Associate Director, Biopharmaceutics

About the role

The Associate Director of Biopharmaceutics leads a team of scientists to develop and implement in vitro dissolution tools, in silico modeling, and high-throughput screening assays to support AbbVie's diverse pipeline. The Associate Director fosters cross-functional collaboration with Discovery, DMPK, Clinical Pharmacology, and Regulatory teams to ensure biopharmaceutics strategies are aligned with program goals and development milestones. They provide scientific leadership in the interpretation of biopharmaceutics data, guiding formulation decisions, enabling compound progression, and supporting risk assessment throughout development. The role also mentors and develops team members while promoting scientific innovation, operational excellence, and high-quality delivery of enabling data to advance AbbVie's pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Develops and achieves disciplined strategy in alignment with functional goals and key scientific objectives within Biopharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, including application to multiple therapeutic modalities - including small molecules, peptides, and genetic medicines - at both Discovery and Development stages.
• Learns and applies PBPK modeling, developing and deploying new in silico tools to strengthen developability assessment, inform decision-making, and support pipeline progression across Discovery and Development stages.
• Demonstrates a strong track record of innovation, introducing new or enhanced capabilities in biopharmaceutics, molecular profiling, and drug delivery through novel research and application of in silico modeling. Leverages cross-functional synergies to enable holistic developability characterization in support of pipeline impact.
• Expands scientific influence beyond core discipline by proactively advising and sharing expertise with colleagues and senior management, while identifying and integrating emerging trends into short-term goals to shape cross-disciplinary technology direction.
• Provides expert guidance and review to external scientific collaborations to support advancement of preclinical and early clinical stage assets across AbbVie's core therapeutic growth areas.
• Leads and collaborates with cross-functional experts including automation scientists, biopharmaceutics scientists, and drug delivery experts to integrate scientific objectives into activities associated with the advancement of Discovery and Development stage pipeline and platforms.
• Ensures quality and effectiveness of key results of major project plans through robust study designs, early risk assessments, and implementation of innovative fallback strategies. Mentors and trains functional colleagues and assesses emerging technological and business challenges relevant to modality-specific drug delivery and automation.
• Presents complex scientific concepts and results spanning biopharmaceutics, automation, and multi-modal drug delivery to scientific and non-scientific leaders, maximizing impact and value of expertise.
• Interacts well with diverse groups across Discovery, ADME, safety, CMC, and clinical teams, maintaining strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators. Maintains an internal reputation as a cross-modality expert in Biopharmaceutics, Automation, and Drug Delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree with 16 years of related work; Master’s Degree with 14 years of related work; PhD with 8 years of related work experience. Preferred educational background includes but is not restricted to Biopharmaceutical Sciences, Physical Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Material Sciences, Chemical Engineering or Biomedical Engineering.
• Extensive experience in biopharmaceutics research in relation to drug absorption across routes of administration including solubility, biorelevant dissolution testing, permeability, ex vivo permeability assessment, and peptide aggregation.
• Knowledge of preclinical and clinical formulation development principles relevant to chemically synthesized molecules across routes of administration.
• Strong communication skills and ability to clearly communicate theories and concepts, influence others without authority, and drive technical excellence.
• Excellent self-management skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Experience in biopharmaceutics research in relation to drug absorption across routes of administration including solubility, biorelevant dissolution testing, permeability, ex vivo permeability assessment, and peptide aggregation.
• Knowledge of preclinical and clinical formulation development principles relevant to chemically synthesized molecules across routes of administration.
• Strong communication skills and ability to clearly communicate theories and concepts, influence others without authority, and drive technical excellence.
• Excellent self-management skills, organizational skills, and attention to detail.

Skills

• Expertise in biopharmaceutics, molecular profiling, and drug delivery.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and collaborate with various departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to mentor and train team members.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, and 401(k).
• Participation in long-term incentive programs.

Pay

$141,500 - $268,500 USD

Schedule

Hybrid