Associate Director, Discovery Portfolio Management Strategic Planner, Discovery

AbbVie•Cambridge, MA

9h•$141,500 - $268,500•Hybrid

About The Position

This role supports Discovery Portfolio Management by providing strategic oversight, portfolio analytics, and actionable insights across external studies and related initiatives. The position is responsible for evaluating portfolio composition, monitoring execution performance, and measuring key KPIs such as cycle time, success rates, throughput, and other indicators of portfolio health. The role partners across functions to support prioritization, governance, and continuous improvement through strong analysis, communication, and executive-level presentation skills.

Requirements

BS & 10+ years, MS & 7+ years, PHD & 5+ years industry experience in Drug Discovery, ideally within a biotech or pharmaceutical company.
Strong background in portfolio analysis, project management, operations, or related scientific/business discipline.
Understanding of operational strategies for early-stage drug discovery programs’ evolution through the drug development lifecycle.
Demonstrated ability to analyze data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Experience measuring and reporting KPIs, with exposure to cycle time, success rate, and portfolio performance metrics preferred.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create executive-level presentations and slides.
Ability to work effectively across functions and influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to resolve complex scientific, technical, analytical, and business issues.

Responsibilities

Develop data-driven insights and recommendations to support Discovery Research operations and leadership decision-making, including portfolio prioritization, governance, and operational decision-making.
Serve as a strong communicator and writer, developing clear summaries, leadership updates, and executive-level slides and presentations.
Synthesize complex scientific, technical, analytical, and business issues into concise, actionable insights.
Anticipate challenges and recommend proactive strategies to address portfolio, operational, and business needs.
Balance quality, timing, budget, and strategic considerations to support high-impact decisions across the portfolio.
Analyze portfolio composition and performance to identify trends, gaps, risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
Track, interpret, and report key KPIs, including cycle time, success rates, throughput, budget performance, and other relevant portfolio metrics.
Investigate functional pain points and propose practical solutions, supporting or leading implementation efforts as needed.
Partner effectively across functions and with indirect authority to align stakeholders and drive execution.
Leverage external intelligence related to technologies, tools, and competitors to inform portfolio strategy and identify opportunities for innovation.