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Associate Director, Midwest Project Engineering

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL

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Level
Director+
Team
Manufacturing
Degree
Preferred
Experience asked
12+ years
Industry
Pharma & life sciences
Posted
7 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level manufacturing role at AbbVie (pharma & life sciences) in North Chicago, IL. A project manager responsible for leading regional design and construction projects and teams that contribute significantly to the success of the AbbVie R&D pipeline.

They ask for
12+ years · degree preferred

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $96k–$155k.

Median of the low and high ends of 18 live postings that list pay, out of 34 manufacturing engineer openings in Illinois, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

Illinois plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 33 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $89k–$145k, from 16 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
More than usual (12+ vs 5+)

Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • Root cause 59%
  • Automation 53%
  • Lean 50%
  • New product launch 32%
  • Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 32%
  • Cost reduction 26%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

It asks for 12+ years. If you're close, apply anyway: requirements are a wish list. Talk to someone doing this work there first.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at AbbVie

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
    • How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

This plant: AbbVie in North Chicago

5 other open roles at this site.

Full description from AbbVieAs posted on their careers site.Show

Responsibilities

of this engineering grade level inherently include and expand upon the

responsibilities

established for lower Project Management Track grade levels.

  • ◆Responsible for compliance with applicable Policies and procedures. Ensures quality and effectiveness of key results of major projects within function through sound design, early risk assessments, and implementation of fallback strategies. Mitigates risk within functions through sound design, early risk assessments and implementation of fallback strategies.
  • ◆Provides leadership and centralized management for the planning, development and execution of regional projects or programs to achieve key strategic business objectives. Manages multiple, often concurrent regional projects and consistently meets expectations. Understands the business needs and has a thorough knowledge of customer strategic needs when developing a project scope. Integrates technology and business needs when defining project scope
  • ◆Leads the team in using established PM tools and techniques to stay within authorized budget limits and achieve the overall project and organizational objectives. Develops project strategy to align and achieve key customer business objectives. Leads and contributes to the development of long-term business and organizational strategies.
  • ◆Manages and is responsible for all phases of project execution. Monitors aggregate performance and value indicators. Coordinates and supervises project audits. Leads regional teams to develop and align procedures and standards with the global organization.
  • ◆In cooperation with corporate purchasing identifies the need for strategic alliances with vendors and assists with contract negotiation. Evaluates qualifications, reliability and performance of vendors, ensuring adherence to plans, policies and procedures to provide required services.
  • ◆Fosters an environment of innovation and exchange of ideas. Integrates experiences and approaches from multiple projects / disciplines to develop the best solution in the total business context. Develops standards that assure the customer the greatest return on investment and that minimal infrastructure will be required to support future projects.
  • ◆Effectively communicates with all levels throughout the organization. Develops networks valued by functional leaders. Actively supports open exchange of expert cross disciplinary knowledge. Serves as organization spokesperson on advanced projects. Acts as an advisor to management. Sets a clear direction for improving project design / outcome within the framework of the corporate strategy.
  • ◆Leads group or divisional task forces. Leadership role in professional affiliation. Provides mentoring in technical and organizational areas across multiple work groups, functions and corporation; monitors the improvement of other engineers. Participates in the evaluation of assigned staff / project team members and in the identification of development needs. May supervise other engineers or technicians.
  • ◆A Bachelors Degree in Project Management (preferred), architecture, engineering, construction, or closely related discipline is desired, or equivalent technical experience plus demonstrated competence, with a desired 12+ years of significant engineering and / or operational experience. A post-graduate education / degree is desired and may contribute towards the desired years of experience.
  • ◆A career history marked by a consistent series of significant contributions and accomplishments.
  • ◆Demonstrated and been recognized for excellence in breadth and depth of knowledge in global project management.
  • ◆Interacts well with diverse groups across a division and maintains strong working relationships with internal and external collaborators.
  • ◆Listens to and understands others’ points of view and articulates tactfully and respectfully one’s own perspective orally, in writing, and in presentations.
  • ◆Works well with other engineers in a collaborative, fast-paced goal-driven environment.
  • ◆Possesses interpersonal skills to negotiate and reconcile differences, while optimizing overall organizational goals.
  • ◆A technical background in laboratory life science (preferred), health care, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biologics, or similar industries.
  • ◆Consistently demonstrated competency with financial systems and in fiscal control. Project accounting experience. Understanding and management of procurement and contracting processes.
  • ◆Formal Project Management training (preferred).
Show full description ↓

A project manager responsible for leading regional design and construction projects and teams that contribute significantly to the success of the AbbVie R&D pipeline. A key AbbVie project management leader

Key Stakeholders

Engineering Management, Operations Management, EH&S Management, R&D Management, Task Force Sponsors, Senior Management

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