Demo

Associate Director, Laboratory Automation and Operations

BioSpace
North Chicago, IL Full Time
POSTED ON 12/29/2025
AVAILABLE BEFORE 1/27/2026
Company Description

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us atwww.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie onX,Facebook,Instagram,YouTube,LinkedInandTik Tok.

Job Description

This position has departmental responsibility for providing reliable, safe, and efficient operations and maintenance of AbbVies automated laboratory systems. Lead the daily operation of automation capabilities through continuous systems monitoring and resolution of issues. Collaborate with stakeholders during new equipment and new process introductions. The Automation and Laboratory Systems leader is responsible for designing and implementing strategic technical capabilities and initiatives to assure consistent service delivery according to departmental needs.

Responsibilities

Propose, implement, and sustain the department information and automation systems strategy and roadmap in alignment with department objectives and SM CMC R&D strategies.

Develop and revise project plans and budgets, work with stakeholders to understand complex problems and focus on bringing issues to resolution, escalating as necessary to meet timelines.

Understand current department systems design and partner with key stakeholders (Global Engineering, BTS, Quality Systems, Global Automation, Infrastructure Services, and Operations) together with department leadership to deliver future proof ideas and cutting-edge technology solutions to ensure ongoing effectiveness of laboratory automation capabilities.

Lead departmental objectives by developing strategic roadmaps for automation and laboratory operations. Accountable for automation long term strategic delivery to department leadership team on an ongoing basis

Provide guidance, technical advice, planning, and project management within SM CMC and with outside functions, consultants, and vendors. Support to laboratory areas in daily operations.

Work closely with the Global BTS organization in the evaluation and implementation of software to enable current and future automation capabilities. Support global SM CMC R&D software and configuration required for lab automation system interfaces such as NEST, Dotmatics, Empower, Chromeleon, SAP, LIMS, and Maximo.

Ensure technology systems compliance with Data Security, Data integrity and Regulatory Standards are maintained across automation activities in SM CMC R&D.

Establish and execute a lab renovation strategy for SM CMC R&D that enables delivery of the portfolio of today and the portfolio of the future.

Establish and manage a high performing staff by recruiting, training, coaching, and developing employees, communicating job expectations, and appraising their performance in support of AbbVies Talent philosophy.

Assure fulfillment of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) requirements and compliance obligations, promote continuous improvement, and consider EHS aspects during design and change processes.

Emerson DeltaV DCS, , OSI PI Historian and other automation and data acquisition systems.

Qualifications

Bachelors degree in engineering or computer science, masters degree is preferred.

Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive work experience in the pharmaceutical\biotechnology industry required. Minimum of five (5) years managing leading high-level technical teams and scientists.

Working knowledge of automation systems such as Hamilton, Unchained Labs, Mettler-Toledo, Emerson DeltaV DCS, , OSI PI Historian and other automation and data acquisition systems.

Experience building and executing strategic plans for capital and expense at the department level.

Exposure to Industry 4.0 technology pillars such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented reality, big data, IOT, and vertical & horizontal integration of systems preferred. Knowledge with Business Intelligence and Data Visualization applications preferred.

Solid understanding of pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturing processes, including operational best practices and regulatory expectations.

Knowledge and industry experience exposure to FDA, GSP, GMP, 21CFR11, safety and environmental legislation.

Capable of handling multiple priorities. Financial acumen and managing budget experience.

Demonstrated expertise and practice in Automation Engineering and adoption of connecting enterprise IT / OT systems to laboratory systems/processes required including successfully running a large global initiative or large capital project.

Ability to manage and support laboratory infrastructure in conjunction with global teams.

Additional Information

Applicable only to applicants applying to a position in any location with pay disclosure requirements under state orlocal law:

  • The compensation range described below is the range of possible base pay compensation that the Companybelieves ingood faith it will pay for this role at the timeof this posting based on the job grade for this position.Individualcompensation paid within this range will depend on many factors including geographic location, andwemay ultimatelypay more or less than the posted range. This range may be modified in thefuture.
  • We offer a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off (vacation, holidays, sick),medical/dental/visioninsurance and 401(k) to eligibleemployees.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our short-term incentiveprograms.
  • This job is eligible to participate in our long-term incentiveprograms


Note: No amount of payis considered to bewages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, anddeterminable.The amount and availability of any bonus,commission, incentive, benefits, or any other form ofcompensation and benefitsthat are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole andabsolutediscretion unless and until paid andmay be modified at the Companys sole and absolute discretion, consistent withapplicable 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, visithttps://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

Salary.com Estimation for Associate Director, Laboratory Automation and Operations in North Chicago, IL
$113,122 to $148,474
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution. Compensation Planning
Enhance your organization's compensation strategy with salary data sets that HR and team managers can use to pay your staff right. Surveys & Data Sets

What is the career path for a Associate Director, Laboratory Automation and Operations?

Sign up to receive alerts about other jobs on the Associate Director, Laboratory Automation and Operations career path by checking the boxes next to the positions that interest you.
Income Estimation: 
$135,949 - $186,606
Income Estimation: 
$183,949 - $257,823
Income Estimation: 
$135,949 - $186,606
Income Estimation: 
$183,949 - $257,823
Income Estimation: 
$53,435 - $68,530
Income Estimation: 
$76,733 - $101,052
Income Estimation: 
$112,098 - $154,393
Income Estimation: 
$135,949 - $186,606
View Core, Job Family, and Industry Job Skills and Competency Data for more than 15,000 Job Titles Skills Library

Job openings at BioSpace

  • BioSpace Alton, NH
  • At Insmed, every moment and every patient counts β€” and so does every person who joins in. As a global biopharmaceutical company dedicated to transforming t... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • BioSpace Gaithersburg, MD
  • Ready to shape the future of science and global health? ATCC, a leading nonprofit biological resources and standards organization, is seeking a dynamic Str... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • BioSpace Lebanon, IN
  • At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, ... more
  • 14 Days Ago

  • BioSpace Lebanon, IN
  • At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, ... more
  • 14 Days Ago


Not the job you're looking for? Here are some other Associate Director, Laboratory Automation and Operations jobs in the North Chicago, IL area that may be a better fit.

  • Lensa North Chicago, IL
  • Lensa is a career site that helps job seekers find great jobs in the US. We are not a staffing firm or agency. Lensa does not hire directly for these jobs,... more
  • 10 Days Ago

  • Abbott North Chicago, IL
  • Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectru... more
  • 5 Days Ago

AI Assistant is available now!

Feel free to start your new journey!