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Director, Clinical Pharmacology

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Jul 29, 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

Tell me about presenting to a regulatory agency. What did they push back on?

What they are checking: The posting names regulators explicitly, and the answer shows whether they have been in that room.

Tell me about a PK or PD finding that changed a development plan.

What they are checking: Whether their work has actually moved a programme.

Tell me about a project you recommended stopping or reshaping.

What they are checking: Whether they will act against their own programme when the data says so.

How do you develop the scientists in your function rather than just directing them?

What they are checking: Whether they build a team or run one.

What is the biggest change in clinical pharmacology practice you have had to absorb?

What they are checking: Whether they follow the field, which a director is expected to.

What would you do

Two programmes want the same resource and both have committed dates. How do you resolve it?

What they are checking: Negotiating across functions on time, cost and quality, which the posting names.

How do you explain a pharmacokinetic argument to an executive who is not a pharmacologist?

What they are checking: Translation upward, which is most of what a director does.

About the work

Walk me through a clinical pharmacology strategy you owned from early development through to filing.

What they are checking: Whether they have carried a programme end to end rather than contributed to one.

How do you decide the dose to take into a pivotal trial?

What they are checking: The decision this whole function exists to get right.

How do you conduct a risk assessment across several complex projects at once?

What they are checking: The posting asks for risk assessment and contingency planning across a portfolio.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Communicates/presents key Clinical Pharmacology information/strategy to senior and executive management, regulatory agencies, and external peers. Supports strategic planning for drug development activities and projects to achieve departmental strategies, goals, and objectives. Utilizes scientific expertise to provide appropriate interpretation of data and relates implications of results to management. Serves as liaison to other departments/divisions for any study/project needs. Understands linkages across businesses and understands the impact of business decisions and solutions. May lead teams within Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics and accountable for effective performance of the teams. Responsibilities • Leads Clinical Pharmacology/PK/PD activities and multiple major projects. Assists R&D senior management in the selection of action plans that best meets drug development business objectives. • Identifies issues and help with issue resolution. Conducts risk assessments and assists in development of contingency plans. Assures project remains in alignment with strategic objectives. • Provides overall timelines to assess portfolio opportunities. Negotiates with other functional areas on project outcomes and deliverables to meet conflicting demands (time, cost, quality/performance). • Provides scientific and strategic consultation to R&D, Regulatory, and all levels of management on critical decisions and development plans. • Responsible for evaluating technical, scientific aspects of all AbbVie projects along with CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY management. Reviews clinical protocols and scientific reports for regulatory filings and anticipates regulatory questions. Leads CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY regulatory documents writing, submission and response to Regulatory agency comments. • Independently conducts due diligence assessments, summarizes results and represents CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY on business development teams. • Identifies and develops process improvement initiatives and reviews recommendations with management for approval and sponsorship. • Contribute to development of departmental goals. Influences strategic PK/PD decisions for the department. • Performs functions and responsibilities with the highest regard for quality and timeliness. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of PK/PD data analysis, modeling and simulation methods and software. • May manage personnel including development, mentoring, and effective delegation. • PhD with typically 7+ years of experience or Pharm D with typically 9+ years of experience in a relevant field, MS or equivalent education with typically 15+ years of experience; BS or equivalent education and typically 17+ years of experience; (*relevant field includes experience with PK, PBPK, PK-PD, Pharmacometrics or systems pharmacology, Drug metabolism/Transporters) • Excellent interpersonal skills • Knowledge and experience in multiple therapeutic and/or functional areas • Experience across range of development phases • Knowledge of AbbVie and Pharma drug development processes • Must have demonstrated leadership competencies in PK/PD, Biopharmaceutics, and Pharmacometric activities from planning, implementation through completion across multiple projects • Scientific project leadership or related experience • Project management skills such as scope management, progress tracking/driving as well as time management • Participates in initiatives and advancement of CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY • Key Leadership Competencies: • Knows the business and the cross-functional contributions needed to deliver results • 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 • Communicates openly and honestly with all colleagues • Manages conflict and difficult conversations in a constructive transparent way 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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