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This position has closed. AbbVie removed this listing from their careers page on Sep 25, 2026. The interview prep below is still useful, and there are similar open roles at the bottom of this page.

Associate Director, RA CMC

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Other

Posted Aug 17, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 22, 2026

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

You would analyze and approve manufacturing change requests. Tell me about a change you pushed back on because the regulatory consequence was worse than the operational benefit.

What they are checking: Willingness to hold a line against manufacturing pressure.

The role asks you to analyze new legislation and guidance and interpret it for the organization. Tell me about a guidance change you translated into a practical decision.

What they are checking: That they read regulation actively and convert it into action.

You would train and mentor individuals, possibly with formal supervisory responsibility. What do people new to this work usually get wrong?

What they are checking: Depth of experience, visible through what they have seen others learn.

This asks for eight years in pharmaceuticals with at least three in a leadership role, and notes higher education can offset experience. What would you want to know about the product portfolio before taking it?

What they are checking: That they are choosing the assets, not just the title.

What would you do

You would be the point of contact for a health authority and manage preparation for agency meetings. How do you prepare a technical team for questions you cannot predict?

What they are checking: Meeting preparation discipline and realistic expectations.

A regulator comes back with a question that exposes a weakness in the data package. What happens in the next week?

What they are checking: Response under pressure and whether they involve the right experts fast.

You would represent regulatory affairs on product development and global regulatory product teams. How do you make a filing constraint land with a team focused on a launch date?

What they are checking: Communicating regulatory reality to commercially motivated colleagues.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build a chemistry, manufacturing and controls regulatory strategy for a product heading into a major post-approval change.

What they are checking: Strategy formation rather than submission mechanics.

How do you decide whether to bundle several manufacturing changes into one submission or file them separately?

What they are checking: Bundling judgment, which trades speed against review risk.

How do you decide whether something is file-able as written, or needs more work before it goes to an agency?

What they are checking: The core judgment call of this discipline.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

The Associate Director Regulatory Affairs, Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) works with internal and external partners to deliver products to patients. Prepares CMC regulatory strategies that enable first pass approvals. Develops and manages content strategy for regulatory submissions, including INDs/CTAs and amendments, new marketing applications and supplements/variations. Builds and maintains relationships within the Regulatory Affairs functional areas, Operations and Research & Development (R&D) organizations. Represents CMC on teams such as product development, Global Regulatory Product Teams and Operations brand teams to negotiate, influence, and provide strategic advice. Serves as strategic liaison with the regulatory agencies (e.g., FDA) regarding CMC matters. Responsibilities: • Prepares CMC regulatory product strategies. Prepares and manages regulatory submissions, including new applications and amendments, renewals annual reports, supplements and variations and responds to regulatory information. • Analyzes and interprets information that impacts regulatory decisions. Seeks expert advice and technical support as required for strategies and submissions • Reviews and revises regulatory submissions to effectively present data and strategy to regulatory agencies • Develops strategies for CMC agency meetings, manages preparation for agency meetings, and manages content of pre-meeting submissions. Serves as the point of contact for the regulatory agency meetings. • Manages products and change control with an understanding of regulations and company policies and procedures. Analyzes and approves manufacturing change requests. • Represents CMC regulatory affairs on teams such as the product development, Global Regulatory Product Teams and Operations brand teams, for assigned projects; negotiates with and influences team members with support of management to maximize chances for first pass approval of regulatory submissions • · Stays abreast of regulatory procedures and changes in regulatory climate. Analyzes legislation, regulation and guidance, provides analysis to the organization • Develops, implements, and documents policies and procedures within the regulatory affairs department. Leads initiatives internal to RA CMC. • Represents CMC regulatory affairs on project initiatives with other functional areas to drive efficiencies across the company. • Trains, develops and mentors individuals; may include formal supervisory responsibilities • Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology or Pharmacology, Engineering or related subject. • Preferred Education: Relevant advanced degree preferred. Certification a plus. • Required Experience: 8 years pharmaceutical with at least 3 years of demonstrated leadership • Preferred Experience: 10 years pharmaceutical experience including 5-plus years in regulatory affairs or 5-plus years in Discovery, R&D, or Manufacturing. • Experience developing and implementing successful global regulatory strategies. Experience working with Health Authority. • Experience working in a complex and matrix environment. • Strong oral and written communication skills. • Note: Higher education may compensate for years of experience 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