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Manager, Category Manager – Primary Packing, Non-Injectables

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Finance

Posted Aug 14, 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

The posting asks you to define strategic value drivers with key suppliers that challenge the status quo. Tell me about getting real value out of a supplier beyond price.

What they are checking: Supplier development, which the posting explicitly wants.

You partner with director-level stakeholders. How do you present a category strategy to someone who disagrees with your recommendation?

What they are checking: Persuasion upward and whether they can hold a position.

This is based in North Chicago and is one of several procurement roles AbbVie has posted at once. What would you want to know about how this category fits the wider procurement organization?

What they are checking: That they see the cluster and would ask where their scope ends.

What would you do

You would lead a cross-functional team drawn mainly from AbbVie manufacturing sites. How do you get sites with different priorities to support one global strategy?

What they are checking: Alignment across plants that each optimize locally.

You would integrate sustainability and environmental, social and governance measures into category strategy. How do you do that without it becoming a reporting exercise?

What they are checking: Whether they can make these measures operational or just report on them.

A manufacturing site has a long-standing supplier relationship you believe is costing the company. How do you approach it?

What they are checking: Changing an entrenched arrangement without losing the site's cooperation.

About the work

This category is primary packaging for non-injectable products. What makes primary packaging different to source than a general indirect category?

What they are checking: Understanding that primary packaging touches the product and therefore the filing.

Walk me through how you would build an annual strategic plan for a category from a blank page.

What they are checking: Category strategy method rather than tactical sourcing.

A packaging change requires regulatory work before it can be implemented. How does that change how you negotiate and time a supplier decision?

What they are checking: Whether they account for qualification and filing timelines in sourcing.

How do you use market intelligence in a category where there are only a few qualified suppliers?

What they are checking: Realistic leverage thinking in a constrained supply base.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose: The Category Manager of Primary Packaging Non-Injectables partners with Director-level business or functional stakeholders to develop global procurement strategies, define strategic value drivers with key category suppliers, secure collaborative partnerships, and achieve ambitious performance targets aligned with organizational goals. Category materials include films, foils, plastic bottles and caps, resins, trays and pouches. Responsibilities: • Lead end-to-end procurement processes, develop global procurement strategies, monitor contracts, and execute process improvements to ensure efficiency and excellence in the Primary Packaging Non-Injectables category. • Build a comprehensive annual strategic plan for the category, incorporating strategies that align with overall business goals. • Lead a cross-functional team, primarily within AbbVie manufacturing sites, to inform strategic decision-making by leveraging market intelligence and staying abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and market dynamics. • Define and develop strategic value drivers with key category suppliers to secure collaborative partnerships that challenge the status quo, achieve cost savings, optimize processes, and enhance overall procurement value. • Integrate sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) measures into category strategies, collaborating with suppliers to enhance sustainable and responsible sourcing practices. • Lead Supplier Management & Innovation (SMI) strategies, driving innovation with key suppliers and collaborating to enact creative and cutting-edge solutions that meet long-term business needs. • Develop and activate mitigation strategies to proactively identify and manage procurement risk across the Primary Packaging Non-Injectables category, ensuring compliance. • Ensure effective project management from initiation to completion, directing and guiding cross-functional teams to deliver strategic category-related projects. Identify opportunities for process optimization and efficiency gains, leveraging data analytics to develop long-term continuous improvement programs that achieve strategic objectives. • Own negotiation preparation and alignment, and lead negotiations with key category suppliers using strong analytical insight and a strategic, long-term perspective. •Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Mgmt or related field. Master’s degree is preferred •Minimum of 7 years of experience in procurement, supply chain, or related business or operations function. •Previous experience partnering with major suppliers, and reporting to senior leaders. •Strong proficiency in developing high-impact deliverables. •Knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry is strongly preferred. •Comprehensive experience in category management, including market analysis, cost and financial assessment, ensuring strategic and informed procurement decisions. Fluency in negotiation and bidding, adept in overseeing complex projects with a focus on effective change management. •Strong capabilities in internal stakeholder management and influence, aligning procurement strategies with business needs and fostering collaborative supplier relationships. •Strategic thinking and accountability, anticipating future trends, and taking responsibility for impactful procurement outcomes that challenge the status quo. •Innovative problem-solving skills combined with a significant executive presence, enabling creative solutions and influential communication at all organizational levels. High cross-functional leadership abilities, conflict resolution skills, effectively navigating & harmonizing diverse team dynamics. •Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, facilitating empathetic interactions, effective communication, and robust relationship-building across a matrixed organization. High resilience under pressure and autonomous work ethic, maintaining performance in challenging situations and making independent decisions. 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 thisposting based 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 pay more 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 long-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 anduntil 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 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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