BTS Operations M&A Architect

JPS Tech Solutions LLC; North Carolina; On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an experienced IT/OT Architecture Leader to steer site lifecycle initiatives—acquisitions, divestitures/separations, new builds, and expansions. You will define Day-1 through Day-100 readiness and ensure solutions meet AbbVie standards for security, GxP/CSV compliance, and operational supportability.

Lead cross-functional teams to deliver repeatable site integrations, develop reference architectures, and mentor technical leads.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 7 years of IT architecture experience; pharma/manufacturing preferred.
• Strong knowledge of GxP, FDA regulations, and compliance.
• Experience leading IT projects for new site builds or acquisitions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to assess risk and deliver high-quality solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead architectural vision for IT/OT at acquisitions and expansions.
• Define Day-1/Day-30 readiness plans and hypercare architecture.
• Develop a Site Integration Playbook with reference architectures.
• Ensure security, compliance, and operational supportability.

Skills

IT architecture

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Project leadership

Cybersecurity awareness

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT/related field

Master's degree in IT/related field

PhD in IT or related

Tools

MES

ERP

SCADA

Automation

Network infrastructure

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION::

Serve as the architect and technology strategist for manufacturing site lifecycle initiatives-including acquisitions, divestitures/separations (as applicable), new builds, and expansions. Lead end-to-end architecture from IT due diligence through Day-1 readiness, stabilization, and integration to AbbVie target standards-ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, compliant (GxP/CSV/Part 11 as applicable), and operationally supportable. Partner with BTS Ops delivery teams and cross-functional stakeholders to deliver repeatable, high-confidence site integrations that enable business growth and operational excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

M&A / Site Lifecycle Architecture Leadership

• Lead technical visioning and architecture for IT/OT systems supporting plant acquisitions, separations, new construction, and expansions, including transition-state and target-state architectures.
• Define Day-1 / Day-30 / Day-100 technology readiness plans, cutover approach, and stabilization ("hypercare") architecture for acquired/expanded sites.
• Produce and maintain a repeatable Site Integration Playbook (reference architectures, approved patterns, checklists, standard bills of material, and evidence templates).

IT Due Diligence & Integration Strategy

• Own the IT due diligence architecture assessment for target sites: current state inventories (apps/integration/data/infrastructure), IT/OT connectivity, vendor dependencies, obsolescence/EOL, licensing/contracts, support model, and integration complexity.
• Assess cybersecurity posture and third-party risk in coordination with InfoSec, including segmentation, remote access, endpoint posture, asset discovery, identity onboarding, and remediation planning.
• Develop integration options and recommendations (e.g., retain vs. standardize vs. replace) using agreed criteria (risk, compliance, speed, cost, sustainability, architectural fit).

Compliance, Risk, and Governance

• Ensure architectures align to AbbVie standards for security, data privacy, GxP/CSV expectations, and technology governance, with audit-ready traceability.
• Drive architecture decisioning through governance forums (e.g., ARB or equivalent): maintain architecture decision logs/records, exception/risk acceptance documentation, and standards conformance evidence.
• Identify and proactively manage cross-site risks (schedule, cyber, validation, operational readiness), escalating tradeoffs and decisions early.

Solution & Integration Architecture (IT + OT)

• Architect manufacturing technology stacks spanning MES, SCADA/automation interfaces, historians, plant connectivity, ERP integrations, and core infrastructure platforms.
• Define integration patterns and interface inventories: data flows, API/event/file interfaces where applicable, master data alignment, and operational reporting.
• Establish site connectivity and operating model requirements: monitoring, backup/recovery, patching, incident response, and support handoffs.

Delivery Partnership & Leadership

• Partner with BTS Ops program/project managers and implementation teams to guide execution and ensure delivered solutions match architecture intent, quality, compliance, and operational supportability.
• Lead cross-functional workshops with Engineering, Operations, Quality, Procurement, and key vendors to align requirements, validate designs, and resolve tradeoffs.
• Mentor solution architects & project technical leads; set expectation and raise architectural maturity across site deployment teams.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree with 7 years of experience, Master's Degree with 6 years, or PhD with 2 years in IT systems architecture or a related applied discipline; manufacturing or pharmaceutical industry experience strongly preferred.
• Strong background in manufacturing IT, including understanding of plant floor systems, enterprise integrations, and regulatory compliance (GxP, FDA, etc.).
• Proven experience leading IT projects for new site builds, plant expansions, or acquisition integrations.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to assess risk, think strategically, and deliver high-quality solutions in dynamic environments.
• Experience with relevant technology platforms (MES, ERP, Automation/SCADA, network infrastructure, etc.).
• Strong analytic, problem-solving, and project management skills.
• Knowledge of applicable corporate and divisional policies and project management methodologies.