Principal Research Scientist II, Drug Product Development Full-time

Principal Research Scientist II/Associate Director

The Drug Product Design and Development (DPDD) group within the Synthetic Molecule CMC organization at AbbVie is responsible for the design and development of drug products that enable the delivery of AbbVie's candidate synthetic molecules in dosage forms to support various stages of clinical evaluation, from proof of concept to pivotal studies and life cycle innovation. DPDD collaborates with cross functional teams to devise an integrated and phase appropriate drug product development strategy, design and execute studies to develop bioavailable, stable and manufacturable drug products, and ensure timely delivery of clinical supplies. DPDD is also accountable for optimizing formulation and manufacturing processes to develop commercializable drug products for Phase 3 clinical studies, meeting the needs of the patients we serve and ensuring consistent production of high-quality drug products.

AbbVie's DPDD organization is seeking a highly motivated and accomplished technical leader for a Principal Research Scientist II/Associate Director position to join our team in North Chicago, IL. The successful candidate will have deep experience in drug product development and a strong track record of scientific and strategic impact. In this role, the candidate will drive the systematic assessment of the external formulation landscape to complement AbbVie's internal capabilities, support key pipeline areas, and advance drug delivery technology priorities. The candidate will also support scientific due diligence activities for the drug product development organization. The candidate will play a crucial role within dynamic, engaging, and cross functional teams with the ability to apply expertise to advise teams and drive innovation. The candidate is expected to foster productive collaborations and demonstrate effective written and verbal communication with scientific teams and senior CMC management.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct scientific and competitive landscaping to identify innovations in formulation sciences and drug delivery for synthetic molecules.
• Evaluate external opportunities and internal options based on technical fitness and high-level business criteria, in close collaboration with senior leaders and subject matter experts.
• Create and maintain a structured framework of external landscape and technologies, generate proposals, and partner with internal teams to prioritize concepts for feasibility assessment.
• Engage internal stakeholders to review the identified options and assess fitness for purpose across pipeline needs and technology priorities.
• Prepare clear, concise materials for presentation to leadership and senior AbbVie stakeholders to support alignment on priority opportunities and next steps.
• Liaise with related business units and other partners on joint initiatives, ensuring transparency and coordination effective execution across efforts.
• Provide regular updates to management on the status of potential opportunities and ongoing feasibility activities and key risks or decision points.
• Proactively advises and shares knowledge and expert opinions with peers and senior management to share strategy and decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable AbbVie policies, procedures, corporate standards, code of conduct, safety, and GxP requirements.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. (8+ yr experience), Master (14+ yr experience) or Bachelors (16+ yr experience) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Material Sciences or related field.
• Drug product development experiences spanning multiple phases of development (e.g., from pre-clinical through late stage) and across diverse therapeutic areas and/or modes of delivery.
• Demonstrated track of record of solving complex technical problems and championing new technologies to drive changes in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex scientific and technical information into clear, structured assessments and recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing materials for leadership audiences.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across functional teams and stakeholders

Preferred:

• Experience contributing to technical due diligence, external technology evaluations, or business development assessments.
• Familiarity with basic business concepts related to opportunity evaluation (e.g., high‑level value drivers, risk/benefit trade‑offs).
• Exposure to finance, licensing, or contract scoping activities, or an MBA/business coursework.
• Experience with project management tools, dashboards, or portfolio reporting for R&D programs.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, prioritize, and help implement process or business improvements.

Key Competencies:

• Deliver business results while also positioning AbbVie for long-term success.
• Build strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of team to enable higher performance.
• Learn fast, grasps the “essence”, and can change course quickly where indicated.
• Raise the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
• Create a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Embrace the ideas of others, nurtures innovation and manages innovation to reality.

Additional Information:

• 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 short-term incentive programs.

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.