Director, Construction

BioSpace; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term incentive programs

Comprehensive benefits package

Career development opportunities

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking a Director of Construction to provide senior leadership for a ~$500 million pharmaceutical capital project. You will own site construction, govern EPC/CM contractors, and ensure on-time delivery within budget, safety, and regulatory requirements.

The role interfaces with engineering, CQV, procurement, and operations to enable startup readiness. You will lead a large, cross-functional team, drive continuous improvement, and maintain a zero-incident safety culture in line with

Qualifications

• BS in Engineering or equivalent technical degree.
• 20+ years of experience as a construction leader, preferably in biopharma in the United States.
• Proven leadership managing large cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.
• Experience directing Engineering, EPC/EPCM contractors and global equipment vendors.
• Results-oriented leadership with risk-based decision making.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owner's senior construction leader for all site construction activities.
• Lead the construction management organization including managers, field engineers, and supervision.
• Govern EPC/CM contractors and ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Contribute to constructability studies and define optimal construction strategy.
• Establish construction execution plans, procedures, and performance expectations.
• Coordinate with engineering, procurement, CQV, and operations teams.

Skills

Construction leadership

Leadership & mentorship

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk-based decision making

Regulatory/compliance awareness

Education

B.S. in Engineering

Job 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 atwww.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie onLinkedIn,Facebook,Instagram,XandYouTube.

Company Description 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 atwww.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie onLinkedIn,Facebook,Instagram,XandYouTube.

Purpose

The Director of Construction provides senior leadership and owners oversight for all construction activities associated with a ~$500 million pharmaceutical capital project. The role is responsible for ensuring safe, compliant, and efficient construction execution while maintaining strict alignment with the companys capital governance, quality systems, and regulatory expectations. Functioning as the owners on-site construction authority, the Director of Construction leads the construction management organization and oversees EPC/CM partners and trade contractors. The role ensures that construction activities are executed safely, delivered on schedule and within approved capital budgets, and meet the quality and compliance standards required for pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. This position plays a critical role in integrating construction with engineering, procurement, commissioning, qualification, validation, and operational readiness to enable successful facility start-up. The incumbent will report to Strategic Projects Director in the Operations Transformation organization.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the owners senior construction leader responsible for execution of all site construction activities.
• Lead the owners construction management organization including construction managers, field engineers, and site supervision.
• Provide governance and oversight of EPC/CM contractors and trade contractors to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Take active part in constructability studies and provide inputs for the optimal construction strategy during design.
• Establish construction execution strategies, site procedures, and performance expectations.
• Ensure effective coordination between engineering, procurement, construction, CQV, and operations teams.
• Drive accountability across contractors to meet project commitments.
• Champion a Zero Incident safety culture consistent with corporate EHS standards and ensure full compliance with OSHA regulations and corporate safety management systems.
• Oversee contractor safety programs, audits, and incident investigations. Lead proactive hazard identification and mitigation initiatives across all construction activities.
• Monitor safety performance and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Provide executive oversight of the integrated master project schedule with emphasis on construction milestones and critical path activities.
• Ensure contractors develop and maintain realistic and achievable schedules aligned with project objectives.
• Monitor progress, productivity, and performance metrics.
• Lead schedule risk assessments and mitigation strategies.
• Implement schedule recovery plans where necessary.
• Maintain oversight of construction budgets, commitments, and cost forecasts with accurate cost reporting and financial transparency across contractors.
• Monitor cost performance against approved capital authorization by identifying cost risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Drive value engineering and cost optimization initiatives where available.
• Lead the construction change management process in accordance with corporate capital governance procedures.
• Review and evaluate contractor change requests and claims, Negotiate commercial impacts and ensure proper documentation, maintain governance and control over construction costs throughout the project
• Lead construction risk reviews with project leadership and contractors, Maintain a construction risk register and ensure mitigation strategies are implemented and develop contingency plans for critical construction risks.
• Ensure construction execution meets project specifications, corporate engineering standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Support construction readiness for commissioning, qualification, and validation (CQV) activities.
• Ensure proper documentation, inspections, and testing in accordance with quality systems.
• Coordinate closely with Quality Assurance, CQV, and validation teams to support regulatory readiness.
• Ensure construction activities support timely turnover to commissioning and qualification teams.
• Coordinate system completion, mechanical completion, and turnover documentation while supporting startup readiness and operational handover planning.
• Support capital governance processes including stage-gate approvals and project reviews.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on safety, schedule, cost, risk, and construction performance.
• Manage capital expenditure including cost forecasting, change management, and financial reporting

Qualifications

• BS, Engineering or equivalent technical degree required.
• 20+ years of experience as a construction leader, preferably in the biopharmaceutical industry in the United States
• Proven leadership experience in construction management of mega-capital projects ($500MM+)
• Proven inclusive management and leadership capabilities of large cross-functional teams and the ability to effectively interact and communicate with senior leadership and executives from strategic partners and authorities
• Demonstrated experience managing Engineering, EPC/EPCM contractors and global equipment vendors
• Results-oriented leadership with outstanding negotiation skills and risk-based decision making is required
• Ability to mentor and develop next generation of leaders
• Travel within the US outside the US for reviews/workshops/visits to vendor facilities will be required.

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 Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at the timeof thisposting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location,andwemayultimatelypaymore or less than the posted range. This range may bemodifiedin thefuture.
• 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 toparticipatein our long-term incentiveprograms.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.The amount and availability of any bonus,commission,incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company's sole andabsolutediscretion unless anduntil paid andmay bemodifiedat the Companys sole and absolute discretion, consistent withapplicable 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, visithttps://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html

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