Chief of Staff, Global R&D Portfolio Strategy

AbbVie Inc.; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Long-term incentive programs

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. is seeking a Chief of Staff to partner with the VP of Global Portfolio Strategy, R&D Aesthetics, to drive and implement the organization’s vision.

The role leads strategic and operational planning, provides recommendations to support corporate goals, and ensures effective responses to evolving priorities. You will coordinate cross-functional initiatives across R&D Aesthetics and other Chiefs of Staff, enable business impact through leadership, stakeholder management, and execution

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (BSc/MSc/PhD/MBA) in a scientific or business-related field; significant industry experience (PhD: 10+ yrs, MSc: 12+ yrs, BSc: 13+ yrs) in Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, or Healthcare sectors.
• At least 5 years of expert-level operations management experience in a pharmaceutical or healthcare setting, with a proven track record of successful projects.
• Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills in complex, matrixed organizations.
• In-depth knowledge of pharmaceutical business operations, global project management, portfolio review, finance, and budgeting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to present and document complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Proven problem-solving ability with superior judgment and realistic understanding of business issues.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Chief of Staff, representing the VP’s views, priorities, and communications across the organization.
• Oversee strategic business initiatives from ideation to execution, including contingency planning and support for long-range planning (LRP) and resource mapping.
• Act as the finance liaison for budget planning, tracking, and management between the organization and Finance teams.
• Lead resource modeling to optimize workload and capacity, ensuring effective allocation across the team.
• Drive R&D/enterprise initiatives including process improvement, change management, and operational efficiency projects.
• Collect, analyze, and present key business information to leadership and stakeholders to inform decision-making and strategy to ensure successful governance interactions across the R&D portfolio.
• Develop and maintain effective cross-functional business relationships with internal departments (Finance, HR, Talent Acquisition, etc.), ensuring resources and expertise are leveraged appropriately.
• Organize and manage department communications and meetings, including planning, logistics, and governance forums.
• Collaborate on onboarding and professional development, culture enhancement, issue identification, and resolution in partnership with leadership.
• Track, forecast, and manage the department’s budget, providing strategic recommendations based on financial analysis.

Skills

Operations management

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Global project management

Finance & budgeting

Communication

Education

Advanced degree in science or business

Job description

AbbVie Inc. is seeking a Chief of Staff to partner with the VP of Global Portfolio Strategy, R&D Aesthetics, to drive and implement the organization’s vision.

The role leads strategic and operational planning, provides recommendations to support corporate goals, and ensures effective responses to evolving priorities. You will coordinate cross-functional initiatives across R&D Aesthetics and other Chiefs of Staff, enable business impact through leadership, stakeholder management, and execution