Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up Engineering (BDS)

Allergan; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie in Chicago seeks an Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up to lead commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities for new manufacturing sites and equipment. You will guide cross-functional teams, manage risks, and ensure readiness for GMP operations, while aligning with regulatory and quality requirements.

Strong leadership and experience in CQV, risk management, and budget oversight are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• Typically, 10–12 years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing.
• Broad experience in commissioning, qualification, start‑up, validation, or operational readiness.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional teams and ability to manage multiple priorities in a matrixed organization.
• Strong track record of delivering results in a GMP‑regulated environment.
• Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence and drive alignment across functions and business units.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities across facilities, utilities, equipment, and supporting systems.
• Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
• Develop, align, and execute commissioning and start-up strategies, plans, schedules, protocols, and turnover packages.
• Ensure readiness of systems for GMP operations in compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, safety, and company standards.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality, EHS, automation, project management, and third‑party contractors to deliver integrated startup execution.
• Manage risks, dependencies, timelines, budgets, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support and oversee site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
• Lead troubleshooting and corrective action efforts during startup to support successful implementation and stable operations.
• Lead operational readiness and the successful integration of new assets into routine site operations.
• Support budgeting, resource planning, for commissioning and start‑up efforts.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

GMP compliance

HAZOP studies

Commissioning

Qualification

Start-up

Budgeting

Vendor/Contractor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or related technical discipline

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Company Description

About 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 including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Job Description

The Associate Director, Commissioning and Start-Up is responsible for providing operational leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities supporting new manufacturing sites, facilities expansion, utilities, equipment, and related systems. This role ensures assets are delivered safely, compliantly, and on schedule in a state of readiness for GMP operations, while meeting Abbvie quality, operational, and business objectives. The Associate Director leads cross-functional teams and external partners while enabling a smooth transition from project execution to sustained operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for commissioning, qualification, and start-up activities across facilities, utilities, equipment, and supporting systems.
• Develop program strategy and lead detailed execution of Hazard and Operability (HAZOP) Studies for all capital programs.
• Develop, align, and execute commissioning and start-up strategies, plans, schedules, protocols, and turnover packages.
• Ensure readiness of systems for GMP operations in compliance with applicable regulatory, quality, safety, and company standards.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, validation, manufacturing, quality, EHS, automation, project management, and third‑party contractors to deliver integrated startup execution.
• Manage risks, dependencies, timelines, budgets, and issue resolution throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support and oversee site walkdown processes against as built Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams along with Equipment installations to ensure accuracy and operational readiness.
• Lead troubleshooting and corrective action efforts during startup to support successful implementation and stable operations.
• Lead operational readiness and the successful integration of new assets into routine site operations.
• Support budgeting, resource planning, for commissioning and start‑up efforts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related technical discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• Typically, 10-12 years20+ years of relevant experience in pharmaceutical or biotech manufacturing and engineering or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• Broad experience in commissioning, qualification, start‑up, validation, or operational readiness.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross‑functional teams. Ability to manage multiple priorities, work through ambiguity, and drive execution in a matrixed organization.
• Strong track record of delivering results in a GMP‑regulated environment.
• Strong project leadership, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence and drive alignment across functions and business units.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting facility expansions, new product introductions, or major capital projects.
• Experience in sterile injectables, biologics, API, or oral solid dose manufacturing.
• Experience with risk-based CQV methodology and digital turnover systems.
• Prior people leadership experience in a matrixed, global, or highly collaborative environment.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic leadership
• Enterprise Mindset
• Cross‑functional influence
• Accountability and decision‑making
• Change leadership
• Operational excellence
• Compliance and quality focus

Work Environment

This role may require travel to project and manufacturing sites and extended hours during critical commissioning and start‑up phases.

Key internal stakeholders for an Associate Director of Commissioning and Plant Start‑Up typically include:

• Site Leadershipand Site Director – overall site strategy, priorities, and operational readiness
• EngineeringLeadership through Director and VP – design execution, utilities, facilities, and project delivery
• Validation / CQVTeam – commissioning, qualification, and validation strategy and execution
• Quality Assuranceleadership thru Director Level – cGMP compliance, documentation, and release readiness
• EHS (Environmental, Health & Safety)thru Director and VP Level – safe startup, risk controls, and compliance
• Automation / IT / Digital Systems– control systems, data integrity, MES, and infrastructure readiness
• Maintenance / Reliability(MEP) Team – asset readiness, PM strategy, spares, and maintainability
• Project Management / PMOOrganization – schedule, scope, budget, and governance
• Procurement / Strategic Sourcing thru Director Level– contractor and vendor management
• HR / Talent / Learning– staffing, training, and organizational readiness
• Finance– budget tracking and capital spend governance

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal 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/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
• 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 employer 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 and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.

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