Facilities Manager

Abbott Ireland Diabetes Care; Kilkenny; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Abbott Ireland Diabetes Care in Kilkenny is seeking an experienced Facilities Manager to lead operations across a growing manufacturing site. The role oversees utilities, infrastructure, and site services within a GMP-regulated environment, guiding significant expansion and capital projects with a focus on safe, compliant, and reliable site performance.

You will manage a 40+ strong workforce of employees and contractors, drive sustainability and cost optimisation, and collaborate with

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Building Services, Mechanical or Electrical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Proven facilities leadership experience in GMP-regulated manufacturing (medical device, pharma, or life sciences).
• Experience leading site-wide facilities, utilities, infrastructure, and engineering support functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities operations, utilities, infrastructure, and engineering support across the site.
• Ensure reliability, compliance, and performance of critical site systems and assets.
• Manage facilities budgets, asset plans, contractor performance, and outsourced providers.
• Drive continuous improvement for operational excellence, sustainability, and cost optimisation.
• Lead strategic discussions, influence decisions, and align facilities with business objectives.
• Support planning and delivery of major site expansion, infrastructure, and capital investments.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Project management

Regulatory compliance

Contractor management

Education

Engineering degree

Tools

HVAC systems

Energy management

Job description

Job Description Facilities Manager Shape the Future of a Growing Manufacturing Site Abbott is seeking an experienced Facilities Manager to lead facilities operations, utilities, infrastructure, and site services at our Kilkenny manufacturing facility. This is a key leadership role responsible for ensuring the safe, compliant, and reliable operation of critical site infrastructure while supporting significant site investment and expansion programmes. The successful candidate will combine strong operational leadership with proven experience delivering complex facility expansion, infrastructure, or greenfield projects within a GMP-regulated environment. We are looking for a leader who can lead the conversation, explore new frontiers, manage multiple priorities, and take the initiative to help shape the future of our growing site.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all facilities operations, utilities, infrastructure, and engineering support services across the site
• Ensure the reliability, compliance, and performance of critical site systems and assets.
• Manage facilities budgets, asset management plans, contractor performance, and outsourced service providers
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational excellence, sustainability, reliability, and cost optimisation
• Lead strategic discussions and influence decision-making across site functions, ensuring facilities priorities support broader business objectives
• Support the planning and delivery of major site expansion, infrastructure, and capital investment projects
• Explore innovative technologies, sustainability initiatives, and infrastructure solutions that enhance site capability and future readiness
• Maintain compliance with GMP, EHS, regulatory, and corporate standards
• Lead and develop a facilities organisation of 40+ employees and contractors, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
• Successfully manage multiple priorities, balancing day-to-day operational performance with long-term infrastructure planning and project delivery
• Build strong partnerships with Operations, Quality, Engineering, EHS, Supply Chain, and Finance teams
• Take initiative in identifying risks, opportunities, and investment needs to support site growth and operational excellence

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Building Services, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline
• Significant facilities leadership experience within a Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, Life Sciences, or other GMP-regulated manufacturing environment
• Proven experience leading site-wide facilities, utilities, infrastructure, and engineering support functions
• Demonstrated experience delivering facility expansions, site development projects, infrastructure upgrades, or greenfield projects within a regulated manufacturing environment
• Experience managing critical utilities such as HVAC, water systems, compressed air, boilers, chillers, and energy infrastructure
• Strong contractor and outsourced service provider management experience
• Proven people leadership experience managing large teams and influencing across multiple stakeholder groups
• Experience managing operating budgets, capital planning, and infrastructure investment programmes
• Strong knowledge of GMP, quality, compliance, and EHS requirements
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, navigate ambiguity, and deliver results in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

Preferred Experience

• Experience delivering manufacturing expansion projects within Ireland
• Direct responsibility for capital projects valued at €5M+
• Experience delivering construction and expansion projects while maintaining manufacturing operations
• Exposure to FDA-regulated environments
• PMP, Prince2, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent professional qualifications

Why Join Abbott?

This is an opportunity to play a leading role in the continued growth and development of the Kilkenny site, including:

• A major manufacturing facility extension
• A planned analytical laboratory development
• Significant future infrastructure and site investment programmes.
• Responsibility for a large facilities organisation supporting a critical manufacturing operation
• The opportunity to influence long-term site strategy, infrastructure planning, and future expansion initiatives TPBN1_IJ