Head of Global Alliances, Specialty

As the bridge between AbbVie and its partners, you will foster transparency, strategic alignment, and a shared vision for success. You will anticipate challenges, resolve issues, and create the conditions for collaboration that drive scientific and business impact. You will lead strategic business reviews at key contractual decision points and deliver clear, data-driven recommendations to senior leadership. When needed, you will help negotiate amendments or restructure existing alliances to improve performance and long-term value. You will also support due diligence and business development by assessing, structuring, and negotiating partnership opportunities that strengthen AbbVie's global pipeline and enterprise strategy.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead Specialty Alliances: Advance AbbVie's strategy by aligning AbbVie and its partners around a shared vision, effective governance, and seamless execution across discovery, development, and commercialization. Build trusted relationships and foster joint problem-solving.
• Lead Strategic Reviews and Governance: Manage governance forums, including Joint Steering Committees, to guide data-informed decisions, assess alliance performance, and recommend actions at key contractual inflection points. Advocate for AbbVie's alliances, resolve conflicts, and strengthen partner relationships through cross-functional collaboration.
• Serve as a Strategic Advisor: Provide forward-looking insights on alliance health, opportunities, and risks to help leadership make data-driven, value-maximizing portfolio decisions.
• Support Business Development and Due Diligence: Collaborate with Search and Evaluation and Business Development to evaluate, structure, and negotiate new collaborations. Support due diligence and alliance launch planning to ensure strategic fit, governance readiness, and effective transition to Global Alliances. Represent AbbVie at corporate partnering events to strengthen relationships with current and prospective partners.
• Optimize Partnerships: Implement and refine processes, tools, and communication frameworks that improve transparency, consistency, and operational excellence.
• Promote Excellence and a Partnering Culture: Establish best-in-class alliance practices and represent AbbVie as a partner of choice in the global biopharma community.

Qualifications

• At least ten years of experience in pharmaceutical development, commercialization, alliance management, corporate ventures, or business development.
• Strong understanding of drug research, development, and commercialization; experience with scientific, regulatory, development, and commercial concepts across early- and late-stage programs; familiarity with legal agreements and contractual governance.
• Advanced scientific, legal, or business degree (PharmD, PhD, MD, JD, MBA, or equivalent).
• Demonstrated analytical thinking in conflict resolution, risk management, and organizational alignment, with the ability to develop and present strategic proposals that improve business outcomes.
• Experience in strategic analysis, business development, or consulting, with the ability to translate enterprise strategy into execution.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to align and influence vice president- and executive-level stakeholders in complex, cross-functional environments.
• Self-starter who anticipates challenges, drives progress independently, and navigates ambiguity with sound judgment and creativity.
• Demonstrated success in matrixed, global organizations, influencing without authority and delivering results across diverse teams.
• Up to 25% travel and hybrid work model with three (3) days onsite in North Chicago, IL.