Research Director Jobs at AbbVie with Visa Sponsorship
Research Director jobs at AbbVie lead drug discovery and translational science programs across immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. The company has a consistent track record of sponsoring work visas for senior scientific roles, supporting candidates through both nonimmigrant and immigrant visa pathways.
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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
The AbbVie Patient Services (APS) organization is responsible for providing exceptional patient experiences through the identification and execution of resources to support patients throughout their treatment journey. The Analytics and Performance Excellence (APEX) Market Access Patient Services (MAPS) function serves as the catalyst for understanding the patient’s treatment experience and developing analytical resources to support the APS team. The Associate Director, Market Research and Analytics - AbbVie Patient Services position will provide best in class analytics leadership for the Access, Reimbursement and Fulfillment team within APS MAPS. It will focus on Patient Support Program services, including Copay, Field Reimbursement Managers (FRMs) and Prior Authorization enablement. A core focus will be on improving and optimizing patient conversion, and helping to identify, reduce or eliminate any relevant barriers related to patient access through patient journey tracking.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Map out all aspects of the patient journey and identify all barriers to patient access
- Define and oversee the development of analytical solutions that explain the drivers or barriers impacting patient outcomes
- Establish KPIs and manage the development of dashboards that provide visibility into the performance of access solutions, including Copay, FRMs and Prior Authorization enablement
- Utilize third party vendors such as IQVIA, Symphony, Relay Health and CoverMyMeds to facilitate and accelerate the patient journey
- Identify and address key business issues related to program execution and performance, ensuring that multiple partners/stakeholder perspectives are considered
- Perform / lead primary market research as needed. This is a hybrid role with an analytics emphasis but includes some research. Analytics / research split is ~75% / 25%.
- Lead integration with Market Access and Brand MAPS teams with respect to Access, Reimbursement & Fulfillment – onboard and drive adoption of new best in class tools/capabilities developed in cooperation with relevant stakeholders
- Collaborate closely with Copay Center of Excellence (CCOE), AbbVie Patient Services, Data Operations, BTS and Brand teams, communicating gaps in data reliability, timeliness, metric hygiene, and contributing to the improvement of the overall analytics ecosystem
- Support CCOE team with copay forecasting capabilities, generating insights to effectively communicate impacts from copay design changes, or from industry or competitor actions
- Leverage innovative, sophisticated analytic models that address critical issues but also meet key business criteria (e.g. cost, risk, business impact) and key technical criteria (e.g. reliability, validity, and predictability)
- Lead a combination of contractors and external suppliers; mentor junior team members.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree required, with a concentration in Business, Analytics, Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering or a related discipline. Master’s Degree a plus
- This position requires 8+ years of experience in quantitative analysis of operational, sales or marketing data, and the ability to utilize data to develop business plans and strategies to better optimize a patient or customer funnel
- Knowledge and understanding of pharma ecosystem and datasets including physician-level prescribing, institutional sales data, payer-prescriber-level data, formulary data, Symphony/IQVIA claims, etc.
- Candidate must have strong leadership skills, a proven ability to work closely and effectively with all corporate functions and senior management, and the ability to clearly articulate how to address patient funnel related challenges
- Must exhibit proficiency commensurate with Associate Director level in the following competencies: anticipate future needs, build collaborative partnerships, design, and implement innovative solutions, demystify complex information, communicate insights and solutions
- The qualified candidate will be able to provide guidance and direction to onshore and offshore contractors, ensuring that relevant tasks and projects progress successfully.
- Self-driven, intellectually curious and independent mindset, comfortable assessing unexplored or imperfect data landscapes, and has instinctive intuition for associating data back to relevant business needs
- Experience with programming languages used in analytics (R, Python, Dataiku, SAS, or SPSS) and related statistical modules highly desired
- BI tool (Qlik/Tableau/Power BI) and DB query language (SQL/HIVE/IMPALA) knowledge preferred
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 Research Director Jobs at AbbVie
Align Your CV to AbbVie's Therapeutic Priorities
AbbVie's Research Director roles cluster around immunology, oncology, and neuroscience pipelines. Frame your CV around program leadership and translational outcomes in these areas, not just publications. Hiring managers are evaluating your ability to advance a candidate molecule, not just conduct research.
Confirm Your Visa Type Before Applying
AbbVie sponsors multiple visa categories for Research Directors, including H-1B, E-3, TN, and F-1 OPT. Knowing which category fits your nationality and timeline before your first recruiter call positions you as prepared and avoids surprises during offer negotiations.
Target Roles That Qualify as Specialty Occupations
USCIS requires H-1B roles to meet the specialty occupation standard, meaning a specific bachelor's degree or higher is a minimum entry requirement. Research Director positions at AbbVie typically require advanced degrees in biology, pharmacology, or a related field, which usually satisfies this threshold cleanly.
Negotiate Offer Timing Around H-1B Filing Windows
If you need an H-1B, USCIS only accepts cap-subject petitions in April for an October 1 start. If AbbVie extends an offer outside that window, discuss a cap-exempt route through an affiliated institution or whether premium processing can accelerate a change of status if you're already in the U.S.
Prepare for a Multi-Stage Interview Focused on Pipeline Impact
AbbVie's Research Director interviews typically include a scientific presentation alongside leadership and cross-functional collaboration assessments. Prepare documentation of programs you've advanced from discovery to IND-enabling studies, as this is the evidence that differentiates candidates at the director level.
Use Migrate Mate to Find Open Research Director Roles
Research Director positions at AbbVie are posted across multiple channels but not always labeled consistently. Use Migrate Mate to browse verified open roles at AbbVie that include visa sponsorship, so you're applying to positions where sponsorship is already confirmed rather than guessing from a generic job listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AbbVie sponsor H-1B visas for Research Directors?
Yes, AbbVie sponsors H-1B visas for Research Director roles. Research Director positions typically qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS standards because they require an advanced degree in a specific scientific discipline. AbbVie also sponsors H-1B1 visas for Chilean and Singaporean nationals, and E-3 visas for Australian citizens in equivalent roles.
How do I apply for Research Director jobs at AbbVie?
Applications go through AbbVie's careers portal, but roles are also listed on Migrate Mate, which filters specifically for positions that include visa sponsorship. Research Director roles at AbbVie typically move through an initial recruiter screen, a scientific presentation round, and a leadership panel before an offer is extended. Tailor your application to the specific therapeutic area listed in the job posting.
Which visa types does AbbVie commonly sponsor for Research Director roles?
AbbVie sponsors H-1B, H-1B1 visa, E-3, TN visa, J-1 visa, and F-1 OPT visas for Research Directors, as well as Green Card pathways including EB-2 and EB-3. The right visa depends on your nationality and career stage. Australians and Canadians often use E-3 or TN visas respectively, while most other nationalities rely on the H-1B or pursue immigrant visa sponsorship directly.
What qualifications does AbbVie expect for Research Director candidates?
AbbVie Research Director roles typically require a Ph.D. in a life sciences discipline such as pharmacology, immunology, oncology, or molecular biology, along with substantial postdoctoral or industry experience. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a track record of leading multidisciplinary teams, advancing drug candidates through preclinical stages, and publishing peer-reviewed research in their therapeutic area.
How long does AbbVie's visa sponsorship process take for Research Directors?
Timeline depends on the visa type. E-3 and TN visas can be processed in weeks through consular appointment. H-1B sponsorship follows USCIS's annual cap cycle, with a start date no earlier than October 1 following an April lottery. USCIS premium processing for H-1B petitions reduces the adjudication window to 15 business days. Green Card sponsorship via PERM labor certification typically takes one to three years from initiation.