Associate Director, Tech Center

About AbbVie
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: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology, women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn .

Purpose :
The Tech Center Associate Director is responsible for driving process robustness and efficiencies for the products manufactured in North Chicago Manufacturing. He/She is also responsible for leading the assessment and introduction of new products into the Manufacturing plant. This position requires the ability to manage a technical organization to support both Fermentation and Chemically derived products. Experience in Fermentation process development and commercialization is preferred.
The Associate Director establishes goals and leadership for a broad range of process objectives to meet the business and financial objectives of the site. These include maintaining cost effective, robust, compliant processes and managing tech transfers of new processes through scale-up, validation and commercialization.
This position reports into the Plant Site Director and is part of the Plant's Senior Management Team.

Responsibilities:

• Drive the financial success of the plant by identifying and implementing process changes to improve product quality, improve yield, qualify new material suppliers, and/or reduce processing cost in the manufacturing of currently marketed products. Prepare and review scientific reports supporting process changes and improvements for potential submission to governmental regulatory agencies.
• Drive the introduction of new products by working directly with both internal AbbVie teams and the Contract Manufacturing organization by assessing new opportunities, determining process fit and supporting the one time and COGS development. Leader in the technical discussions with customers.
• Lead the introduction of new products into the manufacturing area, ensuring successful scale up and validation for the product and ongoing manufacturing improvements. Provide seamless and effective technology transfers into North Chicago Manufacturing and develop of cost effective, robust and compliant processes, ensuring that customer services and customer support remain uninterrupted.
• Manage directly and through assigned staff the technical support (product and process expertise) of manufacturing operations for marketed products. This includes a range of activities, from day-to-day manufacturing problem solving, managing productivity targets and maintain quality/regulatory compliance.
• Manage and execute major significant product investigations. Management and execution can include project reports, investigations and nonconformances. Make scientific recommendations as to the acceptability and quality of affected product lots.
• Provide technical expertise for marketed products and can represent the company in discussions with regulatory agencies.

Qualifications

• BSc degree in a scientific or technical field preferably in Life sciences, pharmacy or engineering required. Masters Degree and/or PhD is preferred.
• Ten (10) + years in the Pharmaceutical Industry with at least 5 years working in relevant support group is required. Experience in support of marketed products is preferred.
• The Technical Manager must display managerial ability via leadership, supervisory experience and administration.
• Exhibits a thorough understanding of Global CMC drug development, strong management skills, financial & research management practices and long term planning skills.
• Excellent knowledge of various international regulatory and GMP requirements.
• Must be goal oriented, able to work within a team environment, self-motivated and understand the business needs to meet timelines.
• Good verbal, written communication skills and the ability to interface with multiple areas within the organization is essential.
• Previous related work experience in formulation/process and/or analytical service groups is preferred
• Previous experience in supervising people is preferred.

Significant Work Activities
N/A
Travel
Yes, 15 % of the Time
Job Type
Experienced
Schedule
Full-time
Job Level Code
M
Equal Employment Opportunity
At AbbVie, we value bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds to develop new and innovative solutions for patients. As an equal opportunity employer we do not discriminate on the basis 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, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.