Scientific Director / Senior Medical Director, US Medical Affairs-Rheumatology

AbbVie•Mettawa, IL

8h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Scientific Director / Senior Medical Director, Medical Affairs provides specialist medical and scientific strategic and operational input into core medical affairs activities for AbbVie’s Rheumatology RA/JIA/GCA Therapeutic Area. The role engages with healthcare professionals and providers; generates clinical and scientific data to enhance the therapeutic benefit and value of the RA asset; supports medical education, scientific communications, and value proposition initiatives; and safeguards patient safety through risk minimization and safety surveillance activities. The role works closely with sales, marketing, and commercial teams to provide strategic medical input into core brand strategies and to support medical affairs, marketing activities—including promotional material generation and product launches—and market access. It provides scientific and clinical expertise across studies and projects, coordinates cross-functional activities, supports scientific and regulatory discussions, and ensures program activities account for budgets, timelines, and compliance requirements. The position is based at AbbVie’s Mettawa, Illinois office and follows a hybrid schedule with three days per week onsite. The position level is commensurate with experience and education. Qualifications differ by level: Scientific Director candidates are expected to have an advanced PhD or PharmD degree and substantial pharmaceutical-industry and medical affairs experience; Senior Medical Director candidates are expected to have an M.D. or equivalent and relevant clinical trial or medical affairs experience.

Requirements

For the Scientific Director level: PhD or PharmD advanced degree.
For the Scientific Director level: 7–10 years of strong Medical Affairs capability, with a proven track record across data generation, scientific communications, KOL engagement, and cross-functional strategy.
For the Scientific Director level: typically 10–15 years of pharmaceutical-industry experience or equivalent.
For the Senior Medical Director level: M.D. degree or equivalent, including D.O. or a non-US equivalent of an M.D.
For the Senior Medical Director level: at least 2 years of clinical trial or Medical Affairs experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, or equivalent.
Knowledge of evidence-generation strategy, including real-world evidence, investigator-initiated and company-sponsored studies, and registries; brand strategy development; scientific communications development; medical insights; and promotional review.
Knowledge of clinical trial methodology, data analysis and interpretation, and regulatory requirements governing clinical trials; experience in development strategy and protocol design.
Proven leadership skills in a cross-functional global team environment.
Excellent oral and written English communication skills.

Nice To Haves

For the Scientific Director level: additional postdoctoral experience is highly preferred.
For the Senior Medical Director level: a relevant therapeutic specialty in an academic or hospital environment is preferred.
For the Senior Medical Director level: completion of residency and/or fellowship is preferred.
For the Senior Medical Director level: 3 or more years of clinical trial or Medical Affairs experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Initiate medical affairs activities and generate and disseminate data supporting the overall scientific strategy.
Provide Medical Affairs input into the design, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of the scientific content of protocols, Investigator Brochures, Clinical Study Reports, and regulatory submissions and responses.
Oversee Medical Affairs-led clinical studies, monitor overall study integrity, and review, interpret, and communicate accumulating safety and efficacy data.
As SD Study Lead, oversee study enrollment and timelines for key deliverables.
Provide in-house clinical expertise for the molecule and disease, coordinating scientific activities with internal stakeholders for ongoing clinical projects.
Participate in due diligence or other business development activities as required.
Partner with Discovery colleagues on the design and implementation of translational strategies as program needs require.
Act as a clinical interface and solicit opinions through leader interactions related to the molecule and disease area.
Partner with Medical Affairs, Commercial, and other functions to incorporate broad cross-functional perspectives into Clinical Development Plans and protocols, consistent with corporate policies.
Assist with developing scientifically accurate marketing materials, medical education programs, advisories, and symposia.
Support the scientific review, development, approval, execution, and communication of affiliate, area, and global Medical Affairs-sponsored or supported clinical research activities.
Coordinate scientific and medical activities with internal stakeholders, including commercial, clinical operations, discovery, statistics, and regulatory teams, for ongoing Medical Affairs projects.
Serve as the scientific team interface for key regulatory discussions.
Provide scientific and medical education to investigators, clinical monitors, and Global Project Team members on therapeutic-area or disease-specific information.
Keep abreast of professional information and technology through conferences and medical literature and serve as a therapeutic-area resource.
Ensure budgets, timelines, and compliance requirements are factored into programs’ scientific activities.