About the role

Aplyr's Quick Take

This role is about being the top tech advisor for commercial and marketing teams, focusing on digital, data, and AI initiatives. You'll work closely with senior leaders to shape technology strategies and ensure projects align with business goals, but you won't have direct reports.

Good fit

Ideal candidates have extensive experience in technology strategy and business relationship management, preferably in a global context. Strong communication and influencing skills are essential, along with a background in digital transformation or data analytics.

Worth noting

The role involves significant travel (up to 30%) and requires navigating complex organizational structures without direct authority, which can be challenging. There’s a strong emphasis on strategic influence rather than hands-on management.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

About the opportunity

The Director, Business Relationship Management (BRM) – Commercial, Digital, Data & AI serves as the senior technology partner to global Commercial, Marketing, and Commercial Excellence leadership. The role is accountable for shaping and guiding the digital, data, and AI capability agenda that enables sustainable growth, modern omnichannel engagement, and operational effectiveness across global markets.

Operating without direct reports, the role is highly influential and succeeds through strong executive relationships, strategic advisory capability, and orchestration across BTS, regional IT teams, and senior business leaders (DVP and DVP-1 levels). The Director translates business strategy into integrated, value-driven technology portfolios while ensuring enterprise alignment, governance, compliance, and adoption.

Reports To: DVP IT, EPD
Regional coverage: Global
Travel: up to 30%

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Partnership & Advisory

Act as the senior technology, digital, data, and AI advisor to global Commercial and Marketing leadership.
Translate business strategy into integrated digital, data, and AI roadmaps and initiatives.
Represent Commercial priorities and needs in enterprise technology and investment forums.

Portfolio Governance & Investment Stewardship

Lead demand shaping, prioritization, and portfolio governance for Commercial initiatives.
Ensure financial transparency, benefits realization, and value tracking across the portfolio.

Enterprise Execution Orchestration

Coordinate delivery execution across BTS, regional IT teams, and external partners.
Resolve cross-regional dependencies and drive acceleration of execution and adoption.

Commercial, Digital & AI Enablement

Advance omnichannel engagement and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
Embed analytics- and AI-enabled use cases into Commercial operations and processes.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

Ensure adherence to enterprise standards and policies related to data privacy, cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and responsible AI use.

Enterprise Influence & Collaboration

Influence senior leaders through credibility, strategic insight, and executive presence.
Collaborate closely with BRM peers and enterprise stakeholders to ensure alignment and reuse.

Decisions Accountable For

Global prioritization of Commercial IT demand.
Endorsement of functional templates, standards, and platform adoption decisions.

Decisions to Influence / Propose

Enterprise digital, data, and AI strategy.
Platform architecture direction.
Evolution of governance frameworks and operating models.

Leadership Competencies

Strategic Influence and Executive Presence
Enterprise Thinking and Global Perspective
Value and Financial Acumen
Innovation with Governance Discipline
Change Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

Key Interfaces
Internal: Commercial and Marketing executives; Commercial Excellence; Data & AI; Solution Delivery; Architecture/CTO; PMO; Security & Compliance; Operations/Services; BRM peers; Regional IT.
External: Strategic technology vendors, platform providers, and implementation partners.

Qualifications

Required

Extensive experience in IT, digital, data, or analytics leadership within large, multinational, and regulated environments.
Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders without direct authority.
Strong portfolio, program, and vendor management experience.
Solid understanding of data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory requirements.

Preferred

Experience with omnichannel platforms, commercial systems, analytics, or AI-enabled solutions.
MBA or equivalent executive-level experience.

Join Abbott Today - Do Work That Matters

The base pay for this position is

N/A

In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY:

IT Business Relationship Management

DIVISION:

BTS Business Technology Services

LOCATION:

Switzerland > Allschwil : H-127

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT:

Standard

TRAVEL:

Yes, 25 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:

Not Applicable

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:

Not Applicable

Skills & Tags

ai data

Aplyr's read

Abbott Laboratories is a leader in healthcare innovation, attracting professionals dedicated to advancing medical technology and patient care on a global scale.
Synthesized from recent postings & public sources

What's promising

•Abbott's diverse product range offers stability and growth opportunities.
•Strong global presence enhances career mobility and international experience.
•Commitment to R&D fosters a culture of innovation and learning.

What to watch

•Regulatory challenges can impact product launch timelines.
•High competition in the healthcare sector pressures market share.
•Complex organizational structure may slow decision-making processes.

Why Abbott

•Abbott's focus on both diagnostics and nutrition sets it apart from typical pharmaceutical companies.
•Extensive global footprint provides unique cross-border project opportunities.
•Abbott's investment in emerging markets offers growth in diverse regions.

Aplyr’s read is generated by AI from public sources. Was it useful?

About Abbott

Abbott

abbott.com

View company

Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company that develops and manufactures a wide range of medical devices, diagnostics, nutrition products, and branded generic pharmaceuticals.