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Scientist l, Lab Manager

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Sep 24, 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 improved safety in a lab. How did you get scientists to follow new practices?

What they are checking: Whether they can build a safety culture without being seen as an obstacle.

Describe how you have worked with facilities or EHS to fix a recurring lab problem.

What they are checking: Whether they can follow issues through to resolution with support teams.

What would you do

A -80 freezer alarm goes off at night with valuable samples inside. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they have a clear response plan and know how to protect irreplaceable materials.

Two scientists both need the same instrument urgently on the same day. How do you resolve it?

What they are checking: Whether they can make fair decisions about shared resources based on program priorities.

How would you prepare the lab for an internal audit or EHS inspection?

What they are checking: Whether they know what inspectors check and keep the lab ready all the time.

About the work

Walk me through how you would set up daily operations for a busy lab supporting mRNA and lipid nanoparticle work.

What they are checking: Whether they can create routines that keep a lab safe, stocked and ready for science.

How would you manage freezer storage and sample tracking so nothing important is lost?

What they are checking: Whether they understand inventory systems, backups and alarms for critical samples.

How do you coordinate equipment installation, qualification and preventive maintenance without disrupting experiments?

What they are checking: Whether they can plan equipment work around scientific schedules and keep records current.

What safety risks are specific to handling lipids, solvents and RNA materials in a formulation lab?

What they are checking: Whether they understand chemical and biological hazards relevant to this team's work.

How do you keep purchasing on budget while making sure scientists never run out of key supplies?

What they are checking: Whether they balance cost control with keeping research moving.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

The Targeted Lipid Nanoparticle (tLNP) Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Team (TCT) is part of Biologics CMC Development Sciences within Research & Development. The team supports the development of next-generation mRNA and targeted lipid nanoparticle therapeutics through process development, formulation development, analytical characterization, and manufacturing support. The Lab Manager will serve as the operational lead for the tLNP laboratories, ensuring a safe, efficient, and well-organized lab environment that enables scientific productivity and program execution. This role will partner closely with scientists, engineers, facilities and EHS to support lab operations, equipment management, inventory control, safety, and site coordination activities. Key Responsibilities • Lead daily operations for the tLNP laboratories, ensuring the space is safe, organized, and ready to support scientific work. • Serve as the primary contact for facility, infrastructure, and operational issues, coordinating with Facilities and other support teams through resolution. • Manage purchasing, inventory, supplies, shared resources, sample tracking, and freezer storage to maintain material availability and organization. • Coordinate equipment installation, qualification, calibration, preventive maintenance, repairs, and service contracts throughout the equipment lifecycle. • Partner with EHS to support laboratory safety compliance, inspections, training, incident follow-up, and corrective actions. • Maintain lab procedures, operational records, and metrics to support consistent practices and regulatory readiness. • Drive lab organization and continuous improvement using 5S, visual management, and other operational best practices. • Coordinate domestic and international shipments of laboratory materials, biological samples, and research supplies in accordance with applicable requirements. • Support employee onboarding, laboratory access, required training, and day-to-day site coordination. • Build strong partnerships across scientific, operational, facilities, EHS, and support teams to enable program execution. • Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related scientific discipline with 5+ years of industry experience, or Master’s Degree or equivalent education with 2+ years of industry experience. • Experience supporting lab operations, lab management, scientific research, manufacturing support, or related technical functions. • Experience managing lab equipment, inventory systems, purchasing processes, and operational workflows. • Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. • Strong communication and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work across diverse technical teams. Preferred Qualifications • Experience supporting pharmaceutical, biotechnology, biologics, nucleic acid, or lipid nanoparticle development programs. • Knowledge of lab safety practices and EHS requirements. • Experience with lab asset management, calibration, maintenance, and equipment lifecycle management. • Working knowledge of laboratory IT systems and infrastructure, including software applications, data management tools, and associated scientific instrumentation. • Familiarity with Lean, 5S, visual management, or continuous improvement methodologies. • Experience coordinating shipments of biological, pharmaceutical, or research materials. • Demonstrated ability to independently identify and solve operational challenges. ​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 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 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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