Jobs › AbbVie

Director, Oncology, International Public Affairs

AbbVie · Mettawa, IL · Full time · Public Relations

Posted Jul 31, 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 a market-shaping or access campaign you led. What changed as a result?

What they are checking: Whether their public affairs work has actually changed patient access, which shows real outcomes rather than activity.

How do you partner with government affairs and market access on a shared access goal?

What they are checking: Whether they can align with government affairs and market access on shared access goals, since separate efforts send mixed messages.

Tell me about advising a senior business leader on a sensitive issue.

What they are checking: Whether they can advise leaders candidly on sensitive matters, which requires judgment, discretion and the courage to say difficult things.

What would you do

How do you make sure affiliates execute well at country level without micromanaging them?

What they are checking: Whether they can support country teams to execute well while giving them room to adapt, since local context matters in public affairs.

A news story raises concerns about drug pricing in a key European market. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they can respond to a pricing story calmly and with accurate, coordinated messaging, protecting reputation without escalating the issue.

How do you focus limited resources where public affairs can make a real difference?

What they are checking: Whether they can focus limited resources on the highest-impact work, rather than spreading effort thinly across every market.

About the work

How would you set public affairs priorities across an oncology portfolio in many countries?

What they are checking: Whether they can set clear priorities across many products and countries, focusing effort where public affairs can matter most.

How do you work with patient advocacy groups in a way that's ethical and credible?

What they are checking: Whether they engage advocacy groups ethically and transparently, since those relationships depend on trust and must stay within compliance rules.

What makes therapeutic communications effective in oncology?

What they are checking: Whether they understand what makes oncology communications effective and appropriate, given the sensitivity of cancer and the strict rules involved.

How would you measure the impact of public affairs work?

What they are checking: Whether they measure real results like policy or access changes, rather than counting events and media mentions.

What disease profiling initiatives have you led and how were they used?

What they are checking: Whether they have led disease awareness work and seen it used well, which supports patient access and public understanding.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose: The Director, Oncology is responsible for leading public affairs across this therapeutic areas within AbbVie’s international business. This leader and their team will deliver impactful therapeutic communications, market‑shaping strategies to accelerate access to treatment, patient advocacy engagement, and targeted disease profiling initiatives aligned to AbbVie’s priorities. The role will work closely with Europe and Intercontinental Area and Affiliate colleagues to ensure strong country‑level execution that supports patient access to innovative medicines and advances standards of care. In addition, it serves as a trusted advisor to senior business leaders across the therapeutic areas of responsibility, ensuring alignment on priorities, strategy, and impact. The role is a member of the International Public Affairs Leadership Team. This position reports to the Head of International Public Affairs. Core Job Responsibilities: • Lead the development and execution of public affairs priorities across AbbVie’s oncology portfolio. • Partner with cross‑functional colleagues, including government affairs, market access, and medical, to develop communication and advocacy strategies that elevate standards of care and improve patient access. • Set clear priorities across franchises, focusing resources and effort where public affairs strategies can deliver differentiated impact. • Work closely with colleagues in Europe / Intercontinental regions and Affiliates to ensure strong pull‑through of international strategies and effective measurement of execution. • Lead, manage, and develop a high‑performing team, fostering individual growth and sustained impact. • Collaborate with U.S. therapeutic communications and R&D communications teams to support a “One AbbVie” approach to pipeline development and leadership in oncology. • Contribute as a member of the International Public Affairs Leadership Team, supporting the culture, development, and strategic priorities of the broader function. • Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders across commercial, market access, medical, and other functions, providing counsel that strengthens alignment, decision‑making, and impact. • Represent AbbVie externally, including building and maintaining relationships with priority patient organizations’ and media. • Model AbbVie’s ways of working by anticipating communication trends and building new capabilities and efficiencies across International Public Affairs. Education and Experience: • Minimum of 10 years’ experience in public affairs, patient advocacy, external affairs, or a related field. • Bachelor’s degree in communications, public affairs, journalism, or a life sciences field preferred. • Demonstrated experience leading therapeutic area public affairs, including milestone communications and targeted disease awareness initiatives. • Experience working across international markets strongly preferred. • Proven ability to operate effectively within senior leadership teams and to articulate the value of public affairs within a matrix environment. • Strong executive presence, excellent writing skills, and the ability to communicate with impact. • Track record of developing and executing measurable advocacy and communications strategies. • Ability to provide sound judgement and counsel across a wide range of communication scenarios, often under tight timelines and with incomplete information. • Experience and interest in leading, developing, and motivating teams. • Oncology experience preferred. 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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