Principal Scientist I, Chemistry

About the role

AbbVie’s Product Development Science & Technology (PDS&T) organization is seeking a Principal Research Scientist I to lead late-stage development and commercialization of small molecule therapies, spanning registration through commercialization and the product lifecycle. The successful candidate will work in a cross-functional team environment at AbbVie’s North Chicago, IL location.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to and/or lead cross-functional project teams in manufacturing process development, process characterization/justification, technology transfer to manufacturing sites, and manufacturing support for AbbVie’s small molecule pipeline.
• Design and execute laboratory experiments to support program development and commercial manufacture.
• Set project strategies, define responsibilities, and establish timelines.
• Provide leadership in a matrixed team setting, serving as the subject-matter expert for manufacturing processes, interfacing with various cross-functional groups and stakeholders, and contributing to AbbVie’s manufacturing strategies.
• Author and review key technical and regulatory documents.
• Engage in multi-disciplinary interactions with organic chemists, analytical chemists, engineers, and solid-state scientists, as well as external groups such as Manufacturing Operations, Regulatory Affairs, and Quality Assurance.
• Function as a principal investigator, generating original technical ideas and demonstrating creative problem-solving to advance project goals.
• Make significant contributions to project teams through lab-based activities and independently lead project science within an area of expertise on one or more project teams.
• Author and/or review technical reports, manufacturing batch records, and regulatory documents concerning Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC) subjects.
• Serve as primary author of publications, presentations, and/or primary inventor of patents.
• Mentor and supervise one or more individuals, evaluate their performance, and ensure effective team performance.
• Generate new scientific proposals and lead their execution.
• Anticipate and critically evaluate scientific or regulatory advances or competitive threats and respond with appropriate new strategies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and typically 14+ years of experience; Master’s degree or equivalent education and typically 12+ years of experience; PhD and typically 6+ years of experience in organic chemistry with a focus on manufacturing process development and scale-up.
• Broad functional expertise in modern organic chemistry, mechanistic understanding, compound purification, control strategy development, and standard analytical methodology (e.g., HPLC, UPLC, LC-MS, NMR).
• Demonstrated scientific communication and presentation skills.
• Experience and demonstrated success as an author of publications, presentations, and/or primary inventor of patents.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate collaborations and lead cross-functional process development teams.

Key Leadership Competencies

• Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functionally to enable higher performance.
• Learns quickly, understands key objectives, and adapts course as needed.
• Raises the bar and is never satisfied with the status quo.
• Creates a learning environment open to suggestions and experimentation for improvement.
• Embraces the ideas of others, nurtures innovation, and manages the transition from innovation to implementation.
• Understands, adheres to, and models corporate standards regarding code of conduct, safety, appropriate handling of materials, controlled drug compounds, and GxP compliance.