JOB DESCRIPTION:Principal Field Clinical LeadThe Opportunity Within Abbott's Structural Heart business, our mission is to restore health and improve quality of life through innovative solutions for the treatment of structural heart disease. We are committed to developing technologies that improve patient outcomes, advance clinical practice, and provide meaningful benefits for physicians, healthcare systems, and the patients they serve.
As a global leader in transcatheter heart valve technologies, Abbott continues to invest in clinical research, physician education, and next-generation therapies that shape the future of structural heart interventions.
Abbott Structural Heart is seeking a highly experienced Principal Field Clinical Lead (FCL) to support pre-market and post-market Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) clinical studies within an assigned territory.
In this senior clinical role, the Principal FCL serves as a key partner to physicians, study investigators, research coordinators, and internal stakeholders to ensure successful clinical trial execution, exceptional patient outcomes, and high-quality clinical data.
The Principal FCSL functions as a clinical and procedural expert, providing physician education, procedural support, site management, enrollment strategy, and clinical trial leadership. This individual will also contribute to the development of future TAVI technologies by partnering with Clinical Affairs, Research & Development, Engineering, and Commercial teams to advance Abbott's structural heart portfolio.
Success in this role requires a deep understanding of structural heart disease, transcatheter valve therapies, clinical research operations, and physician training within Cath Lab and Hybrid Operating Room environments.
What You'll Work OnClinical Trial Leadership & Site Management
- Manage and develop strategic relationships with assigned clinical trial sites, investigators, and research teams.
- Support all phases of clinical trial execution, including site identification, qualification, activation, enrollment, monitoring, and study closeout activities.
- Collaborate with investigators and site personnel to maximize patient screening opportunities and achieve enrollment objectives.
- Identify enrollment barriers and implement solutions that improve patient recruitment and study performance.
- Maintain a comprehensive understanding of site capabilities, research infrastructure, and investigator interests to support Abbott's clinical evidence generation strategy.
- Facilitate communication between clinical sites and Abbott teams to ensure efficient study execution and issue resolution.
TAVI Clinical and Procedural Support
- Serve as a subject matter expert for Abbott's TAVI clinical programs and investigational technologies.
- Provide procedural guidance and technical support during investigational TAVI procedures.
- Support physicians and healthcare teams in procedural planning, device utilization, and study protocol adherence.
- Partner with commercial field teams when additional procedural expertise is required.
- Ensure proper application of study protocols and eligibility criteria for patient selection.
- Maintain expertise in current and emerging structural heart therapies, competitive technologies, and evolving treatment strategies.
Physician and Clinical Staff Education
- Design and deliver educational programs for physicians, research coordinators, physician assistants, nurses, and Cath Lab personnel.
- Train healthcare professionals on investigational devices, clinical protocols, procedural best practices, and study requirements.
- Develop educational content and presentation materials for:
- Investigator Meetings
- National and regional conferences
- Physician training programs
- Internal educational initiatives
- Serve as a trusted clinical resource for both internal and external stakeholders.
Clinical Evidence and Research Support
- Support the generation and dissemination of clinical evidence related to Abbott's TAVI portfolio.
- Effectively communicate clinical data, trial objectives, and evidence-based recommendations to healthcare professionals.
- Collaborate with Global Clinical Affairs and Medical Affairs teams to support ongoing and future research initiatives.
- Assist in identifying opportunities to improve study design, enrollment strategies, and overall trial performance.
- Promote diverse and representative patient enrollment across clinical trials.
Product Development and Innovation
- Partner with Engineering, Clinical Affairs, and Product Development teams to support next-generation TAVI platform development.
- Provide real-world clinical insights that inform product design enhancements and future innovation efforts.
- Participate in pre-clinical and clinical evaluations of emerging technologies.
- Assist in developing procedural best practices for new platform introductions and early-stage clinical evaluations, including:
- First-in-Human Studies
- Early Feasibility Studies
- IDE Clinical Trials
Leadership and Mentorship
- Mentor and develop less-experienced Field Clinical Leads.
- Share best practices and support the ongoing development of field clinical teams.
- Provide leadership across cross-functional projects and initiatives.
- Assist management with onboarding, coaching, and development of clinical personnel as needed.
- Identify opportunities for operational improvements and process standardization across the organization.
Compliance and Quality
- Conduct all activities in accordance with:
- FDA regulations
- Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines
- Company policies and procedures
- Quality system requirements
- Clinical study protocols
- Maintain all required certifications and training for assigned product lines and study processes.
- Ensure accurate and timely documentation and communication of clinical activities.
- Foster professional and collaborative relationships with customers, physicians, investigators, and internal partners
This position works closely with / Cross-functional Partnerships:
- Global Clinical Affairs (GCA)
- Medical Directors
- Program Management Teams
- Global Clinical Organization (GCO)
- Research & Development
- Engineering
- Marketing
- Medical Affairs
- Commercial Structural Heart Teams
The role also requires significant interaction with:
- Interventional Cardiologists
- Cardiac Surgeons
- Study Investigators
- Research Coordinators
- Cath Lab Staff
- Physician Assistants
- Nurse Practitioners
- Registered Nurses
Required QualificationsEducation
- Associate degree with 13+ years of relevant experience, or
- Bachelor's degree with 10+ years of relevant experience, or
- Master's degree or advanced degree with 5+ years of relevant experience.
Relevant disciplines include:
- Biological Sciences
- Health Sciences
- Nursing
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Research
- Other related healthcare or scientific fields
Experience
- Significant experience supporting implants and procedures involving complex transcatheter valve technologies.
- Extensive experience within a structural heart or transcatheter valve medical device organization.
- Previous experience providing physician and healthcare staff training on advanced cardiovascular procedures.
- Minimum of 4 years of clinical research experience, preferably within Field Clinical Affairs or Medical Device Clinical Operations.
- Strong understanding of:
- TAVI/TAVR procedures
- Clinical trial execution
- Cath Lab workflows
- Hybrid Operating Room environments
- Structural heart disease therapies
- Experience managing physician relationships and supporting high-volume clinical centers.
Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
- Deep clinical and procedural knowledge of structural heart therapies.
- Exceptional presentation and physician training skills.
- Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities.
- Ability to influence without direct authority.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organizational and project management abilities.
- Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating across cross-functional teams.
- Skilled at managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
- Ability to build credibility and trust with physicians, investigators, and internal stakeholders.
Travel Requirements
- Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% to 75%, including overnight travel as required. US and OUS
- Flexibility to support physician and customer needs outside standard business hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
Apply NowLearn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives: www.abbottbenefits.com
The base pay for this position is $99,300.00 - $198,700.00
In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
JOB FAMILY:Clinical Affairs / Statistics
DIVISION:SH Structural Heart
LOCATION:United States of America : Remote
ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:WORK SHIFT:Standard
TRAVEL:Yes, 75 % of the Time
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:Yes
SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Continuous standing for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday), Lift, carry, push or pull weights of more than 20 pounds/9 kilos on a regular/daily basis
