Antibody Drug Conjugate Project Director II, R&D

About AbbVie
AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women’s health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

Primary Job Function

Defines and leads overall Development Sciences strategy to accelerate learnings in antibody drug conjugates in a matrixed environment.  Identify and rapidly execute critical cross-functional experiments and activities to enable advancement of the ADC platform as well as multiple quality ADC drug candidates with strategies for further advancement. To achieve this, leads a multi-disciplinary team in a matrixed environment, with decision-making authority on platform strategies.  Represents platform team to area head, functional heads and other senior leaders, clearly communicating platform risks, understandings, status, and opportunities, and resource requirements.  Provides input as appropriate for development candidates to ensure success.

 

 

Core Job Responsibilities

Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures.

 

Primary responsibility is to advance understanding of ADC platform technologies through effective leadership of a matrixed, multi-disciplinary team coordinating with discovery, precision medicine, preclinical safety, DMPK-BA, CMC, and clinical development.  Advances must clearly demonstrate meaningful actionable understanding relative to current technology.  Accomplishes long and short-term project goals by identifying, justifying, and directing resources needed to deliver the project by working closely with functional leaders. Positions platform for early go/no go decisions and for seamless transition to discovery and clinical projects by developing optimal preclinical knowledge, assays, and models.  Expectation is that leader will work with platform and project teams to build comprehensive platform knowledge as programs move into the clinic. Independently identifies and/or engages internal/external expertise to troubleshoot key issues using appropriate processes. Stays current with relevant scientific advances and competitive landscape for project target and identifies, evaluates, and champions external opportunities that may advance the platform (e.g., academic relationships, compounds, new technologies, and new models).  Evaluates opportunities in partnership with Discovery and Development Sciences to expand opportunities of technology.  Has a strong understanding of how platforms and programs fit into the portfolio and are active in assisting Discovery and Development Sciences leadership in cross-portfolio activities.  Holds self accountable for performance; recognizes and rewards individual and team excellence. Balances platform advocacy with responsible resource stewardship and recommends stop or redirection when appropriate. Ensures alignment and implementation of understanding into program projects to impact advancement and success. Ensures scientific excellence across programs and platform in a safe environment that remains in compliance with EHS rules.  Mentors matrixed staff directly and through supervisors as appropriate in behaviors, approaches, best practices, and leadership ensuring that support and needs are aligned with deliverables.  Provides input through evaluation and due diligence activities on licensing candidates that support and ensure the portfolio is balanced.  Scrutinizes platform data in an unbiased manner. Appropriately communicates progress and supports development activities. Presents platform in a comprehensible unbiased manner to a variety of different audiences. Is recognized internally and externally as demonstrating sufficient knowledge of all relevant disciplines to facilitate timely execution of necessary studies.  Identifies and utilizes appropriate external experts and resources to advise and advance the project.

Qualifications

Position Accountability / Scope

Drives and communicates strategy, identifies and justifies resources, solves project or platform issues. Typically adheres to defined timelines and manages a matrixed, multi-disciplinary team. Engages internal/external experts in field. Operates within assigned budget. Represents team to functional heads and other senior leaders, clearly communicating status, issues and opportunities, and additional resource requirements. Drive an enterprise vision with a positive “can do” attitude, hands-on, with strong analytical and organizational skills and a strategic mindset.  Responsible to Development Sciences leadership and platform steering committee for delivery of platform goals and objectives.  Direct Development Sciences resources directly and indirectly to perform necessary studies. Has ability and authority to make executive decisions when necessary.

Has successfully demonstrated ability to manage in matrixed environment and influence internal resources to execute studies in a timely manner.  Identifies and utilizes appropriate external experts and resources to advise and advance the platform. Sits on relevant panels, and active participant in sharing future portfolio through participation in appropriate committees

 

Minimum Education

PhD or equivalent, managerial experience, 12+ Yrs postdoc/industry experience, MS/BS with equivalent experience. 

 

Minimum Experience / Training Required

The person will be should have extensive experience in discovery or non-clinical development involving targeted biologics such as therapeutic antibodies, antibody drug conjugates, and/or bispecific therapeutics.  Demonstrated excellence and success in leading one or more matrixed multidisciplinary programs to major milestones or a timely stop decision.  Strong organizational and problem-solving skills. 

Significant Work Activities
N/A
Travel
Yes, 10 % of the Time
Job Type
Experienced
Schedule
Full-time
Job Level Code
D
Equal Employment Opportunity
At AbbVie, we value bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop new and innovative solutions for patients. As an equal opportunity employer we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.