Clinical Research Director Jobs at AbbVie with Visa Sponsorship
AbbVie hires Clinical Research Directors across therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology, and neuroscience, and has an established track record of sponsoring work visas for specialized research leadership roles. If you're an international candidate pursuing this level, AbbVie's global clinical footprint makes it a realistic target.
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Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
Overview:
Biologics Drug Product Development (Bio DPD), a part of Development Sciences within AbbVie’s R&D, is a global organization that is responsible for drug product formulation and process development, and definition of the product presentation for biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides, neurotoxins etc.) and genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, Cell Therapy).
AbbVie is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Associate Director, located in North Chicago, IL. We are seeking an accomplished scientist with a proven track record in biologics drug product development. This position will be an integral part of the product development and CMC teams and will have strong collaborations with several stakeholders, including discovery research, analytical research and development, bioprocess development, combination products development, product development science and technology, pilot plants and third-party manufacturers.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as single point of contact for programs developed in collaboration with external partners.
- Develop and execute robust drug product development strategies for external programs.
- Serve as a drug product team leader for one or more projects and represents Bio DPD in the cross-functional Product Presentation and Device Strategy Team (PPDST) and the CMC Team.
- Effectively and timely communicate development plans, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and line management.
- Support due diligence for business development opportunities.
Qualifications
- Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines with 16+ (Bachelors), 14+ (Masters), or 8+ (PhD) years of relevant industry experience
- Proven ability to solve critical scientific problems
- Strong experience working with external partners, contract research organizations and third-party manufacturers
- Strong experience with biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides and/or neurotoxins), parenteral synthetic molecules and/or genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, cell therapy) drug product formulation and process development, and tech transfer
- Extensive experience with sterile manufacturing unit operations (freeze-thaw, compounding, mixing, filtration and filling) development and transfer
- Experience as CMC cross-functional matrix team leader with strong ability to influence without authority
- Hands-on experience with authoring regulatory filings for biologics and sterile parenteral products
- Understanding of relevant cGMP and regulatory guidance for biologics and sterile parenteral products
- Experience with quality risk management and control strategies for biologics and sterile parenteral products
Key Competencies:
- Deep scientific knowledge and significant hands-on experience with biologics and parenteral drug product development
- Effectively communicates to influence without authority, drives technical excellence, and inspires continuous improvement
- Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher performance
- Connects ideas from disparate fields, integrates data and information quickly, and takes risks to achieve the highest performance
- 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 innovation to reality
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

Company Description
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
Overview:
Biologics Drug Product Development (Bio DPD), a part of Development Sciences within AbbVie’s R&D, is a global organization that is responsible for drug product formulation and process development, and definition of the product presentation for biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides, neurotoxins etc.) and genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, Cell Therapy).
AbbVie is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Associate Director, located in North Chicago, IL. We are seeking an accomplished scientist with a proven track record in biologics drug product development. This position will be an integral part of the product development and CMC teams and will have strong collaborations with several stakeholders, including discovery research, analytical research and development, bioprocess development, combination products development, product development science and technology, pilot plants and third-party manufacturers.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as single point of contact for programs developed in collaboration with external partners.
- Develop and execute robust drug product development strategies for external programs.
- Serve as a drug product team leader for one or more projects and represents Bio DPD in the cross-functional Product Presentation and Device Strategy Team (PPDST) and the CMC Team.
- Effectively and timely communicate development plans, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and line management.
- Support due diligence for business development opportunities.
Qualifications
- Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines with 16+ (Bachelors), 14+ (Masters), or 8+ (PhD) years of relevant industry experience
- Proven ability to solve critical scientific problems
- Strong experience working with external partners, contract research organizations and third-party manufacturers
- Strong experience with biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides and/or neurotoxins), parenteral synthetic molecules and/or genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, cell therapy) drug product formulation and process development, and tech transfer
- Extensive experience with sterile manufacturing unit operations (freeze-thaw, compounding, mixing, filtration and filling) development and transfer
- Experience as CMC cross-functional matrix team leader with strong ability to influence without authority
- Hands-on experience with authoring regulatory filings for biologics and sterile parenteral products
- Understanding of relevant cGMP and regulatory guidance for biologics and sterile parenteral products
- Experience with quality risk management and control strategies for biologics and sterile parenteral products
Key Competencies:
- Deep scientific knowledge and significant hands-on experience with biologics and parenteral drug product development
- Effectively communicates to influence without authority, drives technical excellence, and inspires continuous improvement
- Builds strong relationships with peers and cross-functional partners to enable higher performance
- Connects ideas from disparate fields, integrates data and information quickly, and takes risks to achieve the highest performance
- 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 innovation to reality
Additional Information
Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law:
- The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.
