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Senior Medical Director, Oncology Clinical Development (GI)

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Sep 28, 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 accumulating safety data made you change a study. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they act on safety signals quickly and put patients first.

Tell me about a time you had to explain disappointing trial results to leadership.

What they are checking: Whether they can present bad news honestly and help leaders decide what to do next.

Tell me about a clinical study report or regulatory response you authored that you are proud of.

What they are checking: Whether they have depth in scientific writing for regulators.

What would you do

Enrollment is far behind plan. How do you work with Clinical Operations to fix it?

What they are checking: Whether they can find the real causes of slow enrollment and fix the protocol if needed.

How do you keep investigators and site staff engaged and well-trained on a complex protocol?

What they are checking: Whether they see investigator education as part of study quality.

A commercial colleague wants to add a secondary endpoint for marketing reasons. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they protect scientific integrity while understanding business goals.

About the work

Walk me through how you would design a Phase 2 study for a new agent in a GI cancer.

What they are checking: Whether they can choose the right population, endpoints and design to support a clear go or no-go decision.

How do you decide on the right endpoint for a GI oncology registrational trial?

What they are checking: Whether they understand regulatory views on overall survival, progression-free survival and response rate.

How do you assess and report a serious adverse event that might be related to the study drug?

What they are checking: Whether they know causality assessment and reporting timelines well.

How do the treatment landscapes for gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers affect where a new drug could fit?

What they are checking: Whether they know the GI oncology landscape well enough to position a program.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Oversees the direction, planning, execution, and interpretation of clinical trials or research activities of one or more clinical development programs. Participates in cross-functional teams to generate, deliver, and interpret high-quality clinical data supporting overall product scientific and business strategy. •Manages the design and implementation of one or more clinical development programs in support of an 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, and AbbVie study staff. •Has overall responsibility for oversight of clinical studies, 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 oversight of 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 on which assigned. •Responsible for design, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of scientific content of protocols, Investigator Brochures, Clinical Study Reports, regulatory submissions and responses, and other program documents. •May oversee the work of Medical Directors and/or Scientific Directors, and of Clinical Scientists working on the same or related programs. •Provides in-house clinical expertise for the molecule and disease, coordinating appropriate scientific and medical activities with internal stakeholders as they relate to ongoing clinical projects. May participate in 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. •May serve on or chair a Clinical Strategy Team (CST), with responsibility for development of a rigorous, cross-functionally-aligned, vetted Clinical Development Plan with full consideration of contingencies and alternative approaches. In the role of CST Chair, responsibilities may include supervision of matrix team members and serving as Clinical Research representative to lend clinical development and medical expertise to an Asset Development Team (ADT), ADT Leadership Board (ALB). •Acts as a clinical interface and actively solicits opinion leader interactions related to the molecule and disease area; 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. •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. Completion of a residency program strongly preferred. Completion of a subspecialty fellowship is desirable. •At least 2 years of clinical trial experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, or equivalent. •Ability to run a clinical research program of moderate complexity with minimal supervision. •Ability to perform and bring out the best in others on a cross-functional global team. •Ability to interact externally and internally to support a global scientific and business strategy. •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. 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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