Director, Preclinical Quality Assurance

AbbVie; North Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

AbbVie in North Chicago is seeking a professional to manage auditing for compliance with GLP regulations while developing an organizational model for the Quality Assurance Unit. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years in Quality Assurance with strong leadership competencies.

The role involves defining quality goals and leading the Due Diligence program for RDQA. A Bachelor's degree in a technical area is required, along with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

AbbVie offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Quality Assurance or related field.
• Accreditation by a professional body is desirable.
• Ability to influence at all levels and foster teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Manage auditing for compliance of GLP-regulated studies.
• Develop an organizational model for internal GLP and GCLP audit coverage.
• Lead the Due Diligence program for RDQA.
• Define and execute personnel development plans.

Skills

Quality Assurance

Leadership

Risk Assessment

Project Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in sciences or engineering

Job description

Purpose

Primarily responsible for ensuring adherence to GLP regulations and developing an organizational model for the Quality Assurance Unit. Manage a team of audit professionals responsible for quality oversight of all GLP‑regulated studies. Poor decisions could present significant risks to patients in clinical trial programs, jeopardize the outcome of pre‑clinical or clinical trials with resulting adverse business impact, or result in rejection of regulatory filings owing to compliance issues. These outcomes would adversely affect sales, margin, and stockholder value.

Responsibilities

• Manage auditing for compliance of all GLP‑regulated in‑house studies and regulatory dossiers prior to filing. Collaborate with GXP Vendor Compliance to ensure all external vendors, who provide materials and services on behalf of AbbVie, are appropriately approved prior to use.
• Ensure adherence to GLP and GCLP regulations related to bioanalytical laboratories testing pre‑clinical and clinical samples.
• Develop an organizational model for internal GLP and GCLP audit coverage and ensure appropriate capabilities and resources exist.
• Monitor current trends of regulatory agencies as they apply to pre‑clinical studies and bioanalytical laboratories. Communicate the changing regulatory requirements, understand the impact of changes on other quality systems and manage and drive change.
• Advocate for Quality standards and clearly and logically justify such positions to be seen as a subject matter expert and advisor.
• Define quality goals for both annual and long‑range plans. Work with management and the department personnel to achieve goals and strategic initiatives.
• Lead the Due Diligence program for RDQA. Work with Business Development to ensure appropriate cross‑functional assessment of targeted asset(s) and consolidate all RDQA Due Diligence findings for communication/recommendation to Business Development.
• Conduct functional area management review; prepare appropriate metrics and present significant events to senior management.
• Define and execute goals and personnel development plans within the group. Provide annual performance reviews for direct reports. Recommend hiring, promotion and disciplinary action for staff.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Quality Assurance or related field including a thorough understanding of pharmaceutical processes and product development principles, technical competence in bioanalytical laboratory operations and expert knowledge of global GLP regulations.
• Key leadership competencies are relationship building, ability to influence at all levels, fostering teamwork, knowledge of the business, sound judgment, the ability to make difficult decisions, conflict resolution, strong oral and written communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to make critical, creative and strategic decisions as a result of rapid analysis of available information, including risk assessment for the patient and for the business. Must be able to respond quickly to unplanned events and changing needs from development programs.
• Skilled in the selection, coordination and management of projects and have ability to resolve unusually complex technical problems by providing solutions that are highly innovative.
• Accreditation by a professional body is desirable (e.g. American Society for Quality (ASQ) Certified Quality Manager (CQM) and/or Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)).
• Membership in professional organizations, e.g. Midwest Discussion Group, SQA and IQ Consortium, recommended for remaining current with peer organizations and providing opportunity to influence industry positions.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience is required; preferably in sciences, engineering or other technical/scientific area.

Additional Information

• 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.
• We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.
• This job is eligible to participate in our long‑term incentive programs.

Equal Opportunity Employer

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. U.S. & Puerto Rico only – to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html. U.S. & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more: https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html.