Associate Director - Automation & Manufacturing Systems - AbbVie

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 Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. 

AbbVie Bioresearch Center (ABC) is hiring an Associate Director Automation & Manufacturing Systems position to lead the Operational Technology (OT) Automation and Manufacturing Systems teams in Worcester, MA.  This is an excellent opportunity to develop and advance your career while working in a proactive and motivating team environment. The Associate Director Automation & Manufacturing position will afford you the opportunity to lead a technical team within a multi-product biologics manufacturing facility.  In this role, as head of the department, you will be a key member of the site leadership team including strategy for driving site digital transformation and digital technology advancement. 

The Associate Director  Automation & Manufacturing will be the strategic interface for the Manufacturing team with IT business partners in driving alignment with business-IT strategy, solution discovery, service management, risk management and relationship management. A successful candidate will provide end to end technical solution and team leadership for Manufacturing Operational Technology platforms including: Distributed Control Systems (Foxboro I/A DCS), Data Historian Systems (AVENVA PI), Enterprise Resource Planning (SAP), Manufacturing Execution Systems (POMsnet MES) and Data Science platforms.  The role will liaise with local and Global/Enterprise applications and infrastructure services team ensuring successful delivery of the site’s infrastructure information systems. This role also advocates on behalf of business stakeholders to ensure IT services meet their business priorities and needs, while improving operations and executing projects in a fast paced, multi-disciplined, cross-functional team environment.

Responsibilities

• Propose, implement and sustain the Site's digital transformation and automation systems strategy and roadmap in alignment with site objectives and global IT strategies. Ensures delivery of robust sustainable systems solutions that meet business and harmonised enterprise needs.
• Management of relationship between the business site leadership and local IT organisation ensuring internal customer expectations are met in alignment of enterprise and site strategic roadmaps.
• Deliver proposals on the development of the automation and manufacturing systems to facilitate the optimisation of the plant.
• Accountable for automation long term strategic delivery to site leadership team with a 3–5-year vision of execution.
• Provide expert guidance on new technologies and emerging automation & manufacturing system trends for process and business reengineering.
• Liaise with Global Enterprise, Infrastructure and Quality system teams ensuring high standards of service delivery and engage to influence continuous improvement opportunities for site operations.
• Ensure security, compliance and data integrity regulatory standards are maintained across all manufacturing site technology systems.
• Support and provide domain expertise to site on GxP, data integrity, data Security as well as internal & external audits.
• Understand current system design and partner with key stakeholders (Global Manufacturing and Engineering Services, Enterprise Application Services, Quality Systems, Global Automation, Infrastructure Services, and Operations) and site leadership to deliver ‘futureproof’ ideas and solutions to ensure ongoing effective delivery of operations.
• Establish and manage a high performing staff by recruiting, training, coaching, and developing employees, communicating job expectations and appraising their performance in support of AbbVie’s Talent philosophy.
• Facilitate internal resources and outside vendors in developing technical solutions for automated equipment. Interface with equipment vendors to ensure successful machine delivery, integration, and manufacturing validation.

• Relevant degree in IT, Mechatronics, Electronics, Computer Science or similar
• 8+ years relevant industry experience Exposure to FDA, HPRA, GMP, 21CFR11, safety and environmental legislation (Experience in the pharmaceutical industry preferred).
• 5+ years proven track record in delivering IT & automation solutions in similar environment.
• 3+ years + project management experience – proven record of cross functional project delivery.
• 3+ years leadership experience – direct reporting with demonstrated ability to motivate and develop team.
• Systems background: DCS, PLC, ERP, MES, Data Historian (AVEVA PI), Chromatography (Empower) and laboratory management system.
•  SCADA/DCS an advantage.
• Knowledge of Quality Assurance, SLC, Compliance and Data Integrity.
• Ability to manage and support manufacturing layer Infrastructure in conjunction with global teams.
• Have the ability to make clear and courageous decisions.
• Be able to influence key stakeholders at site and global level in the company.

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 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.