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Director, External Manufacturing - Aseptic

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Manufacturing

Posted May 4, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you led a team of account managers through a tough negotiation.

What they are checking: Whether they can lead a team through difficult negotiations with partners, balancing firmness with the need for a lasting relationship.

Tell me about a time you developed someone on your team into a stronger leader.

What they are checking: Whether they deliberately grow leaders on their team, since a director's impact depends on building people who can take on more.

What would you do

A TPM has a sterility failure that threatens supply. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they can coordinate quality, supply and communication quickly during a sterility failure, protecting patients while managing the supply impact.

The TPM keeps missing delivery dates. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they find root causes and hold partners to commitments with clear consequences, rather than tolerating repeated delays or damaging the relationship.

How do you keep communication with a TPM clear on forecasts and schedule changes?

What they are checking: Whether they keep forecasts and schedule changes clearly communicated with partners, since confusion here leads quickly to shortages or excess inventory.

About the work

How do you manage a third party manufacturer's performance for aseptic products?

What they are checking: Whether they manage contract manufacturers with clear metrics and regular reviews, because aseptic products leave little room for supply or quality slips.

What's most important to get right in a manufacturing service agreement?

What they are checking: Whether they know which contract terms protect supply, quality and cost, since a weak agreement leaves the company exposed when problems arise.

How do you make sure a TPM has the right quality systems and documentation in place?

What they are checking: Whether they actively verify a partner's quality systems and documentation, since the company remains responsible for products made by third parties.

How do you build the Financial Operating Plan and LRP for external manufacturing?

What they are checking: Whether they can own the financial plans for external manufacturing, linking cost, volume and risk into numbers finance can rely on.

What makes aseptic manufacturing riskier than oral solids, from a TPM management view?

What they are checking: Understanding of aseptic risks such as contamination and Annex 1.

How do you plan materials and procurement so the TPM never runs short?

What they are checking: Whether they coordinate materials planning across organizations so supply gaps are caught early, because shortages at a contract manufacturer stop production.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose: Manage a team of Manufacturing Professionals assigned to Third Party Manufacture (TPM) contracts for small molecule products. Assure that high quality product is manufactured in compliance with local and international regulations, and released and delivered according to the established forecasts, schedules, and cost planned. Responsibilities: • Lead a team of AbbVie TPM Account Managers to Negotiate Manufacturing Service Agreement and amendments, and assure compliance with the terms of the agreements and Assure effective planning and material procurement strategies are in place to efficiently supply TPMs with required materials. • Assure global logistics are in place to support all phases of the manufacturing agreement in accordance with Purchasing and Supplier quality expectations. • Ensure timely communication to the TPM in all aspects of the product agreement including product forecasts, manufacturing and delivery schedules. • Lead the development of Financial Operating Plan, Updates, LRP, and Standard processes, and assure the financial goals are met. • Monitor manufacturing performance; apply performance metrics as appropriate and ensure work processes and standards align to deliver product in accordance with AbbVie quality expectations. • Assure in coordination with internal AbbVie functional partners that the TPM has the required quality systems and documentation to meet regulatory requirements, follow up inspection responses and commitments. Coordinate with QA, the annual quality management review and periodic audits of the TPM. Assure deviations are properly investigated and product disposition decisions are made in a timely manner. • Lead a performance improvement culture & programs across TPMs; guide Account Managers to anticipate and act on ideas to increase efficiency and effectiveness. • Coach managers in the organization and establish clear expectations with them and all employees regarding responsibilities, goals and behaviours and champion and model exceptional AbbVie performance and talent management practices. • Coordinate routine management reviews and provide on-going communication informing internal and TPM stakeholders of TPM performance against expectations, highlighting issues, actions, and on-going improvements to increase performance at TPMs. • Represent Manufacturing as required with internal Brand Teams related to all aspects of the manufacturing process with TPMs and develop and manage staff through hiring, managing performance, developing talent and providing clear expectations. • Bachelor’s Degree required in a technical field: advanced technical degree (Master’s or Doctorate Degree) strongly preferred. • 15+ years’ experience including: work as an individual contributor building technical expertise and proven 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.) • Business acumen coupled with functional leadership experience is required to ensure effectiveness and high performance in a complex operation. 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 Company believes in good faith it will pay for this role at the time of this postingbased on the job grade for this position. Individual compensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, and we may ultimately paymore or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in the future. ​ • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick), medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.​ • This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentive programs. ​ 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 employee remains in the Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and untilpaid 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 only - to learn more, visit https://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

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