Associate Director, Agency Relations

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 www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

The AbbVie Agency Relations (AR) team is seeking an Associate Director to join the team. The AR team’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

• Enhancing, improving, and managing external Agency relationships at the Parent Company and Agency level
• Driving development of superior work and optimal results for the Commercial organization
• Acting as a strategic partner throughout the Request for Proposal (RFP) Agency selection process, including Agency selection and evaluation
• Negotiating statements of work (SOW) in conjunction with Procurement partners
• Aligning partnerships with external Agencies and AbbVie Ad Agency

The Associate Director will be responsible for bringing a high level of expertise, quality, and innovation to AbbVie through both internal stakeholder and third-party relationships. They will establish, articulate, and implement strategies in collaboration with internal partners to ensure results meet the requirements of the organization.  

The Associate Director must be able to: show in-depth knowledge of agency operations (i.e. staffing, financial and process models); collaborate and partner with internal cross-functional teams; translate brand team needs and fully understand their key annual objectives; demonstrate the ability to pivot between tasks and responsibilities as priorities shift while keeping end goals and deadlines in mind; show comfort to take on opportunities with limited oversight (depending on the circumstances); be comfortable communicating across various levels (junior-level up to VP-level) of both internal and external partners.

Key Responsibilities Include:

This position will be responsible for maximizing the value of key AOR/Digital AOR, Event, Market Access and Public Affairs agency relationships and continuing to drive Agency Relations operations. This will include a wide range of functions, including, but not limited to:

• Navigating the organization; understanding key stakeholder relationships
• Leading and implementing the agency evaluation process (i.e., define criteria, work with the business and agencies to prioritize criteria, ensure evaluations are complete, lead feedback discussions and clearly define next steps)
• Collaborating closely with AbbVie’s Procurement team to run Agency RFPs and drive cost savings through Agency SOW negotiations (i.e. both tactics and staffing)
• Understanding the pharmaceutical agency landscape, including Market Access and Public Affairs
• Managing AOR/DAOR, Event, Market Access and Public Affairs relationships
• Managing external vendor partners and key Agency relationships: attend weekly meetings, act as liaison between Marketing and Agencies
• Driving strategy with Marketing teams by understanding their evolving marketing needs and strategically selecting agencies for RFP consideration
• Developing efficiencies in Agency Relationship Management operations: business processes, agency capabilities and other continuous improvements
• Liaising with Agency partners and Marketing teams on day-to-day business management issues; implementing action plans as necessary; leading Marketing and Agency Ways of Working meetings
• Educating and training Marketers on Agency ways of working, policy, and compliance

• Advertising Agency experience or Agency Management experience required.  Must have in-depth understanding of Agency operations and financials/compensation models
• Experience in marketing/advertising, working within an agency is required, minimum of 10 – 12 years
• In-depth knowledge of marketing strategy, brand building, tactical planning, and execution.
• Expertise in building budgets against annual tactical plans
• Self-starter with ability to juggle multiple initiatives and troubleshoot issues independently
• Excellent collaboration skills and able to coordinate among cross functional teams
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Comfortable with ambiguity and evolving strategies; adaptable in dynamic work environments
• Exceptional business acumen and maturity

Position is mainly hybrid; however, it is expected the Associate Director will be present in the IL office as needed for key Marketing / Agency meetings and presentations. This may include Agency RFP presentations, new Marketing training, Ways of Working meetings. Minimal travel may be necessary.

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 short-term incentive programs. ​

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

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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. 

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

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