Director, Strategic Initiatives PMO

Role Summary

This position is responsible for driving and integrating innovative technology solutions in alignment with R&D goals and strategic priorities. Oversee a portfolio of complex, multi-functional technology projects and programs from concept to implementation that will impact multiple groups across R&D. The objective is to transform and build future-ready capabilities across all phases of drug development that set a new standard for operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to the Future Capabilities Program Management Office (PMO) and CREATE, a committee of senior leaders who provide strategic oversight and decision-making to ensure the technology portfolio is optimized and aligned with R&D meta priorities.
• Oversee portfolio of complex technology projects and program execution including change management to ensure delivery on time, within budget, and achieve desired capabilities and KPIs to ensure full adoption.
• Leads and mentors’ team of Project Managers, cultivates a culture of enterprise mindset, inclusiveness and cross-functional excellence to ensure the seamless delivery of transformative technology projects and programs.
• Actively engages and fosters strong relationships with RDLT, stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to build sponsorship of projects and programs, breaks down silos to better inform decisions, and gains support of change management efforts.
• Partners with Information Research technology in planning and organizing the R&D Capital Planning process and quarterly Health of Portfolio process to ensure investment decisions are optimized and aligned to R&D strategic priorities.
• Identifies strategic and operational business improvements and innovations to enable operational excellence across R&D. Identifies and assesses innovative improvement ideas and opportunities from within the company and externally.
• Lead, support and serve as a visible role model for AI tool adoption, shared capabilities, and best practices to drive adoption and upskilling within Future Capabilities and across R&D.
• Champion continuous improvements and evolve the Technology Operating model to meet changing business needs so that processes and frameworks are efficient and effective including Capital Planning, Portfolio and Project Management, Value of Investment KPIs, Change Management, Risk Management, Identification of Interdependencies.
• Communicate and champion the vision, mission and achievements of Future Capabilities PMO with leadership.
• Develops industry-wide professional network, including representation of AbbVie at industry groups and conferences.
• Develops and implements the staffing model appropriate to the organization’s mission, including hiring, training, coaching, and career development for the organization.

Qualifications

• Advanced Degree (MBA, MS, PhD, or MD) preferred with at least 15 years of clinical operations management experience in healthcare, Pharmaceutical R&D and/or CRO industry.
• Experience or equivalent in technical program management, leading complex technology projects and programs.
• Operates with an enterprise mindset and has broad understanding of the bigger picture and how R&D works and the technology ecosystem across functions including drug supply, CMC, Regulatory, Data Management/Stats, Phase I, PK/PD, Drug Analysis, and commercial.
• Influences across all levels of the organization and has expertise in stakeholder management, change management, and managing interdependences.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving skills, challenges the status quo, and regularly think of ways to do things differently to optimize processes.
• Be able to inspire others across the organization to exhibit the same “must have” behaviors.
• Have experience implementing technology into clinical trials and/or clinical organizations.
• Be a strategist as well as an implementer