Scientific Director / Senior Medical Director, Medical Affairs – Parkinson’s Disease, US

About the role

The Scientific Director / Senior Medical Director, Medical Affairs provides specialist medical and scientific expertise for a key asset for Parkinson’s Disease within AbbVie's Neuroscience portfolio, driving core strategic and operational medical affairs activities. Reporting to the Senior Scientific Director for Parkinson’s Disease, this individual operates with a degree of autonomy while partnering closely with commercial and R&D teams to shape evolving medical, brand, and value-and-access strategies that meet on-market and therapeutic area needs.

This is a high-impact role for a medically trained scientific leader who takes ownership, exercises independent scientific judgment, and thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment, navigating ambiguity and competing priorities while driving clarity across matrixed, cross-functional teams.

The position is based at our Mettawa, IL (headquarters) location following a hybrid schedule of Tuesdays-Thursdays in office.

Responsibilities

• Set and drive medical affairs strategy. Independently initiate and lead core medical affairs activities— including data generation and dissemination strategy, the Medical Affairs and Brand Plan—partnering with team to ensure execution that meets on-market and therapeutic area needs.
• Serve as the scientific interface across functions. Actively solicit expert opinion through leader interactions and coordinate scientific and medical activities with internal stakeholders (commercial, market access, HEOR, clinical operations, clinical development, and regulatory) to ensure broad cross-functional perspectives shape Clinical Development Plans and protocols—acting as the scientific team interface for key regulatory discussions.
• Enable education and scientific communications. Support the development of scientifically accurate marketing materials, medical education programs, advisories, and symposia; provide scientific/medical education to investigators, clinical monitors, and Global Project Team members; and stay current through conferences and medical literature as a therapeutic area resource.
• Ensure operational rigor. Ensure budgets, timelines, compliance requirements are factored into programs' scientific activities.
• Senior Medical Director (those holding an M.D.) may provide oversight of Medical Affairs-led studies. Monitor study integrity and review, interpret, and communicate accumulating safety and efficacy data, serving as the in-house clinical expert for the molecule and disease area and coordinating scientific activities with internal stakeholders and leadership.

Qualifications

• Advanced Degree PhD or PharmD.
• Strong Medical Affairs capability (7-10 years), with a proven track record across core medical affairs activities (data generation, scientific communications, KOL engagement, and cross-functional strategy).
• Knowledge of evidence generation strategy (real-world evidence, investigator-initiated and company-sponsored studies, registries; brand strategy development, scientific communications development, medical insights, and promotional review)
• Knowledge of clinical trial methodology, data analysis and interpretation, regulatory requirements governing clinical trials and experience in development strategy and the design of protocols.
• Proven leadership skills in a cross-functional global team environment.
• Must possess excellent oral and written English communication skills.

Senior Medical Director Qualifications

• Medical Doctorate (M.D.) degree or equivalent (D.O. or non-US equivalent of M.D). Relevant therapeutic specialty in an academic or hospital environment preferred. Completion of residency and/or fellowship is preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical trial or medical affairs experience in the pharmaceutical industry or academia or equivalent. 3+ years of experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of evidence generation strategy (real-world evidence, investigator-initiated and company-sponsored studies, registries; brand strategy development, scientific communications development, medical insights, and promotional review)
• Knowledge of clinical trial methodology, data analysis and interpretation, regulatory requirements governing clinical trials and experience in development strategy and the design of protocols.
• Proven leadership skills in a cross-functional global team environment.
• Must possess excellent oral and written English communication skills.

Pay

Pay Range: $182,000 - $346,000 USD