Director - Information Governance

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Director, Information Governance 
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Abbott’s Legal Division is currently seeking an experienced professional to support Abbott and its businesses on legal and operational issues in connection with data management and information governance (“IG”) matters. In this role, you will help advance Abbott’s IG mission by helping to manage information to reduce risk, maximize value, and increase efficiency.

You will be responsible for advancing the information governance (“IG”) function for Abbott globally, including by providing operational guidance on the implementation of data management tools and processes such as data classification and the identification and remediation of redundant, obsolete, and trivial information, and by providing legal input and analysis in connection with a variety of technology and data management issues, including by advising on regulatory, eDiscovery, and other legal matters in connection with Abbott’s business operations, and formulating best practices for managing corporate information and data systems.
 

Position Summary

We are seeking a strategic leader to drive Abbott’s global Information Governance (IG) and Records program, with a close tie to eDiscovery. This role partners with senior stakeholders across Legal, IT, Privacy, Quality, Audit, and other corporate functions to ensure compliance, mitigate risk, and deliver operational efficiency through innovative and defensible technologies and best practices.
 

Key Responsibilities

Qualified candidates will be expected to work with key stakeholders across different corporate functions, organizational levels, divisions, and countries to ensure critical practices are properly implemented, including taking on the following responsibilities:
 

Strategic Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

• Leading and partnering on cross-functional data management initiatives with senior leaders in Legal, IT, Privacy, Quality, Audit, and other corporate functions

• Acting as a primary liaison and subject matter expert on IG and records matters, and collaborating with various stakeholders to provide policies, procedures, and guidelines
• Building strong relationships with business partners by providing responsive, practical support in a manner that effectively manages risk and assists the business in achieving its objectives

Technology & Innovation

• Managing the records management platform (including electronic data and hard-copy (paper) records), and its complex integrations with numerous company data sources
• Identifying and leveraging new and existing technologies to mitigate risk and achieve operational efficiencies (e.g., data minimization, retention, sensitivity labeling, auto-classification, GenAI, analytics, and defensible data deletion)
• Supporting Abbott’s adoption and use of Generative AI tools and their impact on eDiscovery and IG (e.g., collaborating with various stakeholders to develop policies, processes, and guidelines)
• Providing strategic oversight and guidance on complex technology projects including records system enhancements, file share governance tools, and facilitating the archiving of other legacy systems

Policy, Compliance & Risk Management

• Developing, implementing, and maintaining defensible policies, procedures, and practices for managing enterprise information in alignment with applicable legal and regulatory requirements
• Reviewing or spotting legal issues in connection with performance of the IG function, including litigation, regulatory, eDiscovery, privacy, and cybersecurity issues
• Providing guidance to ensure that the IG program complies with applicable legal and regulatory requirements in relevant jurisdictions and during acquisition and divestiture activities
   

Operational Execution

• Advising on and driving unstructured data management and minimization efforts (e.g., file share/SharePoint recertifications, OneDrive retention/auto-deletion and legal hold strategy)
• Maintaining and updating record retention requirements and responding to retention-related inquiries and requests
• Understanding the needs and expectations of stakeholders and leveraging relationships to tactfully influence and gain their commitment and support to drive desired outcomes

eDiscovery Integration

• Partnering with litigation teams and other stakeholders to align IG practices with eDiscovery strategy and litigation readiness
• Collaborating with outside counsel and third-party vendors to advance IG initiatives

Data Protection & Security

• Working with IT stakeholders (e.g., cybersecurity) to expand the use of information protection and monitoring tools to identify and prevent potential data loss
• Taking lessons learned from data loss investigations and litigation and proposing strategies to address and remediate
• Evaluating the implications of company systems and emerging technologies on data retention, deletion, eDiscovery, and data protection

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; JD preferred. Certifications in IG or privacy (IGP, CIPM, CIPP) desirable.
• Experience: 5–10 years in Information Governance, preferably with legal or technical expertise.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects and influence across global organizations.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (required)
• J.D. (preferred)
• Professional certifications in various technical areas related to IG are preferred but not required (e.g., Information Governance Professional (IGP), Enterprise Content Management (ECM), Electronic Records Management (ERM), CIPM, CIPT, CIPP/US, CIPP/E, CIPP/A)

Desired Experience / Training:

• At least 5–10 years of specialized experience in Information Governance
• Outstanding credentials (law firm or in-house experience preferred)
• Prior experience addressing legal and/or technical issues related to the management of information across the enterprise, including but not limited to: (1) unstructured data repositories, (2) structured data in IT systems, and (3) digital content (e.g., social media)
• Prior experience in practice areas that commonly raise significant technological/data-driven issues is preferred
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences as well as senior management
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, capable of influencing vertically and horizontally across the organization, and managing multiple projects under tight deadlines
• Collaborate and work successfully in a diverse team environment
• Strong attention to detail, ability to keep project documentation and communicate status updates timely
• Can analyze distinct types of problems, make recommendations, and develop/evaluate/implement complete and creative solutions
• Demonstrated passion for driving process improvements, collaboration, and innovation as part of a cross-functional team
• Must be a strategic thinker who challenges the status quo and is able to develop and implement the IG and records management vision for the company

The base pay for this position is

$147,300.00 – $294,700.00

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

     

JOB FAMILY:

Operations & Business Support

DIVISION:

GENC General Counsel

LOCATION:

United States > Abbott Park : AP06A

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT:

Standard

TRAVEL:

Yes, 10 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:

Not Applicable

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:

Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.

     

EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf

     

EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf