Associate Director, Project Engineering

AbbVie; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 142,000 - 269,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. in North Chicago seeks an engineering leader to set the direction of Project Engineering and deliver the capital-related portion of the site’s long-range plan.

You will oversee the capital portfolio across facilities, utilities, and equipment, aligning investment recommendations with business priorities and asset lifecycle needs. You will lead and develop the Project Engineering organization, establish governance, and ensure safe, compliant execution of capital initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a closely related discipline (or equivalent technical experience).
• Typically 12+ years of significant engineering/operational leadership experience.
• Experience delivering complex capital programs in biopharma/regulated industries.
• Strong ability to translate site priorities into long-range capital plans.
• Proven track record in leading multidisciplinary teams and managing budgets.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction for Project Engineering and translate site priorities into the capital plan.
• Lead development and submission of the site long-range and annual capital plans.
• Contribute to Site Master Plan and broader site planning with engineering insights.
• Oversee annual site capital plan, budget, and portfolio-level resource planning.
• Ensure accurate LBEs, forecasts, and financial reporting per finance requirements.
• Establish portfolio priorities, investment trade-offs, and resource allocation.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Capital planning

Regulated industry knowledge

Project governance

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or related field

Job description

• Compensation: USD 141,500 - USD 268,500 - yearly

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

An engineering leader accountable for setting the direction of Project Engineering and developing and delivering the capital-related portion of the site’s long-range plan. Leads the site capital portfolio across facilities, utilities, and equipment, aligning investment recommendations and project execution with business priorities, financial commitments, asset lifecycle needs, and applicable requirements.

Leads and develops the Project Engineering organization and establishes the governance, capabilities, and partnerships needed to deliver a safe, compliant, and sustainable capital program. Contributes engineering and capital perspectives to broader site planning, including the Site Master Plan, and leads execution of approved capital initiatives within Project Engineering’s scope.

Responsibilities

• Set the strategic direction for Project Engineering and translate business and site priorities into the capital-related portion of the site’s long-range plan.


• Lead development, prioritization, and submission of the site capital long-range plan and annual capital plan in partnership with relevant site functions.


• Contribute engineering assessments, capital needs, and project-execution considerations to broader site plans, including the Site Master Plan.


• Oversee the annual site capital plan and department budget, including portfolio-level resource planning, financial governance, and delivery of capital commitments.


• Ensure accurate and timely capital plan last best estimates (LBEs), forecasts, and financial reporting in accordance with Finance and Project Accounting requirements.


• Establish portfolio-level priorities and make recommendations on investment trade-offs, project sequencing, resource allocation, and changes in scope or timing. Escalate significant risks and decisions to appropriate leadership.


• Hold the organization accountable for achieving approved project and capital plan objectives, including cost, schedule, scope, quality, compliance, and lifecycle value.


• Provide leadership and direction to Project Engineering personnel, including managers and individual contributors, and build organizational capability through talent development, succession planning, training, and effective organizational design.


• Establish and maintain effective project governance, engineering standards, and lifecycle practices for capital project definition, RCE development, estimating, design, execution, construction, commissioning and qualification.


• Oversee the asset management, project lifecycle, and energy sustainability programs, integrating their priorities and outcomes with the capital plan and relevant site plans.


• Sponsor continuous improvement in project delivery, engineering practices, and portfolio management. Promote consideration of EHS, sustainability, and lifecycle impacts throughout project design and change processes.


• Ensure capital activities fulfill applicable corporate policies and procedures and meet environmental, health, safety, quality, and other regulatory or operational obligations.


• Maintain effective oversight of engineering and commissioning documentation, including required Technical Library records and current drawings in the CAD repository.


• Represent the site Project Engineering function in relevant enterprise, cross-site, and external forums; build productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders.


• Provide engineering and capital input to the Site Master Plan and lead execution of approved capital work assigned to Project Engineering.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, or a closely related discipline, or equivalent technical experience demonstrating comparable competence. A post-graduate degree is desirable.


• Typically 12+ years of significant engineering and/or operational experience, including progressive leadership responsibility. Relevant post-graduate education may contribute toward the experience requirement.


• Extensive engineering leadership experience in the biopharmaceutical, medical device, and/or packaging industries, or another regulated industry, with a demonstrated record of delivering complex capital programs and developing technical organizations.


• Demonstrated ability to shape and execute the capital-related portion of a site long-range plan and connect investment recommendations to business priorities, asset lifecycle needs, and site requirements.


• Experience contributing engineering and capital perspectives to broader, cross-functional site planning.


• Experience overseeing a portfolio of projects and making or influencing complex prioritization, resource-allocation, and financial decisions.


• Strong knowledge of capital planning, project financial controls, forecasting, project governance, and relevant financial systems.


• Demonstrated ability to lead through managers and multidisciplinary teams, develop talent, and establish clear accountability across an organization.


• Strong understanding of facilities, utilities, equipment, project engineering, construction, commissioning, and qualification in a regulated environment.


• Demonstrated commitment to EHS, quality, compliance, and continuous improvement in project planning and execution.


• Able to communicate effectively with senior management and diverse internal and external stakeholders, including presenting complex recommendations and influencing decisions.


• Listens to and understands differing perspectives and communicates one’s own perspective tactfully and respectfully in discussions, writing, and presentations.


• Exercises sound judgment on complex, consequential matters and provides clear recommendations, including when information is incomplete or priorities compete.

Additional Information

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.