Director, Biologics Analytical

AbbVie Inc.; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. in the United States is seeking a Director of Biologics Analytical within Product Development Science & Technology.

You will lead global analytical activities for NBEs, mAbs, ADCs, and gene therapies, guiding method development, validation, and technology transfer to support clinical and commercial programs. The role requires a track record of strategic leadership, regulatory interactions, and driving scientific innovations across biotech disciplines.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s with pharma/biotech leadership experience.
• Proven ability to lead a CMC development organization (analytical development, drug substance, parenteral).
• Analytical method development, transfer and troubleshooting for biologics; NDA/BLA experience.
• Extensive regulatory knowledge and interactions with agencies; NDA/BLA responsibilities.
• Cross-disciplinary expertise across analytical control strategies, formulation, QA, and supply chain.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and strategic direction for analytical and pharmaceutical science groups.
• Defines and communicates analytical strategies for mAbs, multi-specifics, and ADCs.
• Partners with manufacturing and QC for process modernization and quality controls.
• Directs development, validation, and transfer of analytical methods supporting pipeline and lifecycle management.
• Leads collaboration with regulatory agencies for analytical development and regulatory filings.
• Oversees resources, timelines, and budget across programs; drives tech innovations.
• Fosters staff development and performance, ensuring scientific excellence.
• Interfaces with R&D and operations to align development strategies with drug programs.
• Evaluates internal and external collaborations to drive innovation.
• Ensures EH&S compliance for the group.

Skills

Leadership

Regulatory affairs

Analytical development

Biologics

NDA/BLA experience

People management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication skills

Education

PhD + 10+ yrs exp

Master's + 15+ yrs exp

Job description

Company 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.

Job Description

AbbVie Product Development Science & Technology – Biologics Analytical is a global analytical organization responsible for all CMC analytical activities related to the clinical development, commercialization, and on-market support of AbbVie's biological products. Our scope includes AbbVie's diverse pipeline of New Biological Entities (NBEs), including monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs), multispecific antibodies, Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADCs), and gene therapies and spans from clinical development to commercial product support. We are building a world-class team of scientists and leaders who will drive the advancement of industry-leading analytical capabilities and make meaningful contributions to advance AbbVie's pipeline of innovative medicines and ensure the commercial manufacturing success.

The Director will ensure that all analytical deliverables are achieved within set timelines, budgets, and regulatory frameworks, while seamlessly integrating analytical and program strategies into broader business objectives. You will drive top-tier analytical method development and validation strategies, implementation of new technologies and automation. You will establish collaborative and productive working relationships with key partner organizations to define successful process development strategies. The Director will effectively manage interfaces to ensure seamless transition of research programs into late-stage clinical development and technology transfers to commercial manufacturing and testing sites.

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership, strategic guidance and talent development for groups of highly skilled analytical and pharmaceutical scientists who are responsible for global development programs and commercial support across AbbVie global network.
• Defines and communicates industry-leading analytical strategies for mAbs, multi-specifics, ADCs and other potential new modalities.
• Familiar with commercial manufacturing and QC testing and able to be a partner in strategic initiatives in the commercial space for modernization of manufacturing and quality controls.
• Responsible for development, validation and transfer of analytical methods to support pipeline development and product life cycle management aligned with the strategies.
• Establishes industry-leading analytical capabilities to support CMC process development, technology transfer and post-approval changes.
• Solves difficult and highly complex technical issues in an evolving regulatory landscape.
• Balances resources, resolves issues and achieves target timing for pipeline projects and key strategic initiatives.
• Ensures scientific excellence and fosters functional, scientific, and professional development of staff.
• Leads interactions with regulatory agencies in analytical development area and delivers regulatory filing packages.
• Manages and develops scientific talent across multiple disciplines and/or projects to address current and future business needs.
• Drives technical excellence and innovations in science that improve the capabilities and productivity of the organization.
• Works collaboratively across R&D and Operations to align and influence a broad range of development strategies that directly support drug development programs.
• Identifies, evaluates, and proposes both internal and external collaborations to drive scientific innovation and shared learning.
• Accountable for compliance with Environmental Health and Safety regulations for the group.

Qualifications

• PhD with at least 10 years of relevant pharma/biotech industry experience or master’s degree with at least 15 years of pharma/biotech experience.
• Proven experience leading a CMC development organization, such as analytical development, drug substance, parenteral and/or combination products with a range of experience levels and scientific disciplines.
• Skilled in analytical method development, validation, transfer and troubleshooting for biologics. Familiar with extended characterization to evaluate critical quality attributes (CQAs), assess process changes, and prove biosimilarity.
• In depth knowledge in relevant regulations, interactions with regulatory agencies, and deep NDA and BLA experience with major responsibilities.
• Extensive experience and solid understanding of the various scientific disciplines, including analytical control strategies, formulation development, regulatory filings, manufacturing, Quality Assurance (QA), and supply chain.
• Demonstrated record of success leading strategic initiatives and new technology evaluation/implementation.
• Track record on people management experience and leading matrix teams.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience in motivating and maintaining positive morale of highly skilled technical individuals and teams in an environment where compliance with standard procedures is required.
• Strong negotiating, influencing, and leadership skills.

Additional Information

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