Director of CRO and Strategic Partnerships, Oncology Early Development
AbbVie
August 25, 2026
Remote friendly (Florham Park, NJ)
United States
$160,500 - $305,000 USD yearly
Clinical Research and Development
Purpose:
- Lead strategic and cross-functional partnerships across Oncology Early Development (OED), connecting external innovation, site networks, and emerging capabilities to OED priorities.
- Serve as business and operational lead for key partnerships (CRO relationships and OED preferred site network), driving process improvement, innovation adoption, and alignment.
- Shape the strategic partnership framework and lead global, complex cross-functional process and productivity improvement projects aligned to organizational objectives.
- Oversee the OED partnership portfolio (full-service CRO partnerships) and ensure sourcing business strategies define the value of procured services.
- Drive business priorities through partnership governance and cross-functional alignment; ensure efficient processes to meet business and relationship goals.
Responsibilities:
- Accountable for strategic partnerships within OED, including CRO relationships and preferred site network and other key vendors.
- Manage the OED preferred site network: strategy, site engagement, stakeholder management, content updates, and delivery of network ambitions.
- Support pilot-to-scale activities and operationalize innovation with innovation partners.
- Maintain relationships with strategic partners and senior leaders; act as primary vendor-to-OED contact and escalation point.
- Communicate progress/concerns and implement solutions for issues/risks impacting projects and processes.
- Influence cross-functional stakeholders across OED and AbbVie (e.g., Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, QA, CMC, Precision Medicine, Therapeutic Area Medical Directors).
- Oversee vendor performance using KPIs; establish and maintain OED partnership strategy and vendor health.
- Improve CRO partnership effectiveness via standardized governance, KPI/performance oversight, issue trend analysis, and proactive risk mitigation.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Master preferred).
- 12+ years clinical development experience; 6+ years working with global third-party vendors.
- Demonstrated leadership (including leading global teams) and people management/coaching (remote preferred).
- Strong cross-functional partnership, communication, and leadership across organizations.
- Subject matter expert in standard business/clinical trial procedures (oversight, contracts, SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics/compliance).
- Critical thinker; strong written/oral communication.
- Ability to craft business cases, influence stakeholders, and drive long-term strategy.
Benefits (if applicable):
- Paid time off; medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k) to eligible employees; eligible for long-term incentive programs.
- Lead strategic and cross-functional partnerships across Oncology Early Development (OED), connecting external innovation, site networks, and emerging capabilities to OED priorities.
- Serve as business and operational lead for key partnerships (CRO relationships and OED preferred site network), driving process improvement, innovation adoption, and alignment.
- Shape the strategic partnership framework and lead global, complex cross-functional process and productivity improvement projects aligned to organizational objectives.
- Oversee the OED partnership portfolio (full-service CRO partnerships) and ensure sourcing business strategies define the value of procured services.
- Drive business priorities through partnership governance and cross-functional alignment; ensure efficient processes to meet business and relationship goals.
Responsibilities:
- Accountable for strategic partnerships within OED, including CRO relationships and preferred site network and other key vendors.
- Manage the OED preferred site network: strategy, site engagement, stakeholder management, content updates, and delivery of network ambitions.
- Support pilot-to-scale activities and operationalize innovation with innovation partners.
- Maintain relationships with strategic partners and senior leaders; act as primary vendor-to-OED contact and escalation point.
- Communicate progress/concerns and implement solutions for issues/risks impacting projects and processes.
- Influence cross-functional stakeholders across OED and AbbVie (e.g., Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, QA, CMC, Precision Medicine, Therapeutic Area Medical Directors).
- Oversee vendor performance using KPIs; establish and maintain OED partnership strategy and vendor health.
- Improve CRO partnership effectiveness via standardized governance, KPI/performance oversight, issue trend analysis, and proactive risk mitigation.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Master preferred).
- 12+ years clinical development experience; 6+ years working with global third-party vendors.
- Demonstrated leadership (including leading global teams) and people management/coaching (remote preferred).
- Strong cross-functional partnership, communication, and leadership across organizations.
- Subject matter expert in standard business/clinical trial procedures (oversight, contracts, SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics/compliance).
- Critical thinker; strong written/oral communication.
- Ability to craft business cases, influence stakeholders, and drive long-term strategy.
Benefits (if applicable):
- Paid time off; medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k) to eligible employees; eligible for long-term incentive programs.