Full-Time

Project Director

Peptide API, Hybrid

AbbVie

AbbVie

10,001+ employees

Global biopharmaceutical company developing medicines

Compensation Overview

$182k - $346k/yr

Waukegan, IL, USA

Hybrid

Hybrid role; some on-site days in North Chicago, IL required.

Bachelor's, Master's, MBA

Category
Project & Program Management (1)
Required Skills
Risk Management
REST APIs

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Requirements
  • BS, Engineering or equivalent technical degree; Master’s degree in Engineering or MBA preferred
  • Minimum of 15+ years of experience as a Senior Engineering / Projects / Operations Leader across multiple technologies
  • In-depth technical and operational expertise across AbbVie manufacturing technologies including Biologics BDS/BDP, Small Molecule API/OSD, Medical Device, and Packaging Operations
  • Proven inclusive management and leadership capabilities of large cross-functional teams and the ability to effectively interact and communicate with senior leadership and executives from strategic partners and authorities
  • Outstanding negotiation skills and knowledgeable and experienced functional responsibility of diverse functions required for successful operations including Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering and Financials
  • Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a global matrixed organization. Ability to lead change and deliver results across a matrix organization.
  • Business acumen and direct financial planning/budgeting experience required including P&L responsibility
  • Highly articulate with strong verbal and written communication skills
  • Ability to mentor and develop next generation of leaders
  • Frequent travel to project sites within the US and to design reviews/workshops outside the US will be required
  • Key Stakeholders: ME&C, PDS&T, R&D, Procurement, Global Engineering, EHS, Facilities, AI and Digital Transformation, Government Affairs
Responsibilities
  • Lead a team of professionals to achieve the charter, priorities and milestones of strategic peptide manufacturing project within the US.
  • Lead and manage complex and strategically critical capital projects to ensure timely delivery of project milestones in a compliant and efficient manner.
  • Responsible for compliance to AbbVie EHS standards and ensure Zero incidents or non-conformances during construction of all the projects.
  • Develop strategies to efficiently deliver concept studies, basic and detailed design, procure capital equipment and contract construction services.
  • Drive transformation across all phases of the projects to deliver best-in-class technology, efficiency in execution to reduce the overall project line up to 20% from the baseline, introduce AI and digitalization in various aspects of project management and development.
  • Direct all phases of the project development from initiation of the business case/Request for Capital through contract negotiation, cost accountability and program execution ensuring adherence to company standards, competitive pricing, and manufacturing schedules, if in a brownfield development.
  • Responsible to meet the key intent of the projects – best-in-class design, on time delivery, delivery of scope on or below budgeted cost and conformance to quality requirements.
  • Develop and implement comprehensive risk management strategies to mitigate potential issues during development of projects.
  • Drive KPIs to measure and monitor performance of strategic projects in the US, effectively communicate performance and risks to the steering committees and ensure top-tier governance of the projects.
  • Collaborate with internal teams including procurement, quality assurance, PDS&T, ME&C and R&D to ensure alignment and efficiency in decisions that impact project priorities. Partner with AbbVie stakeholder groups to facilitate resolution of process, technical or quality issues
  • Develop a sourcing strategy with procurement and be responsible to manage relationships with consultants, Architectural/Engineering firms, construction contractors including participation in project review meetings, contract negotiations and dispute resolution.
  • Develop estimates and plans along with any technical and financial analysis such as ROI/NPV for new projects to be planned.
  • Develop Long Range Plans that include capital and project estimates and scope required to support internal manufacturing of pipeline products or established products that need new or additional manufacturing capacity
Desired Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in Engineering or MBA preferred
  • MBA preferred
  • Possession of advanced certifications in project management (e.g., Project Management Professional) preferred
  • Experience with AI and digital transformation initiatives in project management and manufacturing operations preferred
  • Experience leading capital projects in pharmaceutical manufacturing environments preferred

AbbVie is a global biopharmaceutical company that develops and sells medicines to treat serious health conditions. Its portfolio spans immunology, oncology, virology, neuroscience, and aesthetics, with products designed to modulate the immune system, target disease pathways, or support medical aesthetics. AbbVie compounds its products through a heavy emphasis on research and development, investing billions to build a steady pipeline of new therapies. Its medicines are brought to market by selling to healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinics, and in some cases directly to patients via prescriptions. The company differentiates itself through a wide, globally distributed product line, substantial R&D investment, and a commitment to sustainability and patient care, including science-based targets. AbbVie’s goal is to improve patient outcomes by delivering effective treatments for unmet medical needs while pursuing long-term, responsible growth across healthcare markets.

Company Size

10,001+

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

North Chicago, Illinois

Founded

1888

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Q2 2026 revenue reached $16.99 billion, up 10.2%, with EPS of $3.65.
  • AbbVie raised 2026 guidance to $13.87-$14.07 after broad strength across immunology and neuroscience.
  • Rinvoq and Skyrizi both grew above 23% operationally, showing durable post-Humira momentum.

