Cluster South External Affairs Associate Director

About AbbVie

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

The External Affairs Director for Cluster South is responsible for defining and leading AbbVie’s External Affairs strategy across Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay.

The role ensures strategic alignment between global External Affairs priorities, cluster business strategy, and country-specific stakeholder engagement needs, while safeguarding AbbVie’s reputation and strengthening the company’s ability to operate effectively within the healthcare ecosystem.

The External Affairs Director leads the cluster External Affairs organization, integrating the following capabilities:

• Government Affairs
• Public Affairs
• Patient Advocacy / Patient Relations
• Corporate and Internal Communications

The role holds direct strategic and operational responsibility for Government Affairs, particularly in Argentina, and ensures strategy definition and execution through the reporting teams for the remaining capabilities across the cluster.

The position is a member of the AMT Cluster South and serves as a strategic advisor to the General Manager on policy, reputation, stakeholder engagement and external healthcare environment dynamics.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Define and lead the External Affairs strategy for the Southern Cone Cluster, ensuring alignment between Global External Affairs priorities, Cluster strategic objectives, Country-specific stakeholder environments and including the following responsibilities:

• Translating global External Affairs priorities into cluster-level strategies.
• Ensuring consistent external positioning and stakeholders’ engagement across Cluster.
• Anticipating policy, regulatory and stakeholders’ trends that may impact AbbVie’s operating environment.
• Proactively shape the external environment to address access policy, access and reimbursement barriers affecting pipeline and on-market products.
• Supporting the development of public policy frameworks that promote patient access to innovative medicines and enable sustainable healthcare systems.

1. Hold direct ownership for Government Affairs strategy and execution, with responsibility for Argentina and cluster-level alignment.

Responsibilities include:

• Defining and implementing the Government Affairs strategy in Argentina in alignment with Business priorities.
• Building and maintaining transparent, ethical and constructive relationships with government officials, decision makers and influencers and key institutional stakeholders.
• Monitoring and influencing public policy developments affecting healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.
• Representing AbbVie in industry associations and public policy forums
• In Chile and Uruguay, the role supports strategic alignment and coordination with local Market Access and Government Affairs leadership, ensuring coherence with cluster and global priorities.

1. Provide strategic leadership for Public Affairs activities across the cluster, ensuring AbbVie’s institutional positioning within the healthcare ecosystem.
2. Lead the strategic direction for Patient Advocacy across the cluster, ensuring the integration of patient perspectives into AbbVie’s external engagement and healthcare initiatives
3. Provide leadership and strategic oversight for AbbVie’s communications strategy across the cluster including Corporate & Internal Communications.
4. Lead and develop the External Affairs organization for the Cluster ensuring effective governance and collaboration across countries, developing talent within the External Affairs function, and promoting cross-functional collaboration with Market Access, Medical Affairs, Legal, and Therapeutical Business Units.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Public Affairs, Healthcare or other sciences areas.

Qualifications & Experience

Significant experience in External Affairs within the pharmaceutical or healthcare sector, including Government Affairs, Public Affairs, corporate communications and reputation management.

Strong business acumen with the ability to anticipate organizational and business opportunities, and to contribute strategically to the development of corporate, policy and commercial strategies that support sustainable access to innovation.

Demonstrated experience engaging with senior stakeholders and navigating complex policy environments, with the executive presence and credibility required to interact effectively with government officials, industry leaders, executives and multilateral organizations.

Proven ability to define and drive strategic external affairs agendas, translating complex policy and stakeholder dynamics into actionable strategies and recommendations that support business objectives.

Experience leading and developing high-performing teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and inclusion aligned with AbbVie’s values, while actively developing talent and strengthening organizational capabilities.

Experience managing regional or multi-country strategies, ensuring alignment between global priorities, regional strategies and country-level execution.

Fully bilingual in English and Spanish.

Core Competencies

Strong strategic thinking and decision-making capabilities, with the ability to assess complex external environments and define effective policy and stakeholder engagement strategies.

Highly developed analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to leverage data and insights to inform decision-making and strategy development.

Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to articulate complex issues clearly and persuasively.

Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across diverse internal and external constituencies.

Proven leadership capabilities, including the ability to lead, coach and develop diverse teams within a complex matrix organization while fostering a culture aligned with AbbVie’s values and leadership principles.

Demonstrated ability to attract, develop and retain talent, creating an environment that promotes accountability, continuous learning and professional growth.

Proven ability to lead in complex matrix organizations, fostering collaboration across functions, countries and leadership teams.

High degree of organizational agility, adaptability and resilience, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in dynamic environments.

Demonstrated commitment to the highest standards of ethics, integrity and compliance, ensuring adherence to AbbVie’s policies, procedures and Code of Conduct.

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

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

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