Director, Computational HitGen / LeadGen Team Lead

About the Role

This position offers an opportunity to make innovative contributions that will define how AbbVie leverages AI-native drug discovery across our small molecule portfolio. The role reports to the Head of Computational Drug Discovery (CDD) and will lead the computational HitGen/LeadGen (HGLG) team. The successful candidate will implement and enable close collaboration between the HGLG team and drug discovery partners across AbbVie. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record leveraging modern computational and property-based drug design tools to deliver programs across the small molecule drug discovery pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic thought leadership to amplify CDD’s impact on the small molecule pipeline:
  • Lead development of a cohesive collection of cutting-edge methods and workflows to address AbbVie’s small molecule portfolio needs, including methods for predicting binding affinities, pharmacological properties (PK parameters, etc.), and rapidly sampling both enumerated and AI-generated chemical spaces.
  • Work closely with small-molecule leadership teams to identify and address gaps where computational predictions are needed.
  • Advance drug discovery expertise across CDD and collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams from R&D and Information Research to ensure computational capabilities are optimally implemented.
• Direct activities of the HGLG Team to enable program-level decision making:
  • Provide leadership and guidance to deliver computational tools and workflows for achieving desirable hit/lead criteria across AbbVie’s early-stage small molecule portfolio.
  • Ensure alignment across functions and with the broader AI-native drug discovery strategies.
  • Guide HGLG team members in benchmarking experiments to evaluate model performance and domain of applicability.
  • Establish processes for selecting approaches that best suit project needs.
• Build CDD’s reputation for impact:
  • Proactively demonstrate leadership by providing expert advice and shared knowledge with direct reports, peers, and senior management.
  • Present program updates and research strategies to functional and non-functional leaders, as well as partners.
  • Maintain awareness of emerging literature and science in the field; author scientific disclosures and publications.
  • Maintain a scientific presence outside AbbVie through publications and conference abstracts highlighting innovative AI-native drug discovery learnings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a science-related field with extensive (typically >18 years) related work experience; Master’s Degree or equivalent with extensive (typically >16 years) related work experience; or PhD in Science or related field with typically 10+ years of related work experience.
• Demonstrated success in coaching, mentoring, and people management.
• Experience setting and driving strategy in the context of leading a global team.
• Highly organized and self-directed, with experience leading multiple complex simultaneous research programs or initiatives.
• Knowledge and experience in modern computational approaches for drug discovery.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, critical evaluation, and data-driven decision-making skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrated ability to think critically and creatively, providing solutions both individually and collaboratively.
• Proven team leadership and management abilities, including mentoring, guiding, supervising, and developing scientific personnel with diverse backgrounds and training levels.
• Highly collaborative, team-oriented, and considerate of others’ needs.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with diverse groups within the organization and external partners.
• Ability to create an inclusive environment where diverse ideas, viewpoints, and backgrounds are valued; commitment to leading inclusively and considering all perspectives.

Pay

The compensation range for this role is based on the job grade at the time of posting. Individual compensation within this range will depend on factors including geographic location. This range may be modified in the future. The role is eligible to participate in AbbVie’s long-term incentive programs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick leave).
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan for eligible employees.