Manager, Process Improvement
AbbVie · North Chicago, IL
- Level
- Manager
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Degree
- Required
- Experience asked
- 8+ years
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
A management continuous improvement role at AbbVie (pharma & life sciences) in North Chicago, IL. Develop, maintain and administer training/education programs on continuous improvement and related topics (Lean Six Sigma, kaizen).
- They ask for
- 8+ years · degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, SAP
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in Illinois: typical posted base $120k–$169k.
Median of the low and high ends of 14 live postings that list pay, out of 20 continuous improvement 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 19 other live lean / ci postings in Illinois.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Less than usual (8+ vs 10+)
Typical $113k–$162k, from 10 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 10+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 95%
- ✓ Six Sigma 75%
- ✓ Kaizen 65%
- Root cause 50%
- Black Belt 45%
- Value stream mapping 40%
✓ = 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 Lean / CI 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 CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
- Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
- 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
- ◆Manage assigned and Self-directed initiatives and projects focusing on achieving corporate goals which at the start have been defined in broad terms.
- ◆Provide governance, setting priorities and ensure efficient and effective project management and use of resources (people, money and time). Lead and initiate all activities that are necessary to successfully complete the projects. Connect with management and the operation for successful implementation of projects.
- ◆Define value proposition and create portfolio of services. Improve processes, improve systems and develop people in order to create more value for customers.
- ◆Identify applicable practices and then function as a change agent within the organization to implement and ensure widespread adoption.
- ◆Develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders.
- ◆Influence change and gain support from key partners for improvement programs
- ◆Develop, maintain and administer training/education programs on continuous improvement and related topics (Lean Six Sigma, kaizen).
- ◆Bachelor/Master of Science, Engineering, Economics or Business Management
- ◆8 years’ experience in Operations, Quality, Financial Management, or Supply Chain Management
- ◆Hands-on experience applying lean manufacturing, 6-Sigma, and advanced planning and control methods
- ◆Proven capability to manage and implement change management programs
- ◆Practical knowledge and experience in functioning as a Project Lead and/or Project Team member with proven accomplishments
- ◆Capable of leading and coaching a multidisciplinary team from all levels and functions of the organization
- ◆Strong cross functional collaboration with Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Manufacturing and within Supply Chain Practical knowledge of SAP/JDA and/or other similar systems
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
We are searching for a resourceful problem-solver who can spark and support innovative initiatives, leveraging foundational AI insights to help shape our organization's future.
- •Lead complex improvement projects (in size and/or level of innovation) related to process improvements from corporate goal to project result.
- •Reach agreement with project sponsors on expected savings, budget, project quality, and implementation deadlines, and manage assigned projects so that goals are met within pre-defined boundaries.
- •Be the lead driver for project governance, strategy deployment, CI-tools and culture, and foster improvement by broadening the use of lean six sigma tools across the organization.
- •Enhance organizational effectiveness and function as a Change Agent for strategy deployment
- •Coach teams toward achieving their vision of professional excellence.