Associate Director, Third Party Manufacturing
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL
- Level
- Director+
- Team
- Manufacturing
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 14+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Today
The role in 30 seconds
A director-level manufacturing role at AbbVie (pharma & life sciences) in North Chicago, IL. Works with internal and/or external stakeholders as a technical leader to align solutions with business needs.
- They ask for
- 14+ years · degree required
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Manufacturing Engineer roles in Illinois: typical posted base $96k–$145k.
Median of the low and high ends of 20 live postings that list pay, out of 45 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 44 other live manufacturing postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- More than usual (14+ vs 5+)
Typical $89k–$134k, from 18 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- Root cause 47%
- Automation 42%
- Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 36%
- Lean 36%
- New product launch 27%
- Team leadership 22%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Full description from AbbVieAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
Responsibilities
- ◆Works with internal and/or external stakeholders as a technical leader to align solutions with business needs.
- ◆Drives definition of technology objectives and recommends industry-leading solutions to support business needs. Identifies technology solutions to support business growth and productivity.
- ◆Analyzes emerging technologies and work with business and PDST Leadership to translate implications of the new trends into an effective technology vision and strategy.
- ◆Establishes and maintains a strategic relationship with appropriate level key stakeholders. Leads stakeholder (internal and, when appropriate, external) business planning and strategy meetings.
- ◆Participates in short- and long-term strategic planning sessions with stakeholders to improve business relationships.
- ◆Accountable for the maintenance and enhancement of relationships with external partners.
- ◆Ensures the business need is addressed by the technical challenges through collaboration with the project teams.
- ◆Promotes business knowledge of PDST process, roles, and procedures to ensure the best possible outcome.
- ◆Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate, Divisional and PDST Policies and procedures.
- ◆Bachelor's Degree with 14+ years experience; Master's Degree with 12+ years experience; PhD with 6+ years experience in Science based discipline.
- ◆Related manufacturing experience within Parenteral/Aseptic processes.
- ◆Ability to develop effective and compelling visualizations of key business and technology concepts.
- ◆Project planning experience.
- ◆Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and business teams
- ◆Strong organizational capabilities with ability to manage multiple priorities
- ◆Strong technical, analytical and critical thinking skills
Preferred Qualifications
- ✓Knowledge of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing
- ✓Knowledge of pharmaceutical contract Development
- ✓Leadership of cross-functional teams; experience working within global environment in multiple time zones. Knowledge of outsourcing methodologies and operating models and working with professional services firms.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
The External Business Relations role will be a strategic interface within PDST to drive technical interfaces, business strategy development, outsources services management, relationship management with business stakeholders. The EBR will
- •Serve as a primary advocate and the relationship linkage between PDST and outsourcing partners.
- •Provide consulting and drive for consistency PDST and external manufacturing partners
- •Provides highly-valued strategic consulting / support and guidance for major initiatives.
- •Evaluate, qualify and drive the expansion of technology capabilities needed to enable business continuity.
- •Advocate for the business’ technology needs and collaborates with internal and external teams to deliver value for the business
- •Advocate on behalf of business stakeholders to ensure outsources services meet their business priorities and needs
- •Partners with all levels of the organization to clarify objectives, estimate costs / benefits, decide on partnership options and resolve risks and issues
- •Represents PDST by promoting vision, value, services, and capabilities.