Research Director Jobs at AbbVie with Visa Sponsorship
AbbVie hires Research Directors to 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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Get Access To All JobsCompany 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.
Job Description
The Director II, Information Research Business Operations & Academic Partnerships is a senior enterprise leader responsible for end-to-end operational, financial, and strategic enablement of the Information Research (IR) organization within Business Technology Solutions (BTS). This role shapes how IR plans, funds, governs, communicates, and scales its impact, while also extending IR’s capabilities through academic partnerships and external ecosystems. The Director II acts as a primary advisor and delegate to IR senior leadership, driving alignment across IR, BTS, R&D, Finance, Procurement, Quality, and external partners. The position leads multiple people managers, and key capability areas, with accountability for organizational performance, talent development, and enterprise outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Business & Operations Leadership
- Provide senior level leadership for IR business operations, defining enterprise grade management routines, governance models, and performance standards.
- Set strategic direction for IR operational enablement, ensuring alignment to BTS, R&D, and AbbVie enterprise priorities.
- Lead IR annual strategic planning, long range planning (LRP), capital planning, and ongoing cost strategy with an enterprise lens.
- Establish and evolve IR demand management, prioritization, and investment allocation frameworks at scale.
Financial Stewardship & Portfolio Governance
- Serve as the primary accountable owner for IR functional and project budgets across portfolios and global teams.
- Lead IR level financial forecasting, scenario modeling, and dynamic funding strategies.
- Partner with IR senior leadership team, Finance, and BTS leadership to manage budget performance, risks, and tradeoffs.
- Govern portfolio management processes, project health reporting, spend transparency, and forecast-to-actuals rigor across IR.
Strategic Resource Management Strategy
- Own IR’s supplier strategy and governance model, including software, hardware, scientific content, and professional services vendors.
- Oversee R&D IT’s preferred provider pool alignment and strategic sourcing decisions.
- Provide oversight of EKA operations, content lifecycle management, and compliance including copyright consultation.
- Ensure supplier performance, value realization, and risk management across the IR portfolio.
- Lead IR’s third-party resource management, including contractual and financial oversight for managed services provider and project management resources.
Change Leadership & Enterprise Communications
- Set the vision and strategy for IR change management, enabling largescale transformation and adoption.
- Own IR communications governance, ensuring consistent, effective enterprise messaging across platforms and audiences.
- Lead senior leadership level communications, organizational readiness strategies, and major engagement campaigns.
- Drive transparency, trust, and alignment across IR, BTS, and R&D through disciplined communication practices.
Academic Partnerships & External Ecosystem Leadership
- Define and execute IR’s academic partnerships strategy, positioning AbbVie as a leader in academic collaboration and early talent engagement.
- Expand and govern partnerships with universities and institutions supporting AI/ML, software engineering, analytics, research, and business systems.
- Oversee student contracting models, academic consulting engagements, vendor evaluations, and research collaborations.
- Ensure academic partnerships deliver measurable business value, capability expansion, and talent pipelines.
Leadership, Talent & Influence
- Lead and develop a multilayer leadership team, and senior individual contributors.
- Represent IR at the enterprise level in governance forums, steering committees, and cross company initiatives.
- Drive complex, high impact initiatives that span organizations, geographies, and disciplines.
- Serve as a role model for AbbVie leadership behaviors, talent development, and inclusive leadership.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 11+ years of experience OR Masters Degree with 10+ years experience OR PhD with 6+ years experience in business operations, financial management, portfolio leadership, or strategy within a complex, global organization.
- Demonstrated experience operating at the executive or enterprise leadership level.
- Proven ability to lead leaders and manage large, complex portfolios and programs.
- Deep expertise in financial planning, LRP, capital management, and vendor governance.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence across senior leadership teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting R&D, technology, data, or research organizations.
- Experience building and governing academic or external partnerships.
- MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale change and transformation.
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.
