
Associate Director, Pipeline & External Innovation Communications
- North Chicago, IL
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Partner with TA communications leads and the Head of Pipeline Communications to execute strategies that elevate awareness and understanding of AbbVie’s scientific advancements, data milestones, and innovation platforms.
- Support communication planning and execution for scientific data disclosures (e.g., congress presentations, publications), clinical development milestones, regulatory filings, and pre-commercial announcements.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with R&D, Clinical, Medical Affairs, Commercial, and Alliance Management to ensure alignment and integration of communications across functions.
- Support communication efforts related to external innovation, including strategic partnerships, research collaborations, and licensing agreements.
- Work in close partnership with the Media Relations and Social Media teams to develop and deploy integrated communications strategies across external channels.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide non-branded initiatives, including disease awareness and thought leadership campaigns.
- Develop and track communications KPIs to measure success, refine strategies, and communicate impact to internal stakeholders.
- Foster a collaborative, cross-functional mindset and help cultivate a culture of scientific storytelling within the Corporate Affairs organization.
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or background in life sciences strongly preferred.
- Minimum of 5+ years of experience in integrated communications, with a focus on scientific, data, or R&D communications in the healthcare or biopharmaceutical industry.
- Solid understanding of the drug development lifecycle and the broader life sciences industry.
- Strong understanding of new and emerging communications trends
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific data into clear, compelling narratives tailored to diverse audiences.
- Proven track record of high-quality tactical execution and measurable outcomes.
- Ability to provide strategic communications counsel to senior leaders and cross-functional partners.
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to lead multiple initiatives in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
- Excellent verbal, written, and visual storytelling skills.
- Collaborative, proactive, and solutions-oriented mindset.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity, with strong business acumen and enterprise thinking.
- Scientific and strategic fluency
- Business storytelling and audience-centric messaging
- Cross-functional collaboration and influence
- Innovation and continuous improvement
- Accountability and operational excellence
- Enterprise-first mindset