Associate Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships

Location 

Sylmar, CA - Santa Clara, CA - Austin, TX

Working at Abbott 

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You'll also have access to: 

• Career development with a global company where you can grow the career you dream of. 

• Free medical coverage through our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan. 

• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution. 

• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit. 

• Recognition as a top workplace for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists. 

The Opportunity 

Abbott Medical Devices, with $19B in revenue in 2024, is a global leader in life-changing technologies for managing chronic conditions including Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Pain, and Movement Disorders. 

The Digital Solutions organization, part of the Medical Devices group, leverages digitally enabled technologies to expand patient access and deliver best-in-class customer experiences that improve outcomes. 

We are seeking an Associate Director, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships to join our team. This highly visible role will shape and execute strategic partnerships that drive innovation and growth across our digital health portfolio, with a particular focus on advancing AI-enabled cardiovascular care through partnerships across the healthcare technology and imaging ecosystem. 

What You'll Work On 

Strategic Business Development 

• Lead the identification, evaluation, and execution of strategic partnerships and business development opportunities. 

• Develop and present business cases, including ROI modeling and strategic fit assessments. 

• Prioritize opportunities based on impact, feasibility, and alignment with business goals. 

• Identify and evaluate emerging opportunities across digital health, artificial intelligence, cardiovascular care, and medical imaging ecosystems. 

• Monitor industry trends and competitive dynamics to identify emerging opportunities. 

Partnership Strategy & Execution 

• Engage and negotiate with external partners to structure innovative partnership models (e.g., co-development, licensing, joint ventures). 

• Develop strategic partnerships that advance AI-enabled cardiovascular care, clinical workflows, and customer experiences. 

• Collaborate with legal, regulatory, and compliance teams to ensure alignment and risk mitigation. 

• Define shared goals, governance structures, and success metrics for each partnership. 

Partnership Enablement & Integration 

• Develop and manage joint work plans, roadmaps, and proof-of-concept pilots. 

• Facilitate integration with internal teams across product, R&D, commercial, and operations. 

• Support evaluation and integration of partner technologies, including AI and imaging solutions, into Abbott's digital health portfolio. 

• Track progress against milestones and KPIs, ensuring accountability and value realization. 

Leadership & Influence 

• Serve as a thought leader and trusted advisor to senior leadership on partnership strategy. 

• Build strong relationships across internal and external stakeholders. 

• Represent Abbott with strategic partners, industry organizations, and innovation leaders across digital health, cardiovascular care, and AI. 

• Represent the voice of the customer and market in shaping partnership direction. 

Education and Experience You'll Bring 

Required 

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, marketing, clinical). 

• 10+ years of experience in business development, strategic partnerships, or related roles. 

• Familiarity with digital health technologies, AI/ML applications, and cardiovascular imaging or clinical workflows. 

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at all levels. 

• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills. 

• Results-driven with a strategic mindset and ability to manage ambiguity. 

• Demonstrated ability to adapt to evolving technologies and market dynamics. 

Preferred 

• MBA or other advanced degree. 

• Experience in medical devices, digital health, or FDA-regulated environments. 

• Experience with data-driven decision-making and innovation strategy. 

• Willingness to travel up to 25%.