- We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
- This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.
Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law.
AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.
US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html
US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:
https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Clinical Research Director Jobs at AbbVie Jobs
Align your CV to AbbVie's therapeutic focus areas
AbbVie's clinical pipeline centers on immunology, oncology, hematology, and neuroscience. Tailor your CV to highlight direct trial leadership in these areas, as hiring managers filter for therapeutic alignment before reviewing credentials at the director level.
Document your regulatory and IND experience early
Clinical Research Directors at AbbVie are expected to lead FDA-regulated studies end to end. Before applying, compile documentation of your IND submissions, protocol authorship, and cross-functional oversight. Gaps here slow down both the offer process and any subsequent USCIS petition.
Search AbbVie's open Clinical Research Director roles on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters AbbVie's Clinical Research Director postings by visa type, so you can confirm sponsorship eligibility before investing time in an application. It narrows a broad job search to positions where your immigration status is already accounted for.
Understand how AbbVie structures H-1B sponsorship for directors
For senior clinical roles, AbbVie typically sponsors H-1B petitions after extending a formal offer. If you're on F-1 OPT, confirm your OPT expiration date against the H-1B cap-gap window so you can remain authorized during USCIS processing without a gap in employment.
Prepare for PERM labor certification if pursuing permanent residence
Director-level clinical roles at AbbVie often fall under EB-2 or EB-3 sponsorship pathways. The PERM process requires DOL-supervised recruitment, so your employer cannot fast-track it. Align your start date expectations with a multi-year permanent residency timeline from the outset.
Request employer-of-record clarity before signing the offer
AbbVie uses multiple legal entities across its U.S. operations. Confirm which entity will appear on your I-129 petition, because the employer name on your H-1B approval must match your I-9 and E-Verify records exactly to avoid work authorization complications on day one.
Clinical Research Director at AbbVie jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Clinical Research Director at AbbVie JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does AbbVie sponsor H-1B visas for Clinical Research Directors?
Yes. AbbVie sponsors H-1B visas for Clinical Research Directors and has a consistent pattern of filing petitions for senior clinical roles. Sponsorship is typically tied to a formal offer, so the process begins after you clear AbbVie's interview stages. If you're already in H-1B status, AbbVie can file an H-1B transfer without waiting for the annual lottery.
How do I apply for Clinical Research Director jobs at AbbVie?
Applications go through AbbVie's careers portal, where Clinical Research Director roles are posted by therapeutic area and location. Migrate Mate surfaces these postings filtered by visa sponsorship type, which helps you confirm eligibility before applying. At the director level, AbbVie's process typically includes a recruiter screen, a hiring manager interview, and a panel review with cross-functional stakeholders.
Which visa types does AbbVie commonly use for Clinical Research Directors?
AbbVie sponsors H-1B, E-3, H-1B1, TN, and J-1 visas for clinical roles, as well as F-1 OPT and CPT for earlier-career positions. For director-level hires, H-1B is the most common nonimmigrant pathway. AbbVie also supports Green Card sponsorship through EB-2 and EB-3 immigrant visa categories for qualifying employees in permanent positions.
What qualifications does AbbVie expect for a Clinical Research Director?
AbbVie typically requires an advanced degree in a life sciences field, such as an M.D., Ph.D., or PharmD, alongside substantial experience leading Phase II through Phase IV clinical trials. Therapeutic area expertise in oncology, immunology, or neuroscience is weighted heavily. Cross-functional leadership experience, including managing CROs and interfacing with regulatory agencies, is expected at the director level rather than preferred.
How long does the visa sponsorship process take for a Clinical Research Director at AbbVie?
For an H-1B transfer or cap-exempt petition, USCIS standard processing runs several months, though premium processing can reduce that to 15 business days. For new H-1B cap-subject cases, the annual lottery in March determines eligibility, with an October 1 start date if selected. PERM-based Green Card sponsorship runs longer, often two to four years depending on your priority date and country of birth.
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