Sr Director, Global Product Development Skincare R&D

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Company Description

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 immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at Follow @abbvie on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Job Description

With our own research and development team focused on driving innovation in aesthetics, we are committed to providing the most comprehensive science-based product offerings available.

The Sr Director, Product Development (PD), Global Skincare R&D will be based in Irvine, CA, reporting to the VP of Global Skincare R&D. The position will be responsible for leading New Product Development initiatives, leading Formulation & Scale-up/Tech Transfer teams, driving the innovation pipeline for SkinMedica & Diamond Glow brands within Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company. The individual will be responsible for optimizing and executing the Skincare Franchise Strategy, co-chairing Product Presentation and Design Strategy Team to create and align development plans for pipeline initiatives. The position will be a member of the Skincare Asset Strategy Team, providing strategic direction on pipeline development and supporting proposals and presentations to the skincare Governance Board. The role will build strong alliances between R&D and Operations (S&T, Brand-Ops, Packaging, Procurement), optimize skincare processes to bring agility and innovation within the AbbVie operating model and quality systems.

The position will also lead due diligence of skincare external assets, develop an R&D procurement supplier strategy for new product innovation, and support R&D strategy at Third Party Manufacturing in collaboration with key partners, overseeing skincare R&D budget allocation and creating new operating models to drive future growth. The individual will drive and manage all SkinMedica Product Development efforts, covering a wide range of topical skin care products, including OTC and cosmetic treatments, leading a team of chemists, engineers, and technicians in the creation and scale-up of novel formulations to complement the SkinMedica portfolio, and providing consultation/guidance to Operations Science & Technology on technical issues of marketed products. This role will ensure fit-for-purpose skincare product development execution reflected in controlled documents and provide technical support to product inquiries, strengthening SkinMedica scientific credibility by delivering differentiated formulations in partnership with Global Commercial Development. The individual will partner with other skincare R&D functions—skincare biological research, clinical, regulatory, safety and scientific affairs—to create future pipeline and support current marketed products.

The individual will oversee the build-out, management and execution of the Skincare Aesthetics Bioprocessing Innovation Center for developing new cosmetic ingredient technologies. The position will support External Innovation & Open Science efforts for SkinMedica by proactively identifying partnership opportunities with external parties (suppliers, academic institutions, start-ups, other manufacturers, etc.) and support potential assets for licensing/acquisition, as well as serving as the primary technical liaison with Search & Evaluate teams. The individual will support Franchise Strategy within Skincare R&D and lead skincare technical quality and manufacturing stage-gate discussions at the skincare Governance board. The position will share leadership with Upstream Marketing in identifying emerging trends/technologies in the skincare industry and organizing Innovation/Ideation Workshops to ensure a steady flow of new product pipeline ideas, and provide technical and strategic input to the Governance Structure regarding product lifecycle decisions.

Main Areas Of Responsibilities

• Guides and supervises the Product Development team on all R&D efforts (including Formulation Development, Scale-up/Tech Transfer, etc.) to create new and novel products that complement the SkinMedica product array. Provides technical support to product inquiries and helps strengthen SkinMedica scientific credibility by delivering scientific presentations/workshops at Educational Summits and Sales Training.
• Manages strategic relationships with suppliers, supports External Innovation & Open Science efforts for skincare, proactively identifying new ingredients and innovation opportunities, and supports external diligence activities.
• Leads Product Presentation and Design Strategy Team to oversee development plans for skincare assets through the stage-gate process. Co-leads with Upstream Marketing in identifying emerging trends/technologies and organizing Innovation/Ideation Workshops to create new pipeline ideas.
• Leads diligence of all Skincare External Assets with Business Development & Search & Evaluate.
• R&D Procurement strategy: Create and lead supplier strategy for skincare NPI.
• R&D Strategy at Third-Party Manufacturing: Create and lead R&D Strategy at TPM in partnership with cross-functional partners in External Manufacturing & QA.
• Budget: Responsible for overseeing skincare R&D budget allocation strategy in partnership with PPM & GB chairs.
• New Innovation Operating Models & White Space Opportunities: Create strategies for new innovation operating models to future-proof rapidly changing environments.

Qualifications

• Ten or more years of industry experience in the development of cosmetic and OTC topical formulations, especially in skin and sun care or adjacent formulation development.
• Strong background in product formulation and a track record of successful US and global product launches.
• Experience in managing, mentoring and coaching a team of creative scientists; experience managing a team of chemists/technicians in an R&D formulation laboratory is highly desired.
• Key relationships with major raw material and ingredient suppliers are critical.
• Sound knowledge of product quality and stability protocols is essential.
• Strong track record of talent development.
• Strong track record of communication with cross-functional partners to influence and drive programs forward.
• Proven experience in R&D procurement strategy and diligence within the skincare or broader consumer healthcare industry.
• Demonstrated leadership to drive cross-functional excellence and manage partnerships with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.
• Experience developing and implementing procurement and supplier strategies for new product introductions.
• Strong analytical skills with experience managing budgets and resource allocation.
• Experience with third-party manufacturing processes and quality assurance requirements.
• Strategic thinking with a track record of driving enterprise-level and functional-level innovation and adapting to changing market landscapes.
• Track record of building a culture of innovation agility and trust.
• Familiarity with scale-up and manufacturing, as well as US and international ingredient/product regulations, is preferred.

Education

PhD with 15+ years of experience OR BS/MS with 20+ years.

Additional Information

• 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 short-term incentive programs.
• This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs.

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.

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