Jobs › AbbVie

Head of Asset in GU, Oncology Clinical Development

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Jul 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

Apply at AbbVie

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 time you led a program through a major strategic change, like stopping an indication.

What they are checking: Whether they can lead a team through hard decisions like stopping an indication, keeping trust and focus while plans change.

How do you mentor medical directors on your team who are strong scientists but new to running studies?

What they are checking: Whether they can help strong scientists grow into study leaders, teaching the operational and people skills that running trials requires.

Tell me about a time you had to explain ambiguous efficacy data to senior leaders.

What they are checking: Whether they explain uncertain efficacy data honestly and clearly, so senior leaders make decisions without false confidence or needless alarm.

What would you do

Accumulating data shows a safety signal you didn't expect. Walk me through what you do and who you involve.

What they are checking: Whether they handle an unexpected safety signal with speed and process, involving safety and governance teams so patients are protected first.

Enrollment is behind and Clinical Operations is under pressure. How do you work with them to recover the timeline?

What they are checking: Whether they partner with clinical operations on enrollment as a shared problem, using medical insight on sites and criteria rather than assigning blame.

How would you make sure investigators and site staff truly understand a complex protocol?

What they are checking: Whether they make sure sites truly understand a complex protocol, since deviations from misunderstanding threaten data quality and patient safety.

Business leaders want a faster path to market than you think the data supports. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they protect scientific integrity under business pressure, explaining clearly why a shortcut could cost more time or fail with regulators.

About the work

How would you design a phase 2 study for a new agent in genitourinary cancer, say in prostate or bladder cancer, to set up a clear phase 3 decision?

What they are checking: Clinical trial design judgment around endpoints, population and go or no-go criteria.

Which endpoints would you pick for a registrational trial in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and why?

What they are checking: GU oncology depth on endpoints like rPFS and OS and regulatory acceptance.

How does the GU competitive landscape shape your development plan for an asset?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how standard of care and competitors in GU cancers shape trial design, comparators and the path to approval.

Practice this interview out loud.

Offer builds a real interview for this exact role at AbbVie from your resume and this job description, asks the questions one at a time, and tells you what landed. The first one is free.

Practice this out loud

The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Manages other Medical and/or Scientific Directors and leads the direction, planning, execution, and interpretation of clinical trials or research activities of one or more clinical development programs. Participates in and may lead cross-functional teams to generate, deliver, and disseminate high-quality clinical data supporting overall product scientific and business strategy. • Personally or through a direct report, leads and demonstrates ownership of the design and implementation of multiple clinical development programs (or one large, complex program) in support of the overall product development plan, based on strong medical and scientific principles, knowledge of compliance and regulatory requirements, AbbVie’s customers, markets, business operations, and emerging issues. Oversees project-related education of investigators, study site personnel. • Has overall responsibility for leading and mentoring clinical study teams, monitoring overall study integrity, and review, interpretation, and communication of accumulating data pertaining to safety and efficacy of the molecule. Along with Clinical Operations, is responsible for ensuring agreed-upon study enrollment and overall timelines for key deliverables. Responsible for assessment and reporting of serious adverse events per corporate policy and regulations for those protocols assigned. • Has primary responsibility for and ownership of design, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of scientific content of protocols, Investigator Brochures, Clinical Study reports, regulatory submissions and responses, and other program documents. • Manages one level of Medical and Scientific Directors (typically 2 to 4) and/or Clinical Scientists. This responsibility involves direct oversight of clinical development activities and/or management of personnel who may be working on other projects. Responsible for hiring, onboarding, mentoring, training, and supporting career development of these individuals. • May chair Clinical Strategy Team(s), with responsibility for development of a rigorous, cross-functionally-aligned, vetted Clinical Development Plan with full consideration of contingencies and alternative approaches. In this capacity, responsibilities may include supervision of matrix team members and serving as the Clinical Research representative to lend clinical development and medical expertise to Asset Development Teams (ADTs) and ADT Leadership Boards (ALBs). • Serves as the in-house clinical expert for one or more molecules and diseases in the therapeutic area, coordinating and leading appropriate scientific activities with internal stakeholders as they relate to ongoing projects. May participate in or lead clinical development contributions to due diligence or other business development activity. As required by program needs, contributes in partnership with Discovery colleagues to design and implementation of translational strategies. • Acts as clinical lead and actively solicits opinion leader interactions related to the disease area(s); partners with Medical Affairs, Commercial and other functions in these activities as required, consistent with corporate policies, to ensure that broad cross-functional perspectives are incorporated into Clinical Development Plans and protocols as appropriate. • Stays abreast of professional information and technology through conferences, medical literature, and other available training, to augment expertise in the therapeutic area. May represent AbbVie at key external meetings. • Responsible for understanding the regulatory requirements related to the clinical studies and global drug development and accountable for complying with those requirements. Serves as a clinical representative for key regulatory discussions. • Ensures adherence to Good Clinical Practices, pharmacovigilance standards, standard operating procedures and to all other quality standards in conducting research. • Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.), or non-US equivalent of M.D. degree with relevant therapeutic specialty in an academic or hospital environment required. Completion of a residency program strongly preferred. Completion of a subspecialty fellowship is desirable. • At least 7 years (9+ years preferred) of clinical trial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, or equivalent. • Ability to run a complex clinical research program independently. • Proven leadership skills and ability to bring out the best in others on a cross-functional global team. Must be able to lead and manage through influence. • Demonstrated commitment to training and development of junior-level staff, using best judgment to assure that they work with an appropriate level of autonomy. • Ability to interact externally and internally to support a global scientific and business strategy. • Extensive knowledge of clinical trial methodology, regulatory and compliance requirements governing clinical trials, and experience in development of clinical strategy and the design of study protocols. • Must possess excellent oral and written English communication skills • Ability to exercise judgment and address complex problems and create solutions across multiple projects. 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 thisposting 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 anduntil 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

Apply at AbbVie