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Senior Manager, Publications

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Sep 3, 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

How do you lead a cross-functional team whose members all have another day job?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead busy colleagues without authority, through clear plans, deadlines and respect for everyone's competing priorities.

What would you do

You'd oversee clinical manuscripts, abstracts, posters and oral presentations against timelines. What slips most often, and how do you prevent it?

What they are checking: Whether they know from experience where timelines slip, like author reviews and data delays, and plan ahead to prevent it.

Industry publications carry strict rules on authorship and disclosure. Where do those rules get tested in practice?

What they are checking: Whether they know authorship and disclosure rules in practice and will hold them firmly, because publication ethics protect the science's credibility.

An investigator author wants something in the manuscript that the data do not support. How do you handle that?

What they are checking: Whether they will protect the data's integrity with an external author, firmly and respectfully, even when that author is influential.

A congress abstract deadline is in two weeks and the analysis is not final. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they handle congress deadlines calmly, weighing incomplete data against waiting, without ever compromising accuracy.

You'd partner with scientific communications. How do you keep a publication plan and a communications platform in step as data arrive?

What they are checking: Whether they keep the publication plan and communications aligned as new data arrive, so both stay accurate and consistent.

This is based at North Chicago covering assigned assets in a therapeutic area. What would you want to know about the assets and the data timeline before you took it?

What they are checking: Whether they ask about the assets and data timelines before accepting, which shows they plan for the real workload ahead.

About the work

This role leads cross-functional publications teams executing publication plans for assigned assets. Walk me through building and running a publication plan.

What they are checking: Whether they have built and run publication plans themselves, aligning data, timelines and authors across a cross-functional team.

You'd review publications for alignment with scientific communication platforms. What does alignment mean, and where does it get contested?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how publications support the scientific platform without becoming promotional, and can handle disagreements about that.

How do you decide what is worth publishing and what is not?

What they are checking: Whether they decide what to publish based on scientific value and need, rather than producing as many papers as possible.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose Lead Publications Teams in the execution of publication plans for assigned assets, and oversee the execution of scientific publications (ie, clinical manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and oral presentations) that fulfill strategic publication plan and scientific communications objectives for the asset. Ensure Publication Plan is in alignment with the strategic publication plan as developed by the Scientific Communication Platform lead or Medical Affairs plans as applicable. In partnership with the Publications Director ensure resources and personnel are aligned and optimized to meet with needs of their therapeutic area. Provide managerial oversight to staff members, including performance assessment, training and feedback, resolution of personnel issues, and management of talent retention. Responsibilities • Serve as the leader of cross-functional Publications Team(s) for assigned assets, including leading team meetings/discussions and driving the execution of publication plans, incorporating input from key global stakeholders • Lead tactical execution of publication plans (ie, clinical manuscripts, abstracts, posters, and oral presentations), meeting established timelines and budgets • Review all publications in assigned TA to ensure quality and alignment with Scientific Communication Platforms and supporting communications • Partner with the Scientific Communications Director to ensure seamless transfer of the scientific publications strategic plan and oversee pull-through to publication plan and supporting tactics • Partner with Publications Director to project and manage outsourcing budget and internal resource needs for assigned/assets • Provide managerial oversight to internal and external medical writers regarding assigned projects, ensuring a high-quality and timely work product and adherence to Publication Policy and associated Procedures • Provide direction to external vendors to effectively complete the execution of publication projects, within specified timelines, and ensure quality publication deliverables • Ensure all performance assessment responsibilities are achieved for direct reports. Provide training and feedback, resolve personnel issues, and manage talent retention for assigned staff • Address and resolve publications-related issues for assigned therapeutic areas and assets.Ensure project information in publication records and resourcing tools is accurate and up-to-date Qualifications • Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree required. PhD, PharmD, Master’s Degree preferred. Relevant professional certification/credential (eg, CMPP, AMWA) is a plus. • 4-5 years of medical/scientific publications (or related) experience required. Pharmaceutical industry or related (eg, medical communication agency) experience required • Demonstrated abilities in a leadership capacity required • Ability to understand and interpret medical data require • Knowledge of product therapeutic area preferred; working knowledge of statistical concepts and techniques required • Knowledge of clinical/scientific publication structure, content, and quality. Knowledge of scientific publication regulations and best practices • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with demonstrated success in creating and delivering effective presentations to senior-level audiences • Builds strong relationships with peers and cross functionally with partners outside of the team to enable higher performance. Collaborative teamwork and leadership track record • Ability to form, maintain, and lead productive cross-functional working teams, including addressing issues that arise • Microsoft Office and Internet navigation proficiencies essential 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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