Director Of Innovations & Insights

This position is based in our Domestic Supply Chain Hub in North Chicago, IL (3 days onsite/2 days remote, 100% remote option is not available), relocation assistance is available for this role for candidates outside of Illinois. 25% travel (domestic & global)

Purpose:

The Director of Innovations & Insights will lead a team dedicated to evolving business models and leveraging advanced analytics to drive strategic decision-making. This individual will be responsible for blending innovative thinking with strategic vision to implement novel strategies that optimize logistics operations and enhance supply chain efficiency. The Director will partner with senior leaders to identify opportunities and execute projects across business units, ensuring alignment with AbbVie's core objectives and fostering a culture of continuous improvement in global distribution and logistics.

Responsibilities:

Monitor, understand, and prioritize external trends of relevance to supply chain operations, and help determine how AbbVie should prepare and/or respond. Lead strategic discussions on external trends, competitor strategies and potential disruptors, and translate these to actionable strategic initiatives. Conduct in-depth market, peer, and competitive research to uncover strategic insights that inform decision-making.

Strategic partner to senior cross functional leaders across major transformational initiatives to define objectives, scope, clear deliverables and workstreams, ensuring capable delivery within the team. Facilitate innovation labs, workshops, and cross-functional ideation sessions to surface bold ideas.

Oversee complex, cross-functional initiatives, including driving the problem-solving process and supporting research and analytics, and distilling pragmatic recommendations for management consideration. Oversee management of strategic projects and innovation initiatives, aligning with objectives.

Leverage sophisticated analytical mindset to identify opportunities and optimize supply chain process to drive measurable impact and elevated business outcomes. Develop predictive and prescriptive models to support business decisions.

Lead a team serving as an innovation hub to drive supply chain strategic evolution, fostering a mindset of rapid learning while scaling and communicating best practices across the organization. Identify and assess emerging technologies, including AI, blockchain, and automation for supply chain operations.

Facilitates identification, evaluation, and implementation of novel tools and technologies that can be employed to improve or accelerate internal and external ways of working across logistics.

Build iterative feedback mechanisms ensuring that end-user input and evolving business needs guide ongoing innovation cycles.

Curate and prioritize a portfolio of innovation opportunities, progress through structured experimentation in coordination with BTS.

Orchestrate lifecycle of strategic mid to long-term planning processes, including budgeting, financial oversight, and execution readiness.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree required. Advanced degree highly preferred.

A minimum of 12 years of experience in a complex, matrix organization including: 5-7 years in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry preferred, 5+ years leading teams with demonstrated experience running large scale projects effectively.

Demonstrated ability to design and implement new frameworks and capabilities from concept through execution.

Program management experience with demonstrated decision-making is required. Person must have demonstrated ability to work under pressure, to think strategically in problem solving and decision-making.

Proven performance in a matrix environment with ability to influence and align stakeholders. Ability to interact externally and internally to support business strategy.

Strong leadership skills, with the ability to provide timely and direct feedback and motivate a team behind a common vision.

Strong analytical skills. Recognized ability to evaluate complex issues from multiple perspectives to ensure that balanced risk assessments are made.

Demonstrated experience in implementing organizational change through innovative approaches.