Associate Scientific Director, Global Medical Affairs - Oncology

The Associate Scientific Director, Global Medical Affairs leads strategic and tactical projects across Oncology assets and indications leading to the optimization of scientific communications and external stakeholder relations of the Oncology Global Medical Affairs – GMA team, in alignment with GMA and Oncology TA priorities and plans. This role serves as an asset-agnostic Oncology Therapeutic Area -TA member leading cross-portfolio HCP engagement and external stakeholder group strategies, initiatives, and tactics. Provides specialist medical/scientific strategic and operational input into core medical affairs activities such as: health-care professional/provider interactions (Payers, Patients, Prescribers, Providers); internal and external educational initiatives (medical education, evidence generation, internal communication/training, and value proposition).

In addition, the Associate Scientific Director:

• Ensures internal strategic and tactical, alignment and coordination across Medical and cross-functional teams; Works closely with other Medical Oncology teams (TA team, Area team and Medical Program Management – MPM team), as well as Commercial, Development, Access, HEOR and other teams to provide strategic medical input into core brand and cross-Oncology strategies, and to support medical/marketing activities (promotional material generation/product launches) and market access; Champion and collaborate in the development of cross-functional workstreams; cross-TA strategies as per AbbVie’s Corporate strategic imperatives; Facilitates the engagement of all critical cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., OEC/Legal) to enable consistent, high value ways of working and clear communication on roles and responsibilities.
• Delivers strategic and scientific presentations; develops and maintains professional and credible relationships with external experts and stakeholder groups; actively participate in relevant Brand Team meetings and helps in the development of medical affairs strategies for oncology assets; provide relevant scientific and technical training.

Major responsibilities include:

• Strategy:
  • Support development and implementation of the pan-Oncology Scientific Communication strategic/tactical plans. Provide medical/ scientific expertise, and partner with MPM team who provides project management expertise for delivering strategies, initiatives, and tactics
  • Support development of Oncology Innovations strategic plan and implementation; identify, propose solutions and best practices, and ensure appropriate communication within respective teams
• Scientific communications and medical education
  • Lead and/or support medical strategic and tactical planning, coordination and implementation of Oncology cross-TA scientific communication projects including Congresses (e.g., EHA), stand-alone Medical Education initiatives (e.g., ECHO Summits and Preceptorships), Future Fit initiatives (e.g., Omni-channel, Compelling Content, Reconnecting Patients to Care, and Digital Transformation), dissemination of data, independent medical education and other projects as needed.
  • May support development of scientifically accurate medical and commercial materials, medical education programs, advisory boards, symposia and GMI for purposes of developing relevant and scientifically accurate content
  • Assist with the scientific review, development, approval, execution, and communication of affiliate/area/global medical affairs in field engagement activities
• HCP engagement and external group partnerships
  • Lead development and implementation of the pan-Oncology external stakeholder strategic/tactical plans, including HCP engagement and external stakeholder group partnership initiatives; work closely with other medical teams (GMA TA, Area/Affiliate, MPM and Medical Excellence) and Cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and coordination of priorities, strategies, initiatives, tactics, processes and tools.
  • Develop innovative processes and tools that support optimization of HCP engagement and external stakeholder group partnerships; Consistently demonstrate adherence to compliance requirements and look for ways to improve effectiveness and efficiencies
  • May act as a single point of contact for logistical needs for prioritized external experts who engage in group and individual activities with Abbvie GMA Oncology Team; support through face-to-face, virtual, and other interactions as feasible/practicable; lead coordination with other Abbvie teams to ensure effective, efficient and compliant centralized management of logistical activities; develop and maintain trackers, KPI’s, data analytics and reporting
  • May assist as consultant and liaison with other corporations when working under licensing agreements and/or in the evaluation of new business development opportunities.
  • May represent AbbVie at external meetings including investigator meetings, scientific association meetings
  • Travel required to manage prioritized EE and stakeholder group engagements and support of key congresses
• Cross functional collaboration
  • Supports cross-Oncology medical communication alignment and coordination, and cross-functional medical representations as needed.
  • Interactions normally require the ability to gain cooperation of others, conduct presentations of technical information concerning specific projects and schedules, etc.
  • May interact with and coordinates appropriate scientific and medical activities with internal stakeholders (i.e. commercial, clinical operations, discovery, statistics, regulatory, etc.) as they relate to on-going medical affairs projects.
  • Collaborate with Business Services Group (BSG) Engagement Specialist and OEC on requests for logistical compliance approvals and deviations prior to any engagement with the EE. Participate in relevant meetings with activity owners, meeting planners, and suppliers.
  • Maintains relationship with similar functions across other non-Oncology TAs (e.g., Immunology, Neuroscience) to leverage on their experience and secure free exchange of information and best practices, across GMA.
• Process, coordination, and tactical implementation
  • Can address complex problems within discipline or across several projects.  Exercises judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining solutions.  Works on complex problems in which analysis of situation or data requires an in-depth evaluation of various complex factors.
  • Accountable for escalating issues, as appropriate.
  • Identify process gaps and provide feedback to ensure continuous improvement; must be able to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
  • Keep abreast of professional information and technology through conferences and/or medical literature and acts as a therapeutic area resource
  • Ensure budgets, timelines, compliance requirements are factored into programs' scientific activities. 

• Advanced Degree PhD, PharmD, PA, NP highly preferred. Residency or additional post doctorate experience highly preferred.
• At least 8 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry or equivalent; substantial understanding of relevant therapeutic area required.
• Knowledge of clinical trial methodology, regulatory requirements governing clinical trials and experience in the design of protocols preferred.
• Ability to interact externally and internally to support global business strategy. Must possess excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Works with some supervision and guidance but must also be able to work independently
• Exercises judgment within well-defined practices and policies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility and adapt to rapidly changing business needs, including handling other tasks & projects and to handle other tasks as assigned.