Associate Director, Strategy & Innovation
AbbVie · Irvine
Company Description
About AbbVie
At Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, we develop, manufacture, and market a portfolio of leading aesthetics brands and products. Our aesthetics portfolio includes facial injectables, body contouring, plastics, skin care, and more. Our goal is to consistently provide our customers with innovation, education, exceptional service, and a commitment to excellence, all with a personal touch. For more information, visit https://global.allerganaesthetics.com/. Follow Allergan Aesthetics on LinkedIn.
Job Description
Lead transformative initiatives that redefine the future of aesthetic medicine. As an Associate Director, Strategy & Innovation at Allergan Aesthetics, you will partner with senior leaders to identify, prioritize, and solve complex strategic challenges across our global enterprise. This role offers a unique opportunity to leverage your elite consulting expertise, strategic vision, and operational excellence to drive measurable business impact—all while developing your leadership capabilities in an environment that rewards bold thinking, analytical precision, and transformative execution.
- Position Overview
- The Associate Director, Strategy & Innovation leads high-impact strategic and performance improvement initiatives across Allergan Aesthetics. You will analyze complex operations, identify breakthrough opportunities, and drive cross-functional teams toward measurable outcomes. This role bridges tactical excellence with strategic insight—translating vision into action through sophisticated analytics, stakeholder engagement, and implementation of innovative solutions. You'll demonstrate thought leadership, manage matrix teams, and leverage advanced AI capabilities to accelerate business transformation at divisional and functional levels.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead complex, strategic performance improvement projects across Allergan Aesthetics, applying advanced operational excellence principles and sophisticated analytical frameworks
- Partner with Director and VP-level stakeholders to identify, prioritize, and solve mission-critical business challenges through structured problem-solving and data-driven insights
- Analyze complex operations, systems, and processes to diagnose root causes, synthesize insights, and identify high-value transformation opportunities
- Direct cross-functional teams spanning business technology, marketing, sales, operations, and additional stakeholders to navigate competing priorities and deliver strategic outcomes
- Develop, manage, and evolve sophisticated project plans, establishing clear goals, critical milestones, strategic deliverables, and meaningful performance metrics
- Design and implement cutting-edge data analytics solutions leveraging AI to transform business intelligence capabilities and generate predictive insights
- Secure executive-level buy-in and investment through compelling business cases that align with organizational strategy and demonstrate tangible value creation
- Challenge status quo thinking through intellectual curiosity and hypothesis-driven problem-solving that transforms ambiguous challenges into structured solutions
- Provide thought leadership across multiple concurrent strategic initiatives, balancing competing priorities while maintaining exceptional quality standards
- Lead matrix teams through complex change initiatives, providing clear direction, removing barriers, and fostering a culture of excellence and accountability
- Maintain close communication with senior leadership, providing strategic updates on project impact and proactively addressing emerging business needs
- Safeguard confidentiality of proprietary corporate information while ensuring appropriate transparency with key stakeholders
Qualifications
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred
- 7+ years of experience leading strategic and operational improvement programs, with significant exposure in pharmaceuticals or medical device industry
- Proven track record of leading high-impact strategic initiatives, preferably from experience at a top-tier strategic consulting firm (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)
- Advanced expertise in applying sophisticated data analytics tools and AI platforms to generate actionable business insights and drive strategic decision-making
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams in a complex, matrix environment and navigate competing organizational priorities
- Superior analytical capabilities with a structured approach to problem-solving and the ability to translate complex data into compelling strategic narratives
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills with proven ability to influence senior leadership and secure executive buy-in
- Advanced project management expertise with experience leading enterprise-level transformation initiatives
- Strategic mindset with demonstrated ability to connect tactical execution to broader organizational objectives
- Outstanding communication skills with the ability to present complex concepts clearly and persuasively at all organizational levels
- Experience leading teams through ambiguity with minimal oversight, making high-quality decisions with limited information
- Demonstrated success in leveraging artificial intelligence to transform business processes and create competitive advantage
Distinguishing Attributes
- Strategic Depth: Operates at both tactical and strategic levels, connecting day-to-day execution with long-term enterprise objectives
- Leadership Impact: Leads large, cross-functional teams and influences decision-making at divisional and functional levels
- Business Scope: Works across division/functional boundaries to drive transformation initiatives with organization-wide impact
- Problem Complexity: Tackles complex, multi-dimensional challenges requiring sophisticated analysis and innovative solutions
- AI Expertise: Designs and implements advanced AI-powered analytics solutions beyond standard application, creating custom frameworks to address unique business needs
- Stakeholder Management: Influences director and VP-level stakeholders, securing buy-in for transformative initiatives through compelling business cases
- Decision Authority: Makes significant decisions impacting divisional performance with considerable autonomy
What We Offer
- Opportunity to lead transformative strategic initiatives with significant business impact and visibility
- Direct partnership with senior leadership across the global Allergan Aesthetics organization
- Culture that rewards analytical precision, strategic vision, and the courage to challenge conventional thinking
- Accelerated career development path toward leadership roles in strategy, transformation, and general management
- Cutting-edge exposure to advanced AI technologies and enterprise analytics platforms
- Leadership development through formal and informal mentorship from strategy executives
- Work that combines the strategic challenges of elite consulting with the satisfaction of driving implementation and measuring tangible outcomes
- Balance of strategic thinking and operational excellence in a collaborative, innovation-focused environment
At Allergan Aesthetics, we're seeking exceptional strategic talent who can drive transformation at scale. If you thrive on complex challenges, excel at leading cross-functional teams, and are passionate about redefining what's possible in aesthetic medicine through strategic innovation, we want to hear from you.
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.
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