standards.
• Ability to collaborate across global teams and travel between sites.

Responsibilities

• Lead training initiatives for California Comparative Medicine sites, ensuring compliance and competency.
• Deliver instructor-led and hands-on training on vivarium operations and research procedures.
• Maintain training records, SOPs, and documentation for audits and accreditation.
• Coordinate global training programs and liaise with leadership and stakeholders.

Skills

Training program development

Regulatory compliance

Cross-site collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field

Master’s degree in a relevant field

AALAS Certification, RLATG or higher

Tools

AALAS Learning Library

Job description

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.

Purpose

The Comparative Medicine Training Specialist owns the California Comparative Medicine training strategy and serves as a key contributor to the development, standardization, and implementation of global Comparative Medicine training programs. This person serves as a critical resource supporting Comparative Medicine operations, compliance, and training programs across AbbVie’s California research sites, including Irvine and the AbbVie Bay Area (ABA) campus in South San Francisco..

The position enables research excellence by ensuring personnel are trained, qualified, and prepared to safely and compliantly support animal care, scientific procedures, and research operations

Responsibilities

California Comparative Medicine Training Leadership and Program Management : The person in this position is responsible for leading training initiatives in our California Comparative Medicine sites, ensuring training compliance and personnel competency, administering key operational and learning systems, and supporting facility readiness and regulatory compliance activities

Serves as the primary Comparative Medicine trainer for California research sites, including Irvine and the ABA campus.

Develops, coordinates, and delivers instructor‑led, hands‑on, and technical training programs related to laboratory animal science, animal care and use, vivarium operations, and research procedures, leveraging innovative educational technologies to enhance adult learning outcomes. This may include but is not limited to:

• Designs, implements, and continuously improves innovative adult‑learning solutions, including instructor‑led training, digital learning platforms, competency‑based development programs, simulation‑based training, knowledge management resources, and data‑driven learning analytics
• Partners with Comparative Medicine leadership and functional stakeholders to assess training needs, establish training priorities, and support workforce development initiatives.
• Accountable for maintaining training compliance, competency qualification processes, training documentation standards, and inspection‑ready records supporting regulatory and accreditation requirements.
• Maintains training records and documentation to support regulatory compliance, audit readiness, and operational excellence.
• Supports global training initiatives and contributes technical expertise to Comparative Medicine learning programs and best practices.

Operational Support and Compliance

Partners with Comparative Medicine leadership, EHS, and Facilities to promote safe and compliant animal care and research operations.

Supports facility readiness for inspections, site visits, and accreditation activities, including USDA, AAALAC International, DEA, and internal compliance reviews.

Maintains awareness of evolving regulatory requirements, industry standards, and best practices related to laboratory animal science and animal welfare.

Identifies operational risks and training gaps and collaborates with leadership to develop and implement mitigation strategies.

Communicates operational issues, compliance concerns, and training program performance to site leadership as appropriate.

Vivarium Access and Facility Administration

Coordinates vivarium access requests, verifies training prerequisites, assigns required training, and conducts facility orientation programs.

Maintains accurate records associated with access authorization and training compliance.

Learning Systems Administration

Administers Comparative Medicine training curricula, training matrices, onboarding programs, and training assignments.

Serves as Global Super Administrator for the AALAS Learning Library, including user administration, training assignments, compliance monitoring, annual renewals, reporting, and stakeholder communications.

Supports maintenance and continuous improvement of training content and learning management processes.

Document and SOP Management

Coordinates review, revision, and publication of Comparative Medicine SOP procedures and related controlled documents.

Supports document governance activities, including version control, change management, and publication through approved quality systems.

Partners with subject matter experts to ensure procedures remain current, accurate, and compliant with applicable regulations and organizational standards.

Global Program Coordination

the person in this position supports exceptional programming globally through activities that may include but are not limited to:

• Develops and maintains external partnerships with institutions, vendors, industry groups and other stakeholders to advance Comparative Medicine training objectives.
• Represents the organization in external consortia, professional associations, and industry forums, contributing to the development and adoption of best practices, emerging standards, and innovative training approaches.
• Supports and coordinates global training initiatives, including outreach and in‑reach programs, to expand the reach, accessibility, and impact of the comparative medicine training function,
• Facilitates and leads cross‑functional working groups focused on evaluating, adapting and incorporating industry innovations, emerging practices and external insights into the global training curriculum.
• Leads and/or organizes cross‑site training programs and workshops to build consistent capability and knowledge sharing across the global network.
• Identifies opportunities to harmonize training approaches across sites and regions while encouraging the adoption of continuous improvement practices and innovative learning solutions

Additional Responsibilities

Serves as a member of the Post Approval Monitoring (PAM) Committee.

Maintains Comparative Medicine distribution lists and communication resources.

Supports special projects, process improvement initiatives, and other operational activities as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of relevant experience; Master’s degree with 3+ years of relevant experience.

Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary laboratory animal science programs and animal welfare regulations.

Minimum of 2 years of experience developing, coordinating, and delivering classroom, technical, and hands‑on training programs.

Experience supporting laboratory animal research operations, vivarium management, training programs, or regulatory compliance activities.

Knowledge of laboratory animal care and use programs, research procedures, animal welfare regulations, and institutional oversight processes.

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse stakeholder groups.

Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a regulated environment.

AALAS Certification, RLATG or higher preferred

Ability to collaborate effectively across global time zones and travel between sites as business needs require.

Preferred Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Laboratory Animal Science, Animal Science, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or related scientific discipline.

Extensive experience delivering technical and hands‑on training in laboratory animal science, research operations, or a related field.

Experience evaluating trainee competency and maintaining compliant training documentation.

Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) designation.

Compensation Range

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.

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.

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.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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 only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html