Lab Operations Lead, tLNP Chemistry & CMC

AbbVie Inc.; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie in Chicago seeks a Lab Manager for the tLNP CMC team to enable next‑gen mRNA and lipid nanoparticle programs.

You will lead daily lab operations, coordinate facilities, manage equipment lifecycle, inventory, and safety programs, and partner with EHS and scientists to support program execution.

The role requires a science degree with 5+ years of lab operations experience, strong organizational skills, and effective cross‑functional communication.

Qualifications

• Degree in a related scientific discipline with 5+ years of industry experience.
• Experience supporting lab operations and research or manufacturing support.
• Experience managing lab equipment, inventory systems, and workflows.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and collaboration across technical teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations for the tLNP laboratories to ensure safety and readiness.
• Serve as primary contact for facilities, infrastructure, and operational issues.
• Manage purchasing, inventory, supplies, and freezer storage.
• Coordinate equipment installation, qualification, calibration, and maintenance.
• Partner with EHS to support safety compliance and training.
• Maintain lab procedures, records, and metrics for regulatory readiness.
• Drive lab organization and continuous improvement using 5S and visual management.
• Coordinate shipments of laboratory materials domestically and internationally.
• Support onboarding, lab access, required training, and site coordination.
• Build partnerships across scientific, operational, facilities, and support teams.

Skills

Chemistry

Biochemistry

Biology

Lab operations

Inventory management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

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

Job Description

The Targeted Lipid Nanoparticle (tLNP) Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Team (TCT) is part of Biologics CMC Development Sciences within Research & Development. The team supports the development of next-generation mRNA and targeted lipid nanoparticle therapeutics through process development, formulation development, analytical characterization, and manufacturing support.

The Lab Manager will serve as the operational lead for the tLNP laboratories, ensuring a safe, efficient, and well-organized lab environment that enables scientific productivity and program execution. This role will partner closely with scientists, engineers, facilities and EHS to support lab operations, equipment management, inventory control, safety, and site coordination activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations for the tLNP laboratories, ensuring the space is safe, organized, and ready to support scientific work.
• Serve as the primary contact for facility, infrastructure, and operational issues, coordinating with Facilities and other support teams through resolution.
• Manage purchasing, inventory, supplies, shared resources, sample tracking, and freezer storage to maintain material availability and organization.
• Coordinate equipment installation, qualification, calibration, preventive maintenance, repairs, and service contracts throughout the equipment lifecycle.
• Partner with EHS to support laboratory safety compliance, inspections, training, incident follow-up, and corrective actions.
• Maintain lab procedures, operational records, and metrics to support consistent practices and regulatory readiness.
• Drive lab organization and continuous improvement using 5S, visual management, and other operational best practices.
• Coordinate domestic and international shipments of laboratory materials, biological samples, and research supplies in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Support employee onboarding, laboratory access, required training, and day-to-day site coordination.
• Build strong partnerships across scientific, operational, facilities, EHS, and support teams to enable program execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline with 5+ years of industry experience, or Master’s Degree or equivalent education with 2+ years of industry experience.
• Experience supporting lab operations, lab management, scientific research, manufacturing support, or related technical functions.
• Experience managing lab equipment, inventory systems, purchasing processes, and operational workflows.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work across diverse technical teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biologics, nucleic acid, or lipid nanoparticle development programs.
• Knowledge of lab safety practices and EHS requirements.
• Experience with lab asset management, calibration, maintenance, and equipment lifecycle management.
• Working knowledge of laboratory IT systems and infrastructure, including software applications, data management tools, and associated scientific instrumentation.
• Familiarity with Lean, 5S, visual management, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience coordinating shipments of biological, pharmaceutical, or research materials.
• Demonstrated ability to independently identify and solve operational challenges.

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 thetimeofthis posting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographiclocation,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 short-term incentiveprograms.

Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.Theamountandavailabilityof anybonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employeeremainsin the Company'ssoleandabsolutediscretion unless and until paid andmay bemodifiedat the Company’s 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

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html