Sponsorship verdict
Sponsorship possible
One solid signal, not two. Worth applying, and worth asking about sponsorship early.
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✓
Employer is on a government sponsor recordThe US Department of Labor certified 177 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first.
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The posting doesn’t mention sponsorshipSilence isn’t a refusal — ask the recruiter before investing much time.
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No salary bar for this routeH-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area.
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✓
What Abbvie INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles10 certified filings for “ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, STATISTICS” (Data Scientists) in IL: $117k–$165k, median $151k.
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Confirmed live todayWhen a source last listed this job as open.
Details and sources
- Employer is on a government sponsor record
- The US Department of Labor certified 177 H-1B/E-3 labor condition applications for this employer between Oct 2025 and Jun 2026 (latest Jun 2026) — the step every H-1B hire needs first. Source: LCA disclosure data (US Department of Labor (OFLC)).
- No salary bar for this route
- H-1B has no fixed salary bar: the employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the role and area. Cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level. Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23853/weighted-selection-process-for-registrants-and-petitioners-seeking-to-file-cap-subject-h-1b, rules effective 2026-02-27.
- What Abbvie INC paid sponsored hires in similar roles
- 10 certified filings for “ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, STATISTICS” (Data Scientists) in IL: $117k–$165k, median $151k. Most were filed at wage level IV (50%) — 4 lottery entries, ≈61% projected selection odds for cap-subject employers. Source: US Department of Labor LCA disclosure data (Oct 2025 – Jun 2026).
US H-1B: cap-subject employers enter a lottery weighted by wage level — Level I gets 1 entry, Level IV gets 4 (DHS projected selection odds ≈15% at Level I to ≈61% at Level IV). Universities and non-profit research employers are cap-exempt. The $100,000 fee for new petitions from abroad is currently blocked by a court order (appeal pending).
A verdict summarises public evidence. It is not legal advice and never a guarantee: the employer and the immigration authority decide. Sign in to factor in where you can already work.
About the role
Biologics Drug Product Development (Bio DPD), a part of Development Sciences within AbbVie’s R&D, is a global organization that is responsible for drug product formulation and process development, and definition of the product presentation for biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides, neurotoxins etc.) and genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, Cell Therapy).
AbbVie is seeking a highly motivated candidate for the position of Director, located in North Chicago, IL. We are seeking an accomplished scientist with a proven track record in biologics drug product development. This position will be an integral part of the product development and CMC teams and will have strong collaborations with several stakeholders, including discovery research, analytical research and development, bioprocess development, combination products development, product development science and technology, pilot plants and third-party manufacturers.
The role could be filled at the associate director or director level depending on the candidate's qualifications and experience.
Key Responsibilities:
• Provide strategic and technical oversight for drug product development of ultra-high concentration drug product formulation and process development and technology transfer, including fixed dose combinations for a wide range of biologics modalities.
• Oversee drug product development of a portfolio of 5-7 pipeline programs spanning early- and late-stage development, including management of external partnerships as appropriate.
• Effective and timely communication of development plans, risks, and mitigation plans to stakeholders and line management.
• Initiate and/or sponsor scientific initiatives to drive innovation, continuously enhance capabilities and platforms, and improve business processes.
• Accountable for the timely authoring of high-quality technical reports as well as drug product sections in global regulatory filings.
• Serve as drug product development subject matter expert in due diligence of external opportunities.
• Supervise and mentor a team of 8-10 scientists that may include technical group leaders.
This position can be hired at either the Associate Director or Director level depending on education and years of experience.
Required Qualifications:
• Director: BS, MS, or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines with 18+ (Bachelors), 16+ (Masters), or 10+ (PhD) years of relevant industry experience.
• Associate Director: BS, MS, or PhD in Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, or related disciplines with 16+ (Bachelors), 14+ (Masters), or 8+ (PhD) years of relevant industry experience.
• Proven ability to solve critical scientific problems.
• Extensive experience in biologics (proteins, conjugates, peptides and/or neurotoxins), parenteral synthetic molecules and/or genetic medicine (AAV, LNPs, cell therapy) drug product development.
• Experience in sterile manufacturing unit operations (freeze-thaw, compounding, mixing, filtration and filling, lyophilization) development.
• Experience leading drug product development as the functional lead within cross-functional teams.
• 5+ years of progressive people management roles.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with development and commercialization of ultra-high concentration liquid formulations for fixed dose combinations and drug product-device integration.
• Hands-on experience with authoring regulatory filings for biologics and sterile parenteral products.
• Understanding of relevant cGMP and regulatory guidance for biologics and sterile parenteral products.
• Experience in managing third-party manufacturers of sterile parenteral products.
• Experience with quality risk management and control
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