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Associate Director, Clinical Pharmacology/Senior Clinical Pharmacologist

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Aug 20, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

This role is at North Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: Honest fit with the location the posting states.

What would you do

How do you explain mechanism of action and disease specifics to a team that is not pharmacology?

What they are checking: The posting explicitly names providing that context to teams.

A data analysis points away from the dose the programme has committed to. What do you do?

What they are checking: Where scientific integrity and programme momentum pull apart.

How do you represent clinical pharmacology on a project team where everyone has a claim on the design?

What they are checking: The posting names acting as the representative for projects.

How do you handle a regulatory question you did not anticipate?

What they are checking: The moment a submission is won or lost, and whether they have been there.

About the work

Tell me about a clinical pharmacology development plan you built for an oncology asset.

What they are checking: The posting names conceiving and managing multi-disciplinary development plans as the purpose.

Walk me through designing a Phase 1 dose escalation in oncology.

What they are checking: The posting names Phase 1 through 4 design accountability, and Phase 1 in oncology is its own discipline.

Tell me about a population pharmacokinetic analysis you led and what it changed.

What they are checking: The posting names authoring population PK reports.

How do you use exposure-response analysis to support a dose recommendation?

What they are checking: The posting names exposure-response analysis reports, and dose justification is the deliverable regulators want.

How do you write a label section so it survives regulatory review?

What they are checking: The posting names label sections among the regulatory documents they author.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Conceives, executes and effectively manages and communicates multi-disciplinary Clinical Pharmacology development plans and strategies that achieve commercial goals and regulatory requirements for multiple functions. Generates new PK/PD study proposals and leads those efforts. Anticipates and critically evaluates Clinical Pharmacology, PK/PD or regulatory advances, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and responds with appropriate new strategies. Consistently demonstrates excellent record of accomplishment of Clinical Pharmacology and business objectives. Leads Clinical Pharmacology/PK/PD aspects of multiple projects. Responsible for critically evaluating technical and scientific aspects along with Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics management. Responsibilities • Accountable for Phase 1-4 studies design, and clinical pharmacology strategy; acts as the representative for project(s). • Executes strategy, lead teams and various data analyses and interpretation by providing necessary context (including explaining MoA and disease specifics, available relevant internal and external data, analysis plans, interpretation and discussion of model results in the context of research question). • Author regulatory documents including protocols, study reports, population PK reports, exposure-response analyses reports, CTDs, label sections, relevant section of investigator brochures, white papers, and other similar documents. • Leads clinical pharmacology and biopharmaceutics meetings, serve as CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY representative at Clinical Strategy Team/Asset Development Team and present at various departmental and cross functional teams such as study teams, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY leadership team, Journal club. • Drives small teams with members from CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY functional groups to provide a unified clinical pharmacology position to clinical, CMC and regulatory teams. • Authors scientific publications and present at national and international conferences and interact with KOLs/external stakeholders. • Conducts due diligence assessments, summarizes results and represents CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY on business development teams. • Represents Clinical Pharmacology at regulatory meetings. This position can be hired based on the below qualifications: Associate Director, Clinical Pharmacology • PhD with typically 4+ years of experience or Pharm D with typically 6+ years of experience in a relevant field, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 12+ years of experience, Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 14+ years of experience;(*relevant field includes experience with PK, PBPK, PK-PD,Pharmacometrics or systems pharmacology, Drug metabolism/Transporters) • Excellent interpersonal skills • Ability to interact with functional representatives and KOLs externally and internally and lead team(s) • Strategic thinking and enterprise view • Proven scientific track record and technical skills to perform the role • Key Leadership Competencies: • Delivers business results while also positioning AbbVie for long-term success • Persistent and resilient finds the way to move good ideas forward • Acts respectfully yet courageously • Connects unrelated concepts, generates original or unique ideas • Influences colleagues to achieve cross-functional alignment • Gives full accountability when delegating and accepts full accountability when delegated to by others Senior Clinical Pharmacologist: • PhD with 0 years of experience, or Pharm D with 2+ years of experience in a relevant field, Master’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 8+ years of experience, Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent education and typically 10+ years of experience; (*relevant field includes experience with PK, PBPK, PK-PD, Pharmacometrics or systems pharmacology, Drug metabolism/Transporters) • Excellent interpersonal skills • Ability to interact externally and internally and perform in a team setting • Demonstrates scientific acumen and has technical skills to perform the role • Key Leadership Competencies: • Persistent and resilient finds the way to move good ideas forward • Uses mistakes, failure and reflection as vehicles for learning and improvement • Delivers business results while also positioning AbbVie for long-term success • Connects unrelated concepts, generates original or unique ideas • Influences colleagues to achieve cross-functional alignment Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​ • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs. ​ Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community.  Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled. US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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