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Senior Director, Manufacturing Strategy

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Other

Posted Oct 1, 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 long-range plan you managed. How did you make sure the assumptions held up?

What they are checking: Whether they challenge assumptions in an LRP rather than rolling forward last year's numbers.

Tell me about a strategic initiative you led that did not go as planned. What did you learn?

What they are checking: Whether they can reflect honestly on failure and adjust their approach.

Tell me about how you developed the people on a strategy team you led.

What they are checking: Whether they build the team's capability, not just deliver the work themselves.

What would you do

You partner with five regional strategy directors. How do you keep strategy consistent while respecting regional differences?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead a global strategy with regional leaders who have their own priorities.

Quality and supply chain leaders disagree with your proposed network change. How do you move forward?

What they are checking: Whether they can build alignment across functions instead of forcing a decision through.

How do you present a strategy recommendation to a senior vice president who has limited time?

What they are checking: Whether they can lead with the decision needed and the key tradeoffs rather than the full analysis.

About the work

Walk me through how you would run a make-or-buy decision for a new product across the manufacturing network.

What they are checking: Whether they weigh cost, capacity, capability, risk and control rather than only unit price.

How would you decide where to site a new manufacturing capability?

What they are checking: Whether they consider talent, tax, regulatory, supply risk and network fit in site selection.

What KPIs would you use to track whether a manufacturing strategy is working?

What they are checking: Whether they can pick a small set of measures that show real progress rather than tracking everything.

How do regulatory requirements shape manufacturing strategy in pharma compared with other industries?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that tech transfers and site changes carry long regulatory lead times that drive strategy.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose: The Senior Director, Manufacturing Strategy plays a pivotal role in shaping the long-term direction of the organization's global manufacturing operations across the entire ME&C network. This leader is responsible for envisioning and executing strategies that maximize operational effectiveness, foster innovation, and ensure alignment with ME&C, Operations and AbbVie goals. The Senior Director, Manufacturing Strategy will lead a group of professionals responsible for developing and implementing strategic initiatives to optimize manufacturing operations, drive efficiency, and support business growth. Responsibilities: • Develop and execute global manufacturing strategies across all ME&C sites to support business objectives and growth initiatives. • Collaborate with senior leadership, operations, quality, supply chain, and engineering teams to ensure integrated global manufacturing plans. • Manage the ME&C site selection and make buy processes • Establish goals, metrics, and KPIs to monitor progress and ensure successful implementation of strategic projects. • Stay updated on industry trends and regulatory requirements to maintain competitive advantage and compliance. • Manage the ME&C LRP processes for the SVP of Manufacturing, ensuring robust plans, assumptions and financials are established for success of ME&C • Partner with the 5 regional Strategy Directors, establishing standards and alignment with overall ME&C strategy • Evaluate contingency plans and risk management strategies. • In collaboration with the finance teams, develop appropriate tools, performance indicators and decks that enable monitoring and control of financial performances at senior leadership level. • Partnering with Regional ME&C Vice presidents and Site Heads to develop and implement regional initiatives to achieve network objectives Qualifications: • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Science or Engineering. MBA is preferred. • Strong technical knowledge and operational experience in GMP manufacturing, Quality operations, CMC development and pharmaceutical regulations is required. • Significant experience (15+ years) in manufacturing operations, strategy, or related leadership roles. • Proven track record of developing and implementing manufacturing strategies. • Demonstrated strong planning and project management skills while managing large, complex programs in the pharmaceutical industry. • Strong strategic thinking and leadership skills. • Strong communication, organization, analytical, presentation, and people skills. • Demonstrated experience in a global and multi-cultural environment. • Proven ability to resolve conflict across cross-functional teams and technical experts. • Ability to understand technical aspects of complex systems and guide cross-functional and detailed technical discussions during critical problem-solving exercises. 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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