Director, Technical Operations

AbbVie - North Chicago, IL

Full-time - Senior

North Chicago, IL

Chemical Manufacturing

About the position

The Director of Technical Operations at AbbVie plays a pivotal role in the Operations Process Development Science & Technology department, which is responsible for supporting technical and scientific activities related to the late-stage development and manufacture of pharmaceutical products. This position is crucial for establishing goals that align with development, manufacturing, and customer requirements. The director is tasked with implementing plans and policies, assigning duties and responsibilities, and controlling the performance of subordinates to meet division goals and commitments. In this leadership role, the director will manage a technically diverse staff of highly specialized scientists and technicians through their people leaders and direct reporting lines. The director serves as a key link between development organizations and operations, including third-party contract manufacturers, ensuring a seamless transition from pilot scale to full-scale manufacturing. The director is accountable for all departmental activities and provides both technical/scientific and business leadership, ensuring that all aspects of CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) life cycle management are completed on time, within budget, and meet the highest scientific, regulatory, quality, marketing, and commercial standards. The director will also evaluate and introduce new technologies applicable to development and manufacturing, ensuring that decisions and strategies incorporate knowledge of current regulations, guidance documents, and the competitive environment. This role requires balancing company needs against available resources, developing and communicating cost estimates, business plans, timelines, and contingency plans, and identifying and recruiting resources to achieve project and departmental objectives. Additionally, the director will participate in capital planning and project execution, make go/no-go decisions related to project responsibilities, and represent AbbVie to regulatory agencies as needed. Establishing and maintaining good working relationships with Technical Operations customers and providing effective technical and business leadership at the R&D/Operations interface are also key responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide mature, credible CMC leadership at AbbVie.
• Maintain and direct a highly diversified cross-functional staff of professionals to ensure timely completion of CMC life cycle management.
• Evaluate and introduce new technology with applications in development and manufacturing.
• Provide rapid and accurate evaluation of new business opportunities.
• Balance company needs against available resources.
• Develop and communicate cost estimates, business plans, timelines, and contingency plans.
• Identify and recruit resources to accomplish project and departmental objectives.
• Plan, maintain, and manage project budgets.
• Participate in capital planning and capital project execution.
• Make go/no-go decisions related to project responsibilities.
• Represent AbbVie to regulatory agencies by supplying information and participating in meetings.
• Establish and maintain good working relationships with Technical Operations customers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (18 years), Master's Degree (16 years), or PhD (10 years) in a related scientific field is required.
• 10+ years of experience in Pharmaceutical/Eye Care development/manufacturing, formulation, analytical chemistry, and/or technical services roles.
• At least 6+ years of managerial experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Strong background and expertise in drug development, marketed product support, technical issue resolution, and related fields.

Benefits

• Paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick)
• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Short-term incentive programs
• Long-term incentive programs