Job Description
The Director II, Information Research Business Operations & Academic Partnerships is a senior enterprise leader responsible for end-to-end operational, financial, and strategic enablement of the Information Research (IR) organization within Business Technology Solutions (BTS). This role shapes how IR plans, funds, governs, communicates, and scales its impact, while also extending IR’s capabilities through academic partnerships and external ecosystems. The Director II acts as a primary advisor and delegate to IR senior leadership, driving alignment across IR, BTS, R&D, Finance, Procurement, Quality, and external partners. The position leads multiple people managers, and key capability areas, with accountability for organizational performance, talent development, and enterprise outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Business & Operations Leadership
- Provide senior level leadership for IR business operations, defining enterprise grade management routines, governance models, and performance standards.
- Set strategic direction for IR operational enablement, ensuring alignment to BTS, R&D, and AbbVie enterprise priorities.
- Lead IR annual strategic planning, long range planning (LRP), capital planning, and ongoing cost strategy with an enterprise lens.
- Establish and evolve IR demand management, prioritization, and investment allocation frameworks at scale.
Financial Stewardship & Portfolio Governance
- Serve as the primary accountable owner for IR functional and project budgets across portfolios and global teams.
- Lead IR level financial forecasting, scenario modeling, and dynamic funding strategies.
- Partner with IR senior leadership team, Finance, and BTS leadership to manage budget performance, risks, and tradeoffs.
- Govern portfolio management processes, project health reporting, spend transparency, and forecast-to-actuals rigor across IR.
Strategic Resource Management Strategy
- Own IR’s supplier strategy and governance model, including software, hardware, scientific content, and professional services vendors.
- Oversee R&D IT’s preferred provider pool alignment and strategic sourcing decisions.
- Provide oversight of EKA operations, content lifecycle management, and compliance including copyright consultation.
- Ensure supplier performance, value realization, and risk management across the IR portfolio.
- Lead IR’s third-party resource management, including contractual and financial oversight for managed services provider and project management resources.
Change Leadership & Enterprise Communications
- Set the vision and strategy for IR change management, enabling largescale transformation and adoption.
- Own IR communications governance, ensuring consistent, effective enterprise messaging across platforms and audiences.
- Lead senior leadership level communications, organizational readiness strategies, and major engagement campaigns.
- Drive transparency, trust, and alignment across IR, BTS, and R&D through disciplined communication practices.
Academic Partnerships & External Ecosystem Leadership
- Define and execute IR’s academic partnerships strategy, positioning AbbVie as a leader in academic collaboration and early talent engagement.
- Expand and govern partnerships with universities and institutions supporting AI/ML, software engineering, analytics, research, and business systems.
- Oversee student contracting models, academic consulting engagements, vendor evaluations, and research collaborations.
- Ensure academic partnerships deliver measurable business value, capability expansion, and talent pipelines.
Leadership, Talent & Influence
- Lead and develop a multilayer leadership team, and senior individual contributors.
- Represent IR at the enterprise level in governance forums, steering committees, and cross company initiatives.
- Drive complex, high impact initiatives that span organizations, geographies, and disciplines.
- Serve as a role model for AbbVie leadership behaviors, talent development, and inclusive leadership.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 11+ years of experience OR Masters Degree with 10+ years experience OR PhD with 6+ years experience in business operations, financial management, portfolio leadership, or strategy within a complex, global organization.
- Demonstrated experience operating at the executive or enterprise leadership level.
- Proven ability to lead leaders and manage large, complex portfolios and programs.
- Deep expertise in financial planning, LRP, capital management, and vendor governance.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to influence across senior leadership teams.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting R&D, technology, data, or research organizations.
- Experience building and governing academic or external partnerships.
- MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-scale change and transformation.
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 Jobs
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.
Research Director at AbbVie jobs are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Research Director at AbbVie JobsFrequently 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, E-3, TN, J-1, 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.
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