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Senior Manager, R&D Strategic Resourcing

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Aug 21, 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 time you negotiated resources between two functions who both needed them. How did it land?

What they are checking: The negotiation this posting explicitly requires.

How do you present a recommendation that a function will not like, so that they still engage with it?

What they are checking: Influence in a governance role with no line authority.

This is a senior manager role in North Chicago covering global research and development resourcing. What do you want to know about which functions you would cover and how the plan and update cycles are timed?

What they are checking: Whether they ask about scope and the calendar that drives the job.

What would you do

A function tells you they need more headcount than the plan allows. How do you test whether that is true?

What they are checking: Challenging a demand claim without just saying no.

A function is drifting outside its plan resource envelope. When do you raise it, and to whom?

What they are checking: Escalation timing on a variance that is easier to fix early.

How do you keep the data underneath your forecasts trustworthy when it comes from many functions who each maintain their own?

What they are checking: Data quality in a decentralized input model.

About the work

This role forecasts research and development resources and the budget behind them. Walk me through how you build a resource forecast for a portfolio that keeps changing.

What they are checking: Forecasting method where the underlying portfolio is unstable.

How do you build a portfolio timeline and cost estimate that a leadership team can actually make a decision from?

What they are checking: Turning resource data into a decision input, which this posting names.

What is the difference between a short-term forecast and a long-range one in how you build and defend it?

What they are checking: Understanding that the two have different tolerances and different uses.

Where do resource forecasts usually go wrong, in your experience?

What they are checking: Hard-won awareness of the common failure modes.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Responsible for executing global resource strategies and associated budgeting activities and projects to drive and achieve functional goals and objectives. Accountable for ensuring that functions and areas operate within the current Plan/updated budget. Strategically project and manage Plan/Update resourcing and associated budget across the function in collaboration with the functional heads, Business Operations, and Finance utilizing knowledge of current and future business environment. Globally influences and strategically manages resourcing linkages across the businesses and understands the impact of business decisions and solutions. Responsibilities • Primarily accountable for forecasting and management of resources and associated budget. Responsible for short and long term forecasts and management of implications of alternative development scenarios • Provide leadership and develop strategic recommendations for functions to ensure all functional areas operate within the current Plan/Update resources and budget. Partner with functional leaders to resource and financially plan upcoming initiatives and projects • Provides overall portfolio timeline and cost estimates to assess portfolio resources and associated financial opportunities. Negotiates with other functional areas on portfolio outcomes and deliverables to meet conflicting demands (time, cost, quality, performance) • Partner with VPs to develop departmental goals. Provides leadership on strategic business issues and make strategic decisions that affect the department and the business • Collaborate across R&D to participate in initiatives to improve operational performance, enhance culture, and improve decision making • Develop and maintain business relationships across functional areas across AbbVie to further R&D objectives in support of the strategic imperatives. Partners across R&D to enhance teamwork and identify workable solutions. • Serve as resource financial expert and establish relationships with key finance resources / contacts/ stakeholders • Accountable for establishment and management of tools and processes needed to ensure employee proficiency with departmental systems, procedures, tools and guidelines •Bachelors or equivalent degree required. Advanced degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, MBA) highly preferred. •Minimum of 4+ with Bachelors, 3+ with Masters and 2+ with PhD years of experience in a competitive, fast paced environment such as top tier management consulting and pharmaceutical R&D •Experience managing large projects within a complex matrixed organization as a consultant to a pharmaceutical organization, either as an external consultant or an internal cross-functional lead. •Demonstrated ability to present data and metrics to executive leadership teams that will lead to better business outcomes. •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 •Excellent oral and written communication skills 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

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