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Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning

Company Description

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas – immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care – and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on XFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Job Description

Purpose: 

Develop and manage a team of experienced pharmaceutical engineers and project managers responsible for feasibility and conceptual level designs that directly support the strategic initiatives outlined in the Operations long range planning and capital planning cycles.   Ensure that Engineering Front End Planning (FEP) objectives are met for engineering designs required to support the existing or new products manufactured by AbbVie. Identify core technologies, designs, and manufacturing requirements needed to develop AbbVie’s manufacturing sites. Develop strategies for the manufacturing network to optimize capabilities as measured by cost, capacity, manufacturing, expertise, environment and regulatory compliance. Support development of capital and expense cost estimates and schedules for capital projects at AbbVie’s manufacturing plants. Ensure strategic design proposals are controlled by the engineers and project managers and are linked together into a global manufacturing plan through Engineering FEP deliverables and the capital planning financial cycle.       

Responsibilities: 

  • The manager and their team will develop comprehensive FEP deliverables including manufacturing design scenarios, cost estimates, schedules, and key strategic issues needed to facilitate investment decisions necessary to execute capital projects and facilitate manufacturing, capacity expansions, and network optimization.  These early-stage studies should be executed against FEP check lists to ensure that all identifiable issues have been examined and addressed in LRP and Capital Planning scenarios. 
  • Provide a focal point for implementation, lead cross-functional design discussions, and assign responsibilities as needed with the Manufacturing, Global Engineering, PDS&T, R&D, Site Operations, and Front End Planning organizations. 
  • Develop capex for multiple scenarios to align with strategies for key products per global capacity initiatives with regard to cost, tax impact and center of excellence analysis. 
  • Execute and coordinate FEP studies to evaluate new commercial opportunities between business development, ECM, R&D, and manufacturing to provide rapid cost-effective manufacturing decisions. 
  • Provide leadership and a common vision to the manufacturing teams to ensure that roles and issues are clearly understood. Motivate these teams to ensure that momentum is maintained to rapidly develop these early-stage project studies. 
  • Provide technical input and decision analysis based on the incumbents broad based manufacturing experience to ensure that project assumptions are challenged, options are fully explored, and contingency plans are developed. 

Qualifications

  • B.S. Engineering or equivalent. M.S. Engineering preferred. MBA desirable.
  • A minimum of 10-15 years of chemical manufacturing, engineering, project management and R&D experience.
  • Broad business perspective, knowledge and understanding of manufacturing processes.
    Knowledge of both international and domestic regulatory and quality assurance requirements is essential.
  • Strong supervisory and project experience and an ability to influence others is essential.
  • Multi divisional and operational line management experience desirable.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local law: ​

  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this posting based on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future.​

  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​

  • This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​

  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentive programs​

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable law. ​

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives, serving our community and embracing diversity and inclusion.  It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected group status.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html 

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html

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Average salary estimate

$175000 / YEARLY (est.)
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$150000K
$200000K

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What You Should Know About Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning , AbbVie

Are you ready to take your engineering career to the next level? AbbVie is on the lookout for a dynamic and experienced Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning to join our North Chicago team. In this exciting role, you'll lead a talented group of pharmaceutical engineers and project managers to design and implement innovative feasibility and conceptual level designs that are essential to our capital and long-range planning initiatives. Your expertise will directly impact our mission to deliver groundbreaking medicines across various therapeutic areas, including immunology, oncology, and neuroscience. You will be tasked with identifying core technologies and manufacturing requirements to optimize our production capabilities, ensuring that we meet our strategic goals efficiently. Collaboration is key in this position, as you will engage with cross-functional teams across manufacturing, engineering, and operations to drive strategic design proposals and ensure that all projects are aligned with AbbVie's global manufacturing plan. If leading a team to innovate and improve manufacturing processes excites you, and you have a deep understanding of both domestic and international regulations, this position could be the perfect fit. Join us at AbbVie, where you can make a real difference in people’s lives while pushing the boundaries of pharmaceutical engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning Role at AbbVie
What are the responsibilities of the Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning at AbbVie?

The Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning at AbbVie is responsible for developing and managing a team of engineers and project managers to create feasibility and conceptual designs supporting capital projects. This includes executing comprehensive FEP deliverables, coordinating cross-functional discussions, and developing capex aligned with strategies for key products.

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What qualifications do I need for the Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning role at AbbVie?

To be eligible for the Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning position at AbbVie, candidates should possess a B.S. in Engineering (M.S. preferred) with at least 10-15 years of experience in chemical manufacturing, engineering, project management, and R&D. Strong supervisory skills and knowledge of international and domestic regulatory requirements are also essential.

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How does AbbVie support team members in the Global Engineering Front End Planning department?

AbbVie provides a collaborative work environment aimed at fostering innovation. The Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning supports their team by providing leadership, facilitating cross-functional design discussions, and ensuring roles and responsibilities are clear to keep project momentum strong.

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What is the impact of the Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning on AbbVie’s operations?

The Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning plays a crucial role in supporting AbbVie's strategic initiatives by optimizing manufacturing capabilities and ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. Their work directly influences the company's ability to deliver effective medicines to those who need them.

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What career growth opportunities exist for the Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning at AbbVie?

AbbVie encourages career growth and development for the Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning through ongoing training, cross-functional project involvement, and leadership opportunities. This role positions you at the forefront of AbbVie’s engineering strategies, paving the way for advancement within the organization.

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Common Interview Questions for Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning
Can you describe your experience in managing engineering projects related to pharmaceutical manufacturing?

When answering this question, focus on specific projects you've led, your role in those projects, and the outcomes you achieved, particularly in cost savings or efficiency improvements.

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How do you ensure compliance with regulatory standards in engineering design?

Discuss your familiarity with regulatory requirements and give examples of how you integrated compliance checks into your project workflows, ensuring quality and safety.

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What strategies do you use to motivate teams during challenging projects?

Highlight your leadership style, mentioning specific examples of how you have inspired teams through communication and by setting clear goals and providing support during tough times.

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How do you approach cross-functional collaboration on engineering projects?

Share experiences where effective collaboration led to a successful project, emphasizing communication tactics that helped bridge gaps between different departments.

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Can you provide an example of a successful capital project you led?

Choose a project with measurable results, detailing your leadership, the challenges faced, and how you ensured it aligned with the company’s strategic objectives.

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What tools and software are you familiar with in managing engineering project timelines?

Discuss specific project management tools (like MS Project or others) and how you've utilized them to track progress and resources effectively.

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How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple projects simultaneously?

Explain your prioritization process, perhaps using frameworks like the Eisenhower Box, to ensure that urgent and important projects get the focus they need.

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What challenges do you foresee in the role of Director, Global Engineering Front End Planning at AbbVie?

Reflect on industry trends and challenges, like increasing regulatory scrutiny or the rapid development of technologies, and how you would address these challenges proactively.

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How do you stay current with engineering innovations in the pharmaceutical industry?

Mention specific resources you consult, such as journals, professional organizations, or conferences, demonstrating commitment to continuous learning.

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What is your experience with cost estimation and budgeting for engineering projects?

Discuss your past experience in developing cost estimates and managing project budgets, along with any tools you used to ensure accuracy and accountability.

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AbbVie’s mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people’s lives across several key therapeutic areas: i...

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DATE POSTED
March 20, 2025

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