Senior Director, Global Study Start Up

AbbVie•Irvine, IL

About The Position

The Senior Director, Global Study Start-Up (SSU) leads study start-up strategy, talent, and execution across AbbVie’s portfolio. The role oversees the Global Study Startup group and drives consistent, high-quality delivery of global start-up milestones through talent leadership, proactive risk management, standardized and continuously improved processes, and adoption of AI-enabled ways of working. It partners with Clinical Study Leadership, Regulatory, Clinical Site Management, and other stakeholders to accelerate study activation while maintaining compliance. The position reports to the Vice President, Neuroscience Clinical Study Leadership and Global Study Start Up. The role defines the organization’s long-term vision, strategy, and operating model; establishes enterprise standards and governance; and leads organizational design, workforce strategies, and transformation initiatives. It provides strategic oversight of global portfolio start-up performance and advises senior Clinical Development and therapeutic area leaders on feasibility, activation strategy, resource allocation, and execution risk. It also champions digital modernization, represents Study Start-Up in enterprise forums, builds organizational capability and future leaders, and represents AbbVie in industry forums and strategic partnerships.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
At least 15 years of pharmaceutical clinical development experience, including significant global leadership responsibility within Study Start-Up, Clinical Operations, or related functions.
Demonstrated success leading large global organizations and complex matrix environments.
Proven experience developing organizational strategy and delivering transformational change at scale.
Track record of influencing executive leadership and driving enterprise-wide initiatives.
Expertise in global clinical development, study start-up strategy, regulatory environments, and portfolio management.
Experience leading digital transformation, AI adoption, automation initiatives, and operational excellence programs.
Strong financial, resource planning, workforce planning, and organizational design capabilities.
Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Advanced scientific or business degree.

Responsibilities

Define and execute the long-term vision, strategy, and operating model for the Global Study Start-Up organization.
Establish enterprise standards, governance, and performance expectations across therapeutic areas and geographies.
Drive organizational design and workforce strategies to meet current and future portfolio demands.
Lead transformation initiatives that improve scalability, efficiency, quality, and business impact.
Provide strategic oversight of study start-up performance across the global portfolio.
Advise senior Clinical Development and therapeutic area leaders on portfolio feasibility, activation strategy, resource allocation, and execution risk.
Drive portfolio-level decision-making through data-driven insights, predictive analytics, and scenario planning.
Champion modernization of study start-up through AI, automation, predictive analytics, and digital technologies.
Evaluate and scale emerging technologies, vendors, and innovative capabilities.
Represent Study Start-Up across governance forums and enterprise initiatives.
Influence enterprise priorities, organizational strategies, and ways of working that affect clinical development performance.
Build and sustain a high-performing leadership team through succession planning, talent development, and organizational effectiveness.
Develop future leaders and establish enterprise capability-building strategies.
Represent AbbVie in industry forums and strategic partnerships.
Monitor industry, regulatory, and competitive trends and translate insights into organizational strategy.