Facilities Manager (High Volume Manufacturing)

Abbott Laboratories; Kilkenny; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Family health insurance

Excellent pension scheme

Life assurance

Career development

Fantastic new facility

Growing business

Job summary

Abbott Kilkenny is seeking an experienced Facilities Manager to lead facilities operations, utilities, infrastructure and site services at the Kilkenny manufacturing facility.

The role requires strong leadership, GMP compliance knowledge, and a track record in delivering complex expansion projects within a regulated manufacturing environment. You will manage 40+ staff and contractors, drive cost optimisation, and collaborate across Operations, Quality, Engineering and EHS.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Facilities Management, Building Services or related discipline.
• Experience leading site-wide facilities, utilities and engineering in GMP-regulated manufacturing.
• Proven track record delivering expansions, upgrades or greenfield projects.
• Experience with HVAC, water systems, compressors and energy infrastructure.
• Strong budget, contractor and capital planning experience.
• Knowledge of GMP, quality, compliance and EHS requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead facilities operations, utilities, infrastructure and engineering support across the site.
• Ensure reliability and compliance of critical site systems and assets.
• Manage budgets, asset plans, contractor performance and outsourced services.
• Drive continuous improvement focusing on efficiency, sustainability and cost optimization.
• Lead strategic discussions and influence decisions across site functions.
• Support planning and delivery of major site expansions and capital investments.
• Identify risks and investment needs to support site growth and readiness.
• Lead a facilities organisation of 40+ employees and contractors.

Skills

Facilities leadership

GMP compliance

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Project delivery

Contractor management

Change leadership

Team leadership

Education

Engineering degree

PM/QA certifications (PMP/Prince2/Lean Six Sigma)

Job description

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Abbott in Ireland

Abbott has maintained a strong presence in Ireland since 1946 and celebrates its 80th anniversary in the country in 2026. The company supports the Irish healthcare sector with a broad portfolio spanning diagnostics, diabetes care, medical devices and nutritional products. Today, Abbott employs more than 6,500 people across ten sites located in Dublin, Donegal, Clonmel, Cootehill, Galway, Kilkenny, Longford and Sligo.

Please note any offer of employment for this position is conditional upon the successful completion of a pre-employment medical examination, including drug and alcohol screening, conducted by a medical practitioner designated by the Company.

Abbott Diabetes Care Kilkenny

Abbott Diabetes Care has opened a new site, in Kilkenny, that is at the forefront of Diabetes care with the latest technology, to manufacture FreeStyle blood glucose test strips and FreeStyle Sensors for use in diabetes management. Among Abbott Diabetes Care leading brands are the FreeStyle Precision, FreeStyle Lite and FreeStyle Libre systems.

This is how you can make a difference at Abbott:

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

What we Offer

Attractive compensation package that includes competitive pay, as well as benefits such as

• Family health insurance,
• Excellent pension scheme
• Life assurance
• Career Development
• Fantastic new facility
• Growing business plus access to many more benefits.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com or https://www.ie.abbott/,on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/,on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbottand on Twitter @AbbottNews.

Abbott is an equal opportunities employer