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Director, Organizational Research

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Human Resources

Posted Sep 16, 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 based in North Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states the location.

What would you do

How do you set a vision and strategy for a capability that people do not yet ask for?

What they are checking: The posting names setting a vision, strategy and execution plan for the capability.

How do you turn organizational research into something a business leader acts on?

What they are checking: The posting names driving organizational effectiveness work aligned to business needs.

Tell me about leading a team of consultants who each run their own work.

What they are checking: The posting names leading associate director and manager level consultants as direct reports.

How do you develop a consultant who is technically strong but not landing with clients?

What they are checking: The commonest development problem in an internal consulting practice.

Your research says something leadership does not want to hear. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Organizational research is only useful if it can deliver unwelcome findings.

How do you protect the confidentiality of what employees tell you?

What they are checking: Organizational research depends on people believing their answers are safe.

About the work

Tell me about your organizational research or people analytics experience.

What they are checking: The posting is a director leading an enterprise organizational research practice.

How do you decide what research the organization actually needs?

What they are checking: An internal consulting practice earns its place by picking the right questions.

How do you measure whether the practice is making a difference?

What they are checking: The posting names delivering on the strategy through the team.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose As the Director, Organizational Research, you will lead an enterprise consulting practice, developing the vision, strategy, and execution plan for an organizational capability, responsible for delivering clear value to AbbVie. These capabilities are critical to increase readiness and performance in our quickly evolving business. You will lead a team of Associate Director-level, and Manager-level consultants and practitioners (direct reports) to deliver on the strategy through enterprise- and function-level client engagements and solutions. Clients for this work are L2-L4 executive leaders, if not the enterprise (L1), and projects are multi-stage in nature, spanning up to one year. They require expertise and delivery not just in the Practice Director’s capability area of focus but across capabilities – delivering a holistic, multi-faceted solution set. You will leverage disparate data sets and external research, as well as deep organizational business knowledge and political savvy on how to create exceptional outcomes for the enterprise. Core Responsibilities • Leads enterprise capability area for Organizational Research to drive organizational effectiveness work that directly aligns with and supports the strategic roadmap, critical capabilities, culture, engagement and executive-level leader performance • Sets a vision, strategy, and execution plan for delivering the capability, including its continual increase in value to performance of the organization • Analyzes multiple internal and external data sources to identify novel insights and trends, as inputs to the capability’s strategy and execution details • This leader will represent AbbVie externally as well – participating in member consortium groups, speaking at conferences, coordinating industry benchmarking, and managing academic partnerships focused on employee research. • Consults with executive business and HR leaders across AbbVie for business development of client-facing engagements, as well as to identify opportunities to improve organizational culture, engagement performance across enterprise, team and leader levels • Manages a team of consultants on the execution of the strategy, including multi-consultant project teams that may include consultants from other Practices (cross-practice team leadership) • Directly responsible for owning the client relationship of L2-L4 leaders, scoping, contracting (including pricing of up to six-figure dollar engagements), stakeholder management, and project outcomes • Leads delivery of critical project components: environment and stakeholder assessment, strategy, culture development, team alignment, and change readiness; regularly includes being accountable to recommend strategies that transform employee data into insightful summaries that address business problems. • Influences and guides CHRO, executive leaders, cross-functional leadership teams, and HR partners on areas of focus, prioritizing needs, best-fit solutions, and next generation capabilities • Identify and build additional growth mechanisms that enhance the Practice Capability at AbbVie • Diagnoses root causes and recommends strategies that fit the culture and integrate across the organization • Coaches executive leaders on organizational effectiveness topics, such as readiness for and leading through change, culture, organization design efforts, and team leadership Competencies • Strategy and strategic planning, with particular emphasis on strategic thinking while front of room or “on your feet” • Establishing instant credibility in front of executive leaders and building executive leader relationships • Ability to summarize complex research into easy-to-understand insights while influencing stakeholders to maximize impact of research findings. • Leads without authority • Influences across all levels and geographies • Data analysis and insights generation • Effectively navigates the organization and is able to swiftly adjust to new information • Business relationship management • Superb communicator • Resource planning • Business acumen • Innovates in the face of new challenges • People leadership, development and coaching skills • Political savvy • Action-orientation over theoretical reliance • Prioritization Education and Experience • Bachelor’s Degree required; or master’s degree quantitative fields such as Statistics, Engineering, Operations Research, Computer Science or Economics. PhD preferred. • 12 years+ related background/experience, including: • Management consulting or leading consultative work • Published research, academic partnerships. • Employee Surveys and people analytics • Assessments; IO Psychology • Influencing and collaborating globally and with executive leaders • Strategy setting and accountability for a strategic plan • People leadership • Organizational model principles and application • Team effectiveness principles, design, and facilitation • A proven, strong performer with leadership experience in multiple aspects of the business • Record of driving business performance in times of change • Knows what it takes to develop strong organizational cultures, drive employee engagement, develop leaders and create high performing teams. 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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