Jobs › AbbVie

Manager, External Supply

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Finance

Posted Aug 19, 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 supplier business review that changed something. What made it work?

What they are checking: The business review this posting makes a recurring duty, judged by result.

How do you work with quality, planning, procurement and operations when each wants something different from the same supplier?

What they are checking: The cross-functional partnership this posting names by function.

What do you do when a forecast you gave a supplier turns out to have been badly wrong?

What they are checking: Ownership of your own side of the relationship.

This is a manager role at North Chicago covering assigned suppliers across the manufacturing network. What do you want to know about which suppliers and products you would own and how much travel is expected?

What they are checking: Checking the specific portfolio and travel before accepting.

What would you do

You would own one to three supplier relationships in the manufacturing network. How do you build a relationship that survives a bad quarter?

What they are checking: Relationship depth with a small number of critical suppliers.

A supplier's performance metrics look fine but your sites are complaining. How do you find out what is really happening?

What they are checking: Looking past the scorecard to the operational reality.

A supplier tells you they may miss a delivery on a product patients depend on. What happens in the next day?

What they are checking: Supply disruption response where the consequence is patient supply.

How do you hold a supplier accountable when they are the only qualified source?

What they are checking: Leverage in a relationship where you have little.

About the work

Walk me through leading assurance of supply for a product made by an outside manufacturer. What do you watch?

What they are checking: The assurance of supply duty this posting names, judged by the leading indicators.

How do you build a supplier key performance indicator set that drives behavior rather than reporting?

What they are checking: Metric design aimed at improvement.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

The External Supply Manager is responsible for managing assigned supplier relationships in support of AbbVie’s manufacturing network. The role partners cross-functionally to monitor supplier performance, drive assurance of supply (AoS) activities, coordinate operational activities, and help ensure quality, compliance, and service requirements are met. The External Supply Manager works closely with Procurement, Quality, Planning, Science & Technology, Operations, and Site Stakeholders to support supplier performance management, business reviews, issue resolution, supplier onboarding, and continuous improvement initiatives. Responsibilities: • Establish and maintain effective, mutually beneficial relationships with assigned 1-3 suppliers in support of AbbVie’s business and operational objectives • Partner cross-functionally with Procurement, Quality, Planning, Science & Technology, Operations, and site stakeholders to address supplier performance and operational issues. • Maintain and communicate supplier KPIs, performance metrics, and action plans for assigned suppliers. • Coordinate and lead supplier business reviews and operational review meetings and track follow-up actions to completion and ensure effective and timely communication with internal stakeholders and external supplier partners. • Lead Assurance of Supply (AoS) activities for assigned suppliers, including forecast alignment, capacity planning, risk identification, and mitigation actions. • Manage routine supply, service, and quality escalations with suppliers and internal stakeholders to support timely resolution. • Support due diligence, qualification, and implementation activities for new materials and change notifications, as applicable. • Drive and support continuous improvement, productivity, and cost improvement initiatives with assigned suppliers; support the drafting, issuance, and collation of Requests for Proposal (RFPs/RFx), as needed. • Represent the External Supply function in cross-functional meetings and maintain effective communication with internal and external partners; support financial processes related to supplier management activities, including development and maintenance of project and operational budgets. Required Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Engineering, Business, Science, or a related field required; master’s degree or MBA preferred. • 7+ years of relevant experience in supply chain, external manufacturing, procurement, supplier management, operations, or a related function. • Demonstrated experience working effectively in cross-functional teams to manage supplier performance and operational priorities. • Working knowledge of supplier performance metrics, capacity planning, forecasting, and assurance of supply principles. • Strong verbal and written communication, project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills. • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required by business needs. Preferred Qualifications: • Experience managing raw material external suppliers’ relationships in regulated industries. • Experience operating in a regulated environment and supporting quality and technical requirements, including cGMP requirements, as applicable. • Experience facilitating supplier business reviews and driving performance improvement initiatives. • Familiarity with ERP (SAP) supplier quality systems and regulated documentation, including deviations, change controls, and corrective actions. Key Stakeholders: Manufacturing Site leads, Category Managers, Quality Site Leads, Process Development Science and Technology leads, Site Procurement, Supply Chain, and Brand Teams 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 posting 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 and until 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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