Associate Director, Biomarker Program Management

About the role

The Precision Medicine (PMed) Immunology and Neuroscience organization at AbbVie uses advanced methods to discover biomarkers and implement translational strategies to advance AbbVie's innovative Immunology and Neuroscience pipeline.

The Associate Director, Biomarker Program Management, leads a team within the Immunology and Neuroscience therapeutic area that connects science and operations to manage biomarker research for multiple Phase 1-3 clinical trials. This role provides vision for operational and logistical strategies to ensure clinical trials are executed with quality and efficiency, on-time, within budget, and meet objectives.

The Associate Director achieves these objectives via scientific expertise, strategic thinking, a global mindset, team building and cross-functional collaboration. This role can be based in North Chicago, IL, Waltham, MA, or South San Francisco, CA.

Responsibilities

• Lead team of Biomarker Project Managers and Sample Operations Managers to facilitate the implementation of PMed research into AbbVie clinical trials. Provide management and mentoring for team members; responsible for developing the expertise of team members. Set a positive and motivating work environment that encourages mutual respect, innovation, and accountability at all levels.
• Assign approved programs and trials to team members and ensure team members are resourced, trained, and employed to start up, manage and close clinical trials. This includes partnering with PMed Biomarker Leads and being responsible for editing clinical documents, sample management, data management, cross-functional teams, budget management and strategy documents. Programs are executed to meet required timelines, budgets, and regulatory requirements. May directly manage key clinical projects within PMed.
• Manage biomarker operations and logistics to support the clinical trial schedule. Proactively identify, resolve, mitigate, and/or escalate biomarker study-related risks and issues.
• Ensure vendors are managed per AbbVie procedures including selection, contract execution and management. Assist in the management of Oncology budgets, ensuring accurate projections are provided to Finance monthly, quarterly, and yearly, adjusting as appropriate to keep actual variances low.
• Help set Vision for Biomarker Program Management group that enables continuous improvement in processes and efficiency. Explore potential opportunities for expanding services and capabilities of BPM. Identify gaps and spearhead special development projects, as needed.
• Serve as liaison with leaders of cross-functional stakeholders within AbbVie. Responsible for collaborating with personnel in other Precision Medicine groups to drive consistency within and between groups.
• Apply and adhere to ICH/GCP, biosample storage procedures, biosample management best practices and ethical guidelines.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Ph.D. Degree with 8+ years project management, life science and/or clinical trial experience or Master's Degree with 10+ years project management, life science and/or clinical trial experience or Bachelor's Degree with 14+ years of project management, life science and/or clinical trial experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Expertise in MS Office applications including Excel, Word, Project and PowerPoint.
• Organization, attention to detail and effective time management with an ability to adapt to changing priorities. Excellent analytical and interpersonal skills. Experience interacting with various levels within the organization as well as vendors.
• Proven success in running meetings, working collaboratively in a cross-functional environment, and driving for success
• 3+ years of people management experience. Effective people management and leadership skills with a proven ability to foster team productivity and cohesiveness.
• Preferred:
• PMP certification desired.
• Competent in application of standard business procedures (standard operating procedures, International Conference on Harmonization {ICH}, Global Regulations, Ethics and Compliance)
• Experience working in a quality control and regulatory-rich environment. Experience holding meetings by teleconference and working with colleagues remotely.
• Scientific background and knowledge of biomarkers. Exposure to companion diagnostic development. Knowledge of image data and associated testing.
• Key Leadership Competencies:
• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functionally with partners outside of team to enable higher performance
• Learns fast, grasps the "essence," and can change course quickly when required
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality
• Thinks beyond the program being managed to the strategy and operations of the broader Precision Medicine organization and the Development division
• Act as a thought leader and mentor for team members; seek to develop the skillsets of others

Additional Information

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.
• 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 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.