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Sr Manager, Strategic Process Excellence Lead - OED Development Operations

AbbVie · North Chicago, IL · Full time · Research

Posted Sep 16, 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

A change you made did not deliver what you expected. What did you do?

What they are checking: Measuring and correcting is what separates process work from process theater.

This role is based in North Chicago. How does that fit your life?

What they are checking: The posting states the location.

What would you do

How do you get people to change a process they are used to?

What they are checking: Process improvement fails on adoption, not design.

How do you prioritize when several processes all need work?

What they are checking: The posting names identifying, planning and executing process excellence opportunities.

How do you build knowledge of a process you do not own day to day?

What they are checking: The posting names serving as a process expert and knowledge leader.

About the work

Tell me about process improvement work you have led.

What they are checking: The posting is a process excellence lead optimizing development operations processes.

How do you find out where a process is actually failing?

What they are checking: The posting names ownership of process health.

How do you define a metric that tells you whether a process is healthy?

What they are checking: The posting names proactively defining metrics and KPIs for assigned process areas.

What do you need to understand about early phase oncology development to be useful here?

What they are checking: The posting names Oncology Early Development business processes including clinical.

How does working under clinical regulation limit what you can simplify?

What they are checking: Clinical development processes are constrained by GCP and inspection readiness.

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The full job description

As published by AbbVie.

Purpose: The Sr Manager Process Excellence Lead (PEL) is accountable for continually optimizing Oncology Early Development business processes (including clinical operations, data management, statistical programming and medical monitoring), that will identify and define process improvement opportunities and assure accurate process documentation, appropriate training and delivery mechanisms, content creation, compliance, and system implementation. The Sr Manager PEL will identify, plan, and execute opportunities to drive innovative process excellence and deliver on organizational strategies, goals, and objectives. They will act as primary point of contact for continuous process improvement and change management activities for OED and communicate key information and updates to appropriate leadership, function heads and senior leadership for alignment and endorsement. Responsibilities: • Serves as an Oncology Early Development (OED) Development Operations’ process expert, knowledge leader and owner of process health. Is accountable for process performance oversight, process related decision-making, and all process related maintenance activities. Additionally, partners closely with functional area management and experts to streamline and optimize process content, outputs, and quality. • Proactively defines metrics and KPIs for assigned process areas with a goal of measuring process health and compliance. Strategically forecasts and manages plans/updates for assigned processes in collaboration with leaders and function heads, and others as needed, utilizing knowledge of current and future business environment. • Responds to process-related questions, alerts team and leadership of trends, proactively identifies knowledge gaps and prepares plans for remediation. • Leads and delivers continuous process improvement for assigned business process area(s) by strategically identifying pain points and opportunities for efficiency. • Lead and / or participates in working teams to defines processes drive implementation including updates to global operating procedures, functional requirement specifications, training materials and process design documentation as needed. • Own the governance and maintenance of OED operating models, process frameworks, and knowledge resources, serving as the primary resource for operational guidance and interpretation of established processes, standards, and ways of working. • Monitors and analyzes operational performance and compliance metrics and KPIs to demonstrate process effectiveness and quality, identify areas of improvement and recommend solutions. Participates in process aligned initiatives to drive transformational improvements and makes strategic, aligned decisions via relationships with cross-functional stakeholders. Leverages process improvement tools to identify and implement countermeasures to improve efficiency, quality, and compliance. • Displays original thinking and creativity, meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work, and effectively presents ideas and information. • Ensures sustainability of all improvements post-implementation by partnering with cross-functional team leaders and process owners to define the optimal performance measurements to track and measure success over time. • Upholds organizational values and demonstrates sound business ethics, works with integrity and ethics in all situations, and always treats others with respect and consideration. Takes responsibility for actions, reacts well under pressure, follows through on commitments, and demonstrates consistency between words and actions. • Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years in Pharmaceutical, Healthcare, or regulated industry; 6+ with Masters, 4+ with PhD (required). • 5+ years process management and continuous improvement experience preferred. • Strong project management skills with the ability to be resourceful and adapt to situations with unknowns, but still be able to drive progress while communicating and delivering presentations with impact, experience in the process area of responsibility (preferred). • Experience with use and/or development of metrics to drive risk-based business decisions and/or improvements including working with data sets to draw out conclusions and business insights. Strong business insight and ability to assess trends, complex data sets, generate robust business cases and impact analysis. • Recognized leader and expert in standard business procedures, including project and change management practices, with robust understanding of GxP. • Strong organizational, team building, and communication skills. The ability to work and navigate within a complex matrixed organization with a track record of delivering impactful, transformative change (required). • Demonstration of successful stakeholder management through communication and leadership with broad business orientation. • Solid interpersonal and influencing skills to ensure buy in at various levels and within and across various functions of the organization who can collaborate to drive better outcomes. • Comfortable with out of the box thinking and challenging status quo. • Understanding of efficiency principles such as Lean/Six Sigma; Black belt, Business Process Management Professional (BPMP) Certificate and/or similar recognized industry continuous improvement programs preferred. 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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