Director of CRO and Strategic Partnerships, Oncology Early Development
AbbVie
August 25, 2026
Remote friendly (South San Francisco, CA)
United States
$160,500 - $305,000 USD yearly
Clinical Research and Development
Purpose:
- Lead strategic and cross-functional partnerships across 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 across AbbVie.
- Shape partnership framework and lead global cross-functional process/productivity improvement projects for Oncology Early Development (OED).
- Oversee OED partnership portfolio (including full-service CROs), aligning and implementing sourcing strategies defining value of procured services.
- Drive partnership governance and cross-functional alignment to ensure efficient processes deliver business and relationship goals.
Responsibilities:
- Own strategic partnerships within OED (CROs, preferred sites, key vendors) to advance early oncology strategies.
- Manage the preferred site network: strategy, engagement, stakeholder management, content updates, and delivery of network ambitions.
- Support pilot-to-scale activities and operationalize innovation with innovation partners across OED.
- Maintain relationships with strategic partners and senior leaders; act as primary vendor/OED contact and escalation point.
- Communicate progress/concerns and mitigate risks; implement operational efficiencies aligned to relationship strategy.
- Influence cross-functional leaders (Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, QA, CMC, Precision Medicine, Therapeutic Area Medical Directors).
- Oversee vendor performance via KPIs and align with strategic objectives.
- Establish partnership strategy and lead teams/Sr. leaders via team building and partnership health surveys.
- Standardize CRO partnership governance, KPI oversight, issue trend analysis, and proactive risk mitigation.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (Master preferred) in relevant field (e.g., business economics, health administration).
- 12+ years clinical development experience (and/or applicable) including 6+ years with global third-party vendors.
- Strong technical and leadership skills; proven coaching/mentoring and people management (remote preferred).
- Excellent cross-functional communication and partnership skills; SME in standard business/clinical trial procedures (oversight, contracts, SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics/compliance).
- Critical thinker; strong analytical skills; ability to build business cases and influence direction.
Benefits (if applicable):
- Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k) eligibility; long-term incentive program eligibility.
- Lead strategic and cross-functional partnerships across 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 across AbbVie.
- Shape partnership framework and lead global cross-functional process/productivity improvement projects for Oncology Early Development (OED).
- Oversee OED partnership portfolio (including full-service CROs), aligning and implementing sourcing strategies defining value of procured services.
- Drive partnership governance and cross-functional alignment to ensure efficient processes deliver business and relationship goals.
Responsibilities:
- Own strategic partnerships within OED (CROs, preferred sites, key vendors) to advance early oncology strategies.
- Manage the preferred site network: strategy, engagement, stakeholder management, content updates, and delivery of network ambitions.
- Support pilot-to-scale activities and operationalize innovation with innovation partners across OED.
- Maintain relationships with strategic partners and senior leaders; act as primary vendor/OED contact and escalation point.
- Communicate progress/concerns and mitigate risks; implement operational efficiencies aligned to relationship strategy.
- Influence cross-functional leaders (Regulatory Affairs, Medical Writing, QA, CMC, Precision Medicine, Therapeutic Area Medical Directors).
- Oversee vendor performance via KPIs and align with strategic objectives.
- Establish partnership strategy and lead teams/Sr. leaders via team building and partnership health surveys.
- Standardize CRO partnership governance, KPI oversight, issue trend analysis, and proactive risk mitigation.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (Master preferred) in relevant field (e.g., business economics, health administration).
- 12+ years clinical development experience (and/or applicable) including 6+ years with global third-party vendors.
- Strong technical and leadership skills; proven coaching/mentoring and people management (remote preferred).
- Excellent cross-functional communication and partnership skills; SME in standard business/clinical trial procedures (oversight, contracts, SOPs, ICH, global regulations, ethics/compliance).
- Critical thinker; strong analytical skills; ability to build business cases and influence direction.
Benefits (if applicable):
- Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k) eligibility; long-term incentive program eligibility.