Director of CRO and Strategic Partnerships, Oncology Early 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 a business and operational lead for CRO relationships and OED’s preferred site network; drive process improvement, innovation adoption, and alignment across AbbVie.
- 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, including full-service CRO partnerships, ensuring alignment and implementation of sourcing strategies defining value of procured services.
- Drive business priorities through partnership governance and cross-functional alignment; ensure efficient processes to meet business and relationship goals.
- Influence stakeholders to implement innovative solutions with outsourced services for efficiencies.

Responsibilities:
- Accountable for OED strategic partnerships (CROs, preferred site network, other key vendors) to advance early oncology strategies.
- Manage the OED preferred site network: strategy development, engagement, stakeholder management, content updates, and delivery of network ambitions.
- Support pilot-to-scale activities and operationalize innovation with innovation partners.
- Maintain strong relationships with strategic partners and senior leaders.
- Primary point of contact and escalation for vendor-to-OED issues to ensure accountability, risk mitigation, and operational efficiencies.
- Communicate progress, concerns, and risks across the partnership portfolio; implement effective solutions.
- Influence cross-functional teams (Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, QA, CMC, Precision Medicine, Therapeutic Area Medical Directors).
- Oversee vendor performance via KPIs aligned to strategic objectives.
- Establish OED partnership strategy; lead team and senior leaders to maintain healthy vendor relationships (e.g., health surveys).
- Implement efficient, high-quality, compliant processes (including Joint Oversight committee) with continuous improvement.
- Improve CRO partnership effectiveness through standardized governance, KPI oversight, issue trend analysis, and proactive risk mitigation.

Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (relevant field such as business economics or health administration); Master preferred.
- 12+ years clinical development experience; 6+ years working with global third-party vendors.
- Leadership experience, including leading a global team.
- Coaching/mentoring and people management (remote management preferred).
- Excellent cross-functional partnership and communication skills; ability to lead across the organization to meet timelines.
- Subject Matter Expert in standard business/clinical trial procedures (oversight, contracts, SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics, compliance).
- Critical thinker; strong ability to drive long-term strategy.
- Strong written/oral communication; ability to synthesize complex concepts.
- Ability to analyze complex business problems and implement innovative solutions.
- Ability to craft business cases, sell new ideas, and influence functional and vendor direction.