Director, AI External Innovation and Partnerships

Role Summary

The Director of AI External Innovation and Partnerships will leverage their expertise at the intersection of AI and biopharmaceuticals to support strategic partnerships and business development efforts that drive external innovation at AbbVie. This position focuses on identifying and implementing AI-centric partnerships and collaborations that enhance AbbVie’s AI/ML capabilities and pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Drive the overall strategies and tactics for identifying, assessing, and partnering with AI-driven drug discovery companies, technology firms, and venture firms that align with AbbVie’s AI strategy.
• Lead due diligence efforts for a range of AI-related deals, including AI technology assessments, market analysis, and risk evaluations.
• Work with key stakeholders and cross-functional teams to drive and ensure effective communication, efficient decision-making, and completion of AI/ML-related partnerships/deals in a timely manner.
• Integrate input from various functional areas across the organization to create high quality, clear, and decision-enabling technical assessments, due diligence reports and presentations with recommendations to AbbVie’s Executive Management team of partnership opportunities in the AI/ML space.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging AI trends and advancements in biopharma to inform strategic decision-making.
• Develop and maintain a strong network of AI experts, thought leaders, and innovators to ensure AbbVie remains at the forefront of AI developments.
• Proactively participate and represent AbbVie in industry forums, conferences, and consortia to strengthen external engagement and visibility in AI innovation.

Qualifications

• Degree fields: Computer Science, Statistics, Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence, Physics, Mathematics, Computational Chemistry, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or a related discipline.
• Bachelor’s: 10+ years of relevant experience, including in AI/ML applications in life sciences or healthcare OR
• Master’s: 9+ years of relevant experience, including in AI/ML applications in life sciences or healthcare OR
• PhD: 5+ years of relevant experience, including in AI/ML applications in life sciences or health.
• Demonstrated project management and leadership skills to lead/manage cross functional teams in evaluating partnering opportunities and producing high quality due diligence reports.
• Ability to drive projects to deliver timely results and follow through on internal and external commitments.
• Exemplary written and oral communication skills with the ability to bridge technical and business perspective.
• Strong existing network and networking skills to reach out to a broad range of industry decision makers to keep abreast of emerging opportunities in AI.
• Demonstrated negotiation and influencing skills with diverse groups of stakeholders in a partnership setting to creatively solve problems with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen and ability to drive well-informed, fact-based decision making.
• Management consulting experience at a Top-Tier consulting firm a plus.