Director, Specialty PCS – Obesity & Metabolics

Role Summary

Director, Specialty PCS – Obesity & Metabolics leads the development and evolution of the global commercialization strategy for select assets in AbbVie's Obesity and Metabolics pipeline. The role includes creating an initial go-to-market strategy, partnering cross-functionally to leverage AbbVie capabilities, and supporting disease-area strategies, investments, and commercial due diligence. The position reports to the Specialty Pipeline Commercialization & Strategy Lead and is based in Lake County, IL.

Responsibilities

• Leads global commercialization strategy across assigned pipeline assets, including leading the Brand Strategy Team to develop commercial strategies, Early Brand Plans, and forecasts, in collaboration with cross-functional partners (Market Access, Medical Affairs, MABI, Clinical Development, Marketing, and others).
• Partners with US Specialty commercial leads, Asset Strategy Team, and other key deliverables teams to develop commercialization strategies and provide commercial perspectives on asset decisions with implications for development milestones and governance.
• Drives the development of an initial go-to-market (GTM) strategy within Obesity by synthesizing insights on the patient journey and unmet needs to identify potential GTM channels, and by collaborating cross-functionally to design initial GTM obesity strategy and early pilots.
• Assesses prioritized disease areas and executes the Specialty Portfolio Pipeline strategy, leading the development of prioritized disease area strategies and working with Search and Evaluation and Business Development to explore opportunities and support commercial due diligence as appropriate.
• General: Develops disease area strategies to understand disease landscape, treatment paradigms, competition, and future outlook; partners cross-functionally to build internal/external innovation plans, considering regulatory and portfolio dynamics to pull through disease area strategies; and collaborates with BD&A, S&E on aligned BD strategy and due diligence.
• Develops Early Brand Plans by synthesizing product, brand, customer, consumer, and competitive information into asset plans; leads market analysis, identifies value drivers and growth opportunities, defines product positioning and revenue potential, and prioritizes leverage points and behavioral objectives for stakeholders; supports development of scientific platform and identifies critical success factors for a successful launch.
• Learns new disease states quickly, focusing on the patient as the North Star, and rapidly acquires HCP and payer insights to inform unmet needs and future market value drivers; acts as a conduit between development and commercial teams to optimize asset opportunities.
• Builds strong relationships with internal and external partners (including external experts such as IDs and PCPs) to strengthen asset value proposition; leads internal processes reflecting disease/asset opportunities and required support (LRP, Annual Plan); serves as the commercial voice at disease area teams, asset strategy teams, asset development teams, and organizational leadership.
• Leads the global commercial team as Pipeline Commercialization & Strategy Director, aligning market needs with asset opportunities; develops global brand strategy across geographies and initiates global geostrategy with clinical development, medical affairs, regulatory, and AST; leads the Touchpoint process to obtain Area/affiliate feedback on commercialization and access strategies and development plans, including milestones such as Phase 3.

Qualifications

• Pharma, biotech, or consultant firm experience is required
• 10+ years of experience with a successful track record in pharma commercial/marketing and/or pharma consulting
• Previous Director-level Commercial Development, Pipeline Management, or Commercial/Marketing roles

• Advanced degree (MBA, Ph.D.)
• Experience in Specialty
• Experience working with external experts
• Strong analytical and strategic marketing skills and the ability to learn new disease states
• Strong financial acumen with understanding of P&L drivers and the ability to develop SG&A investment and top-line forecasts that generate long-term value
• Excellent communication and presentation skills across a variety of organization levels and disciplines, including senior executives
• Experience with matrix-based teams and project management
• Excellent command of MS PowerPoint and MS Excel
• Self-starter, and proactively driving projects toward successful completion

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required

Skills

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functionally with partners outside of the team to enable higher performance; demonstrates collaboration and proactivity
• Learns fast, grasps the essence, can change the course quickly where indicated, and demonstrates intellectual curiosity
• Strong planning, coordination, and project management skills with problem solving and conflict resolution abilities
• Resilient leader who raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo
• Creates a learning environment, open to suggestions and experimentation; able to lead through ambiguity and nurture innovation
• Ability to simplify complex concepts for others
• Emotional intelligence, diplomacy, confidentiality, organizational savvy, and collaboration with internal and external partners
• Executive presence; excellent written and verbal communication; strong leadership and influencing skills; adept at managing internal and external stakeholders
• Inclusive and transparent in all work products