Job DescriptionOverviewAs the scientific thought leader for AbbVie's Respiratory Discovery Research team, the Director, Respiratory Discovery Disease Team (DDT) Lead is tasked with building a vision and team to develop translational immunology insights to drive an exemplary pipeline for the Respiratory disease area. The Director is responsible for defining and implementing a cross-functional strategy aimed at breaking efficacy ceilings for Asthma and COPD. This work involves close collaboration with functions such as Business Development, Precision Medicine, Clinical Development, and Commercial. Under the Director's scientific vision and leadership, the Respiratory Discovery team is expected to generate compelling, data-driven rationales, including developing disease-relevant human complex in vitro models, that support the central role of target pathways. The team aims to build data packages that support the portfolio advancement of innovative molecules into First-In-Human (FIH) studies in respiratory diseases.
Beyond leading the Respiratory Discovery team and driving the development of a Respiratory pipeline and strategy, the Director II is broadly responsible for Immunology Discovery Research. The Respiratory Discovery team is responsible for delivering key data to projects across all phases of drug discovery and utilizing different modalities, such as small molecules, biologic molecules, peptides, and genetic medicine therapies.
This leadership position requires a deep understanding of immunology, with a focus on lung biology, in vivo and complex in vitro model systems, and pharmacology.
Responsibilities - In this role, the Director acts as both a program and people leader, focusing on supporting key portfolio program milestones, driving the identification of novel targets through partnerships with multiple functional teams and external collaborators, promoting technical excellence in Respiratory Discovery Research, and contributing to the strategic direction of the Respiratory DDT.
- The role involves leading and implementing drug discovery pipeline programs and evaluating and integrating external programs and academic collaborations into the pipeline, aligning with strategic core respiratory disease areas, with a potential extension into IPF.
- The individual will attract and lead a multidisciplinary team of approximately 15+ world-class scientists based at the Cambridge, MA research site.
- Additionally, they will leverage a global network within the research community to establish and direct multiple research collaborations with leading academic and biotech laboratories.
- This individual will join the Immunology DDT Leadership Team, sharing accountability for the success of the Immunology Pipeline at AbbVie.
- They will also provide scientific insights that advance compelling opportunities through the pipeline, including accessing appropriate cellular and animal models, selecting optimal translational strategies, and introducing new technologies.
- The individual will advise on and share accountability for transitions across major drug discovery and development milestones, evaluate the scientific merits of potential biotechnology alliances, extract value from AbbVie's participation in public-private consortia, consider and evaluate both internal pipeline and external licensing opportunities, and guide AbbVie's research alliances and collaboration efforts across defined areas of diseases.
Qualifications- MD/PhD, PhD or MS in related field
- ~12+ years of experience in Immunology Drug Discovery with specific research interests focused on chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in the Respiratory area.
- Demonstrated passion and drive to translate molecular genotyping and phenotyping into pathway and target identification and validation using various pharmacological approaches
- Prior pharmaceutical/biotech industry experience including the advancement of innovative new approaches to early development is required
- Track record of impacting disease understanding and portfolio through implementation of innovative disease model approaches
- An extensive network of connections with leading investigators in the global science field actively supporting open exchange of expert opinions and visions of technology.
- Track record of attracting, retaining and developing talent with previous extensive people leadership experience
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience in interacting with executive-level management
- The ability to achieve results in accordance with a research plan and timelines without formal authority in a cross-disciplinary academic/industrial environment
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.
