Principal Research Scientist II/ Associate Director- Eyecare

Allergan; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Long-term incentive programs

Paid time off

Job summary

AbbVie in Irvine, CA is seeking a Principal Research Scientist II / Associate Director to lead sterile liquid dosage form development for eyecare products. You will guide formulation, process development, regulatory readiness, and cross-functional collaborations to enable clinical supply and commercialization.

The role emphasizes scientific leadership, advanced CMC expertise, and the ability to manage CROs/CMOs while ensuring compliance with GLP/GMP and global regulatory standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Science related field with 16 years of related work; Master’s Degree Science or PharmD with 14 years of related work; PhD in Science or related field with 8 years of related work experience.
• Proven ability to innovate with a history of new or improved product releases.
• Interacts well with diverse groups within function and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Provide scientific and technical leadership for development of sterile liquid dosage forms and eyecare products, including formulation and analytical methods.
• Plan, direct, and execute formulation and process-development strategies for products for clinical trials and commercialization.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of global CMC submission requirements and GLP/GMP expectations; review technical documents and author technical memoranda and reports.
• Advance scientific excellence in sterile dosage-form formulation and process development through reports, publications, and regulatory filings.
• Collaborate with CROs and CMOs; manage outsourced development activities, timelines, and quality against regulatory requirements.
• Represent the department on CMC and project teams; coordinate with Manufacturing, Regulatory, Quality, Clinical Development, Marketing, and external partners.
• Interpret and apply global CMC regulatory requirements to development programs and regulatory submissions.
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports, communicating complex scientific information to technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Science related field

Master’s Degree Science or PharmD

PhD in Science or related field

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

The Principal Research Scientist II / Associate Director provides scientific, technical, and people leadership for the formulation and process development of sterile liquid dosage forms, with an emphasis on eyecare products. The role directs development activities for new chemical entities and life-cycle management programs from early research through clinical supply, technology transfer, regulatory submission, and commercialization. The candidate leads a team of scientists responsible for formulation, process, and associated analytical-method development.

Responsibilities:

• Provide scientific and technical leadership for the development of sterile liquid dosage forms and eyecare products, including formulation, associated analytical methods, and manufacturing processes. Apply Quality by Design principles and statistical experimental design and analysis to build product and process understanding and support robust development decisions.
• Plan, direct, and execute formulation and process-development strategies for new products intended for clinical trials and commercialization. Lead research in sterile product development to advance innovative products and life-cycle management opportunities.
• Develop and maintain current, in-depth knowledge of global CMC submission requirements and GLP/GMP expectations. Review internal and external technical documents and author technical memoranda, reports, patent applications, and scientific articles.
• Advance scientific excellence in sterile liquid dosage-form formulation and process development through high-quality technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, professional society participation, regulatory filings, and patents.
• Collaborate with CROs and CMOs specializing in sterile liquid dosage forms. Manage outsourced development activities, technical deliverables, timelines, and quality expectations in alignment with global regulatory requirements.
• Represent the department on CMC and project teams, partnering with Pharmaceutical Sciences functions, manufacturing sites, Process Chemistry, Toxicology, Regulatory Affairs, Quality, Clinical Development, Marketing, and external CROs and CMOs to achieve project objectives and timelines.
• Interpret and apply current global CMC regulatory requirements and guidance to development programs, technical documentation, regulatory submissions, and responses to health-authority questions in support of product registration.
• Lead, coach, and develop direct reports by setting priorities, providing timely feedback, supporting career development, and fostering scientific rigor, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and laboratory safety. Communicate complex scientific and business information clearly in written and oral formats to technical and nontechnical stakeholders

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Science related field with 16 years of related work; Master’s Degree Science or PharmD with 14 years of related work; PhD in Science or related field with 8 years of related work experience.
• Proven ability to innovate with a history of new or improved product releases.
• Interacts well with diverse groups within function and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven track record of developing and manufacturing sterile liquid dosage forms, demonstrated through approved products, successful regulatory submissions, technology transfers, patent applications, or other significant technical achievements. In-depth understanding of sterile liquid product development is required, including pharmaceutical formulation principles, manufacturing process development, technology transfer, and global CMC regulatory requirements.
• Experience managing technical development and manufacturing activities with CROs and CMOs specializing in sterile liquid dosage forms.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with management, co-workers and customers and work well in a team environment.
• Experience leading manufacturing process scale-up and technology transfer for sterile liquid dosage forms from development through commercial readiness.
• Experience applying Quality by Design principles and statistical experimental design and analysis, including the use of JMP or comparable statistical software, to formulation and process development.
• Working knowledge of characterization techniques used to assess critical quality attributes of sterile liquid dosage forms, together with comprehensive knowledge of raw-material properties and their effects on product performance, stability, processability, and manufacturability.
• Strong working knowledge of FDA, EMA, and ICH CMC guidance and GMP requirements, with demonstrated experience preparing or supporting global regulatory submissions.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including setting priorities, allocating work, monitoring progress against project timelines, coaching and developing scientific staff, resolving technical and operational issues, ensuring complete and accurate laboratory records, and promoting compliance with laboratory safety and quality requirements.

Additional Information

• 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.
• 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 long-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 employer 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.

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

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https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html