Strategic Initiatives Director — Global Programs

AbbVie; Illinois; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives to lead enterprise-level initiatives within Clinical Development Operations. You will shape strategy, align cross-functional teams, and translate priorities into executable roadmaps with defined funding, milestones, and success measures.

You will partner with executive sponsors, build compelling business cases, and manage governance, delivery, and performance across global teams, ensuring measurable value and sustained operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required, preferably in scientific, business, healthcare, operational, or related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Typically 8+ years of experience in pharmaceutical industry, drug development, clinical operations, strategy, or related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives in a global matrixed organization.
• Strong ability to translate strategy into executable plans with measurable outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives: end-to-end leadership for complex, high-priority initiatives from strategy to delivery.
• Develop initiative strategy and approach with executive sponsors and functional leaders.
• Translate strategy into execution: roadmaps, milestones, and resource requirements.
• Define funding and resource needs and align investments with priorities.
• Provide cross-functional leadership across CDO and R&D functions.
• Strengthen business cases with rationale, value, and risks.
• Drive governance and executive decision-making with concise progress updates.
• Manage overall delivery and address barriers, dependencies, and escalations.
• Adapt strategy based on evolving objectives and stakeholder dynamics.
• Measure impact and sustain outcomes with value milestones and operational integration.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive communication

Program management

Governance

Financial/resource planning

Problem solving

Influencing senior leaders

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

AbbVie is seeking an Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives to lead enterprise-level initiatives within Clinical Development Operations. You will shape strategy, align cross-functional teams, and translate priorities into executable roadmaps with defined funding, milestones, and success measures.

You will partner with executive sponsors, build compelling business cases, and manage governance, delivery, and performance across global teams, ensuring measurable value and sustained operations.