Jobs › AbbVie

Senior Director, Strategic Planning and Operations, Oncology Clinical Development

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Other

Posted Sep 25, 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 an external molecule assessment you worked on. How did you judge fit with your strategy?

What they are checking: Whether they bring rigor to in-licensing decisions and can work alongside Business Development.

Tell me about a time you drove alignment among senior leaders who wanted different things.

What they are checking: Whether they can synthesize competing views into a decision people will support, which the posting stresses.

Tell me about a strategy recommendation you made that leadership did not accept. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can accept a decision gracefully while still learning from it and staying engaged.

What would you do

You own the TEC agenda. How do you decide what gets the committee's time and what does not?

What they are checking: Whether they can steer senior leaders toward the decisions that matter most rather than status updates.

An Asset Development Team is not following the Playbook and pushes back when you raise it. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they can drive discipline through influence and value rather than policing teams that do not report to them.

New competitor data comes out that weakens the case for one of your lead assets. What do you do next?

What they are checking: Whether they can reassess strategy quickly and honestly rather than defending the old plan.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build a long-term portfolio plan for an oncology therapeutic area.

What they are checking: Whether they can connect individual asset plans into one TA strategy with clear priorities and tradeoffs.

How do you make sure an asset's Target Product Profile and development plan stay aligned with the TA strategy?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the TPP as the anchor for development choices and can spot when teams drift from it.

How would you compare the value of two oncology assets competing for the same development budget?

What they are checking: Whether they can weigh probability of success, market need, timing and cost in a structured way.

What does a good Asset Playbook do for a development team that a standard project plan does not?

What they are checking: Whether they see strategic frameworks as tools for better decisions, not paperwork.

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.

Purpose To enable AbbVie’s emergence as a World Class R&D organization, the Senior Director, Project Management, plays a leadership role with the Development TA Vice President (TA VP) and the Therapeutic Executive Committee (TEC) to optimize the value of our portfolio of current and future assets. Under the guidance of the TA VP, the incumbent is responsible for leading development of the long-term strategy (portfolio plan) for the TA; for supporting existing Asset Development Teams (ADTs) in effective utilization of the Asset Playbook discipline to better enable teams to maximize the value of the asset. Achieving these goals requires a combination of excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills, broad strategic thinking, and an ability to synthesize inputs and drive alignment in complex situations. Responsibilities • Serves as a core member of the TEC as a strategic partner with TA VP and TEC members, with responsibility for the TEC agenda and areas of focus, driving the overall, long-term TA strategy. • Advises ADTs across the lifecycle, to ensure application of the Playbook and alignment of the Target Product Profile (TPP) and Development Plan with the TA strategy. • Partners with Business Development as Co-lead of Therapy Assessment Teams, and works with Ventures & Early Stage Collaborations to undertake external molecule assessments consistent with TA strategy. • Provides strategic input into the development of Disease Opportunity Profiles (DOPs), cross-functional evaluations of potential Discovery initiatives, and the TA investment thesis. • Coordinates the generation of competitive environment assessments for review at TEC, to turn the data into useful working knowledge for the TEC and disease area in support of the pipeline. • As appropriate, facilitates identification, evaluation, and implementation of novel tools and technologies (e.g., biomarkers, drug delivery systems, devices and other platform technologies, compliance tools, disease monitoring techniques) that can be employed to improve or accelerate pipeline progression in disease areas of interest. • In collaboration with relevant functions, drives internal and external stakeholder assessments in order to anticipate changes in the external environment (e.g. regulatory trends, changing payer environment), and to understand the patient journey and levers to improve outcomes. • Coordinates the conduct and rollup of long-range strategic planning and portfolio documentation for the TA, working in close collaboration with the Clinical TA VP, Decision Support Group (DSG), Commercial and R&D. • Works with TA and TEC leaders to identify, prioritize, and nurture external collaborations (consortia, academic and scientific collaborations, key scientific leader advisors, etc.) in areas where we want to further our understanding of disease pathways and mechanisms. Advances our partnerships and alliances for improved outcomes, creating holistic “Total Patient Solutions”. • Bachelors or equivalent degree required. Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, MBA) highly preferred. • Minimum of 10 years (15+ years preferred) of research/development, commercial, project management, portfolio management, business development, or related experience in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry with a track record of expertise in one or more therapeutic areas. • Recognized team player with proven facilitative leadership skills in a cross-functional global team environment. Proven performance in a matrix environment with ability to influence and align stakeholders. • Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to interact externally and internally to support business strategy. • Strong analytical skills. Recognized ability to evaluate complex issues from multiple perspectives to ensure that balanced risk assessments are made. • Excellent oral and written communication skills. 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