Job DescriptionThe Director, Global Study Start-Up (SSU), Neuroscience is accountable for leading study start-up strategy, talent, and execution across the Neuroscience portfolio. This role oversees Study Startup Leads and drives consistent, high-quality delivery of global start-up milestones through strong talent leadership, proactive risk management, standardized and continuously improved processes, and scaled adoption of AI-enabled ways of working. The Director serves as a key business partner across Clinical Study Leadership, Regulatory, Clinical Site Management, and other stakeholders to accelerate study activation while maintaining compliance.
Also open to hiring out of AbbVie global offices in EMEA and Intercon
Responsibilities
1. Talent Leadership & Organizational Capability
- Lead, develop, and retain Study Start-Up Leads, fostering a high-performance culture grounded in enterprise thinking, accountability, and continuous development.
- Build organizational capability and AI fluency within the team to accelerate study start-up execution, improve decision-making, and scale more efficient ways of working.
- Partner with Business Technology and functional leaders to identify, pilot, and scale AI-enabled tools and digital solutions that enhance study start-up planning, execution, reporting, and team effectiveness.
- Drive training and capability development strategies, including oversight of SOPs, job aids, and work instructions, in partnership with SSU Area Heads.
2. Study Start-Up Execution & Delivery
- Own Neuroscience SSU portfolio performance, ensuring delivery against study start-up milestones, timelines, quality expectations, and business priorities.
- Anticipate, identify, and mitigate portfolio risks, capacity constraints, and execution challenges to improve predictability and delivery performance.
- Maintain a deep understanding of Neuroscience assets, study requirements, and portfolio priorities to inform planning, escalation, and execution decisions.
3. Governance, Metrics & Compliance
- Establish and lead SSU KPIs, dashboards, and performance reporting that drive transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.
- Translate performance data and trend insights into actionable recommendations that improve portfolio execution and operational effectiveness.
- Ensure consistent adherence to corporate policies, ICH/GCP standards, and global regulatory requirements across all SSU activities.
4. Process Standardization & Continuous Improvement
- Drive harmonization and standardization of SSU processes, tools, and best practices across areas.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives leveraging data, lessons learned, and benchmarking.
- Embed a culture of operational excellence and efficiency across the SSU function.
5. Cross-Functional Leadership & Strategic Alignment
- Partner with Clinical Study Leadership, Clinical Site Management, Regulatory, and other stakeholders to enable seamless study start-up delivery.
- Influence and align cross-functional priorities, timelines, and resource strategies.
Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree required, degree in health care or scientific field preferred
- A minimum of 10 years of global study start up and clinical project management experience and 6+ years of people management experience
- Proven leadership skills in a cross-functional global team environment, experience in managing remote/virtual teams, and an ability to influence and align stakeholders, while modeling and driving AbbVie's leadership attributes.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills and the ability to evaluate complex issues from multiple perspectives and drive smart decision making.
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and communicate persuasively and with clarity, flexibility and adaptability to changing requirements.
- Expertise in drug development, operations and resource/budget planning across global geographies
- Demonstration of successful start up execution and aptitude for managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Advanced working knowledge of ICH and GCP guidelines and operational understanding of the global regulatory environment
Key Stakeholders
Clinical Development, Clinical Program Development, Global Site Contracting & Purchasing and Supplier Management, Area and Affiliate Regulatory, Clinical Trial Submissions Group, Legal, Safety, OEC, Clinical Documentation Center, Global Medical Affairs
Additional InformationApplicable 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.
