Director, External Innovation, Strategy

The main focus for the Director, External Innovation, Strategy will be formulating strategies and creating new sources of growth for AbbVie, by leveraging the evolving innovation ecosystem in China to accelerate and expand internal innovation and unlock external opportunities​. The scope of activities encompasses building fact bases regarding relevant topics, driving internal and external discussions to align opinions and wisdom from a wide range of functions, and formulating/implementing strategies concerning any types of assets (platforms, individual drug candidates, pipelines, and acquisition targets) at any stages in development (discovery- to commercial-stage).

Responsibilities:

 The Director, External Innovation, Strategy will

• Closely monitor, interpret, and predict the evolving landscape and trends in therapeutics innovation in China and globally. Proactively search for, identify, and evaluate potential strategic opportunities that AbbVie could leverage to further enhance both internal and external innovations.

• Lead cross-functional discussions and alignment on our perspectives, needs, and potential actions towards the strategic opportunities that emerge from the above, including accelerating internal R&D at lower cost and higher efficiency, by leveraging local biotech, CROs, patient resources, and other capabilities in China, while ensuring scrutiny on quality.

• Validate and pressure-test hypothesis of value generation for AbbVie and global patients based on new trends and programs in innovation and design implementation strategies via working closely with key stakeholders across functions both at AbbVie and external organizations.

• Lead affiliate-level and global initiatives that foster the dialogue with potential partners from China, such as AbbVie-branded partnering days, local and regional partnering events. Lead cross-functional preparation workstreams that span event objectives, event strategy, stakeholder engagement, implementation logistics, public affairs, government affairs, corporate strategy, AbbVie Ventures, and vendor management.

• Track and communicate the status of active assessments and strategy processes, including (1) information of key internal stakeholders on a timely basis (2) delivery of oral and written progress updates for executive-level audiences, and (3) timely capturing of interactions, events, correspondence and information materials in AbbVie’s information management systems.

• Network with existing and potential future partners from the innovation ecosystem in China, to ensure awareness of AbbVie’s strategic priorities for partnering and key capabilities as a partner to entities from China, BD objectives.

• Collaborate as needed with AbbVie Ventures, for the strategic planning of potential future growth in China as well as sourcing and scientific/technical assessment of equity investment opportunities.

• Facilitate creation of institutional memory for strategic opportunities by providing clear, concise assessments and recommendations for future reference. Fully leverage new and existing external and internal opportunity management tools to support the operations of the growing S&E group.

Key Stakeholders:

Internal: S&E Global Team, Global BD&A team, broader CBSO teams, Transactions Legal, R&D, China Affiliate organization, Global and International Commercial organization, AbbVie Ventures, Executive Management.

External: CEOs, CBOs, heads of R&D of existing and potential future partner organizations, partners of major venture funds and P/E funds.