Project Director / Manufacturing Director, Operations

AbbVie; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 161,000 - 305,000; Full time

Job summary

AbbVie Inc. plans to expand a new Durham, North Carolina manufacturing campus. This Project Director / Manufacturing Director, Operations role leads large-scale drug substance, product, biologics, and aseptic fill-finish manufacturing operations.

You will drive strategy, staffing, budgets, and performance across multiple product lines. The role requires strong technical leadership, GMP experience, and cross-functional collaboration to meet site objectives and readiness for launches.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in a related technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of experience with increasing responsibility in operations (manufacturing, quality, supply chain, engineering).
• 8+ years in drug substance, drug product, biologics or aseptic fill/finish environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead site startup and establish operational readiness with leadership team.
• Manage budgets typically $60MM or more and drive cost effectiveness.
• Guide cross-functional teams to ensure high quality, compliant manufacturing and launch readiness.
• Develop staff through hiring, performance, and talent development.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering

Master’s or Doctorate Degree preferred

Job description

Project Director / Manufacturing Director, Operations

• Full-time
• Salary Min: 160500
• Salary Max: 305000
• Workday Global Grade: 21
• Travel: Yes, 50% of the Time
• Compensation: USD 160,500 - USD 305,000 - yearly

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 at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

New to North Carolina. Known for pursuing breakthroughs in medicine.

Ready to join our team?

At AbbVie, we bring together talented people and innovative science to develop medicines that help patients. Now, we’re bringing that commitment to Durham, North Carolina, with a new manufacturing campus that will expand our ability to produce medicines and create opportunities in the Research Triangle.

The campus will integrate advanced manufacturing, laboratory technologies and AI to support the production of immunology, oncology and neuroscience medicines. The first phase will include manufacturing facilities, next-generation laboratories, a warehouse, administrative offices and employee wellness facilities.

We are now recruiting our Project Director / Manufacturing Director, Operations as part of the core start up leadership team.

In this role, you will provide leadership and direction for a manufacturing operation of a large site (drug substance, drug product, biologics and/or aseptic sterile fill finish) delivering multiple products, technically complex products, and in support of new product introductions, readiness for launch.

Key Responsibilities

• Partnering with the leadership team, help build and establish the site - from recruiting the key talent needed for your team to establishing operational readiness
• Create operational and financial goals, budgets and objectives for the assigned manufacturing area. Manage budget of typically $60MM or more, ensure performance levels to maximize operations.
• Apply a high level of scientific analysis and decision-making to influence the design and ongoing optimization of manufacturing processes. Provide leadership to teams when troubleshooting manufacturing issues; consults and advises cross-functional teams to ensure processes and approaches result in efficient, high quality products.
• Drive and lead the assigned manufacturing area to meet the site business strategies; accountable for operating expenses, payroll and capital expenditures for manufacturing area projects and programs.
• Guide development and implementation of business strategies to achieve budget expectations as well as drive cost reduction efforts; implement actions to adapt and transform the organization in order to meet changing business needs.
• Ensure staff members are provided training and coaching to build technical knowledge and capability.
• Responsible for synthesizing action plans, timelines and budgets for project and product goals and adjusting these plans accordingly to effectively respond to changing demands of the business.
• Develop and manage staff through hiring, managing performance, developing talent and providing clear expectations.
• Ensure all labor and equipment performance measures are met. Responsible for completing established goals, prioritizing project work and controlling and coordinating all activities and improvement efforts across manufacturing areas.
• Manage the employee relations climate to ensure that our AbbVie Way is realized and an environment exists where all employees have the opportunity to develop to their maximum potential.
• Coach managers in the organization and establish clear expectations with them and all employees regarding responsibilities, goals and behaviors and champion and model exceptional AbbVie performance and talent management practices.
  • Bachelor’s Degree required in a related technical field such as Chemical Engineering: advanced technical degree (Master’s or Doctorate Degree) strongly preferred
  • 12+ years’ experience including: work as an individual contributor building technical expertise and proved project management skills. Progressively increased responsibility and performance as supervisor, department manager and leader of diverse teams in Operations (Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, etc.)
  • 8+ years expeirence in a simiilar drug substance, drug product, biologics and/or aseptic sterile fill finish environment is required
  • You will have demonstrated your ability to lead successful teams in prior roles and experience in partnering cross functionally in a GMP manufacturing environment
  • Business acumen coupled with functional leadership experience is required to ensure effectiveness and high performance in a complex operation
  • Travel up to 50% during the initial start up phase of the project

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state or local 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 this posting 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 pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employer remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole and absolute discretion, consistent with applicable 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 applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation,