Associate Program Director, Digital Solutions

Thornton Tomasetti; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 149,000 - 297,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free medical coverage

Strong retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Education benefit (FreeU)

Diversity & inclusion recognition

Job summary

Abbott is a global healthcare leader seeking an Associate Program Director, Digital Solutions, within the Medical Devices group in the United States. This role leads a portfolio of programs from initiation to commercialization, coordinating cross‑functional teams and managing budget, milestones, and risk across multiple projects.

The position emphasizes design controls, SaMD quality standards, and regulatory compliance with ISO 13485 and 21 CFR 820, plus FDA 510(K) / EU MDR familiarity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (engineering, data science, software) required.
• 12+ years of end-to-end program management in medical device/life sciences with global regulatory context.
• Design Controls processes compliant with ISO 13485 and 21 CFR 820.
• Working knowledge of FDA 510(K) and/or EU MDR requirements.
• Digital Health product development experience.
• PMP Certification or Agile training.
• Experience with budgeting and financial tracking.

Responsibilities

• Define program scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Develop detailed program plans, schedules, and budgets.
• Lead cross-functional teams to successfully deliver program outcomes.
• Monitor progress, track milestones, and adjust plans as needed.
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Manage program resources including personnel and budget.
• Communicate program status, updates, and risks to leadership.
• Ensure alignment with quality standards and governance.
• Facilitate meetings and maintain documentation.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Budgeting

Agile

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Tools

MS Office

Smartsheets

Job description

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.

JOB DESCRIPTION: Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of. Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year.
• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists

Abbott Medical Devices, with revenue of $21B in 2025, is a global leader in providing life changing technology for the management and treatment of people living with chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic pain, and movement disorders.

The Digital Solutions organization reports in the Medical Devices group and is responsible for leveraging digitally enabled technology to increase patient access to care and provide our customers with best-in-class experiences that support our collective mission to improve patient outcomes.

The Associate Program Director, Digital Solutions is responsible for organizing and executing a portfolio of programs to support the product development pipeline. The role is responsible for leading cross-functional teams from program initiation to commercialization to meet agreed milestones and deliverables within the program’s allocated budget. The role serves as the face of the program portfolio while including reporting core team progress, risks/mitigations, key challenges and proposed resolutions etc, to senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Define program scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders
• Develop detailed program plans, schedules, and budgets
• Lead cross-functional teams to successfully deliver program outcomes
• Monitor progress, track milestones, and adjust plans as needed
• Identify risks and implement mitigation strategies
• Manage program resources effectively, including personnel and budget
• Communicate program status, updates, and risks to stakeholders and leadership
• Ensure alignment with organizational goals, quality standards, and best practices
• Facilitate meetings, maintain documentation, and ensure program governance
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and process optimization
• Apply project management methodologies and best practices.
• Prioritize and balance multiple competing priorities within and across multiple projects at the same time.
• Work in a matrix management organization with primary responsibility for project success while relying on cross-functional team members, which are not direct reports.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant standards and quality expectations for digital health and software as a medical device (SaMD), including:
  • Quality management system and software lifecycle requirements
  • Product safety and reliability expectations
  • Labeling and instructions for use
  • Design control obligations under both US and International regulations

Key Competencies

• Communication
• Attention to detail
• Adaptability and resilience
• Self Starter
• Leadership and team collaboration
• Strategic thinking and decision-making
• Time management and prioritization
• Risk management

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field (e.g., engineering, data science, software)
• 12+ years of end-end program management experience within a medical device/biomedical/life sciences industry with a global regulatory context
• Demonstrated experience of Design Controls processes, compliant with ISO 13485 standards and 21 CFR 820 regulations
• Working knowledge of FDA 510(K) and/or EU MDR regulatory requirements
• Demonstrated experience in Digital Health product development processes
• Demonstrated success in risk management, change management, and strategic planning
• PMP Certification, Agile Training/Certification
• Experience with Project management tools (MS Office, Smartsheets)
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong organizational, leadership, and problem-solving skills
• Strong verbal and written communication and presentation skills with ability to effectively communicate with multiple levels in the organization
• Ability to influence and persuade while remaining results orientated
• Experience with budgeting and financial tracking

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or other related advanced degree
• Familiarity with application of AI technologies in a clinical setting
• Experience with interoperability standards (FHIR, HL7, SMART on FHIR)

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life.

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.

The base pay for this position is $148,700.00 - $297,300.00 In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY: Project Management

DIVISION: MD Medical Devices

LOCATION: United States > Sylmar : 15900 Valley View Court

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT: Standard

TRAVEL: Yes, 15 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: No

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Continuous standing for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day)

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.

EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf

EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf

Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, Abbott has been helping people reach their potential - because better health allows people and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create new solutions - across the spectrum of health, around the world, for all stages of life. Whether it’s next-generation diagnostics, life-changing devices, science-based nutrition, or novel reformulations, we are advancing some of the most innovative and revolutionary technologies in healthcare, helping people live their best lives through better health.

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