What critics are saying

  • Humira sales fell 36.1% in Q2 2026; biosimilars keep compressing cash flows.
  • Imbruvica dropped 29.4% in Q2 2026, exposing oncology weakness and IRA pricing damage.
  • Apogee dilutes adjusted EPS through 2027; if Skyrizi stalls, AbbVie loses its bridge.

What makes AbbVie unique

  • Skyrizi and Rinvoq delivered $8.0 billion in Q2 2026, replacing Humira.
  • AbbVie completed Apogee on September 3, 2026, adding long-acting immunology assets.
  • Etentamig posted 74% response in Phase 3 multiple myeloma, broadening oncology optionality.

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Benefits

Remote Work Options

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development Budget

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

5%

1 year growth

5%

2 year growth

5%
Yahoo Finance
Sep 10th, 2026
AbbVie shifts focus from declining Humira to $8B Skyrizi and Rinvoq growth engines

AbbVie has dramatically shifted its focus away from Humira, its once-flagship drug now facing biosimilar competition. On the company's July 2026 earnings call, Humira received just one sentence, noting global sales of $706 million, down 36.1% operationally but in line with expectations. This marks a stark change from previous quarters when management detailed the reasons behind Humira's decline, including biosimilar competition and molecule compression in the US market. AbbVie now emphasises growth drivers instead. Skyrizi generated $5.5 billion in Q2 2026, whilst Rinvoq exceeded $2.5 billion, both growing above 20% operationally. The company also acquired Apogee Therapeutics in September 2026. Despite the reduced attention, Humira still contributes approximately 4% of AbbVie's quarterly revenue of nearly $17 billion, though management no longer publicly projects its ultimate decline trajectory.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 9th, 2026
Billionaire hedge fund manager doubles down on AbbVie and Costco dividend stocks

Israel Englander's Millennium Management more than doubled its stakes in AbbVie and Costco during the second quarter. AbbVie's revenue grew 10.2% year-over-year to $17 billion in Q2, driven by immunology drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq. The company recently acquired Apogee Therapeutics for $10.9 billion in cash and is developing ABBV-295, a monthly weight-loss treatment. AbbVie is a Dividend King with over 50 consecutive years of payout increases. Costco's Q3 fiscal 2026 revenue rose 11.6% to $70.5 billion, with comparable sales up 9.8%. The company has raised dividends for 22 consecutive years. However, Costco shares are down 4% over the past year whilst trading at 40.8 times forward earnings, above the consumer staples average of 21.6 times. Both companies maintain strong fundamentals despite different market challenges.

Yahoo Finance
Sep 8th, 2026
AbbVie beats Pfizer as top dividend stock with 53-year payout streak and 203% growth

AbbVie offers a smarter long-term dividend investment than Pfizer, despite Pfizer's higher 6.1% yield. AbbVie holds Dividend King status with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases and raised its payout by 5.5% this year to $1.73 per share. Over the past decade, AbbVie increased its dividend by more than 203% compared to Pfizer's 51%. AbbVie's revenue grew 138% during this period, whilst Pfizer's rose just 18%. AbbVie successfully navigated Humira's patent cliff through home-grown immunology drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq. By 2025, these two drugs generated combined annual sales exceeding $25 billion, replacing Humira's peak revenue and pushing total company revenue to record highs. AbbVie's free-cash-flow dividend payout ratio stands at 65%, lower than Pfizer's 89%.

INSURASALES
Sep 5th, 2026
Manufacturers Life Insurance buys $655M stake in AbbVie as institutions boost pharma holdings

The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company acquired a $655.27 million stake in AbbVie Inc., according to its latest SEC Form 13F filing. Other institutional investors also increased their positions significantly during the same period. Norges Bank acquired a new $5.87 billion position, whilst Wellington Management Group boosted its holdings by 457.4%. AbbVie reported quarterly earnings per share of $3.65, exceeding forecasts, with revenue growth of 10.2% year over year. The company generated $16.99 billion in revenue last quarter, surpassing expectations. Equity analysts maintain a bullish outlook. Barclays, Wolfe Research, and BMO Capital Markets each set price targets of $300, with ratings of "overweight" or "outperform". The consensus rating is "Moderate Buy". Institutional investors currently hold 70.23% of AbbVie's shares, reflecting confidence in the biopharmaceutical company's strategy and performance.

PharmTech
Sep 4th, 2026
AAPS PharmSci 360: CMC strategies, part 1.

AAPS PharmSci 360: CMC strategies, part 1. In a preview of their panel discussion at AAPS PharmSci 360 2026, Alfred Rumondor, PhD, AbbVie, and Swita Singh, PhD, Bristol Myers Squibb, discussed how CMC review practices are evolving and what that means for manufacturing strategy. PharmTech spoke with Alfred Rumondor, PhD, CMC due diligence for external assets at AbbVie, and Swita Singh, PhD, Senior Director and Strategic CMC Leader at Bristol Myers Squibb, to learn more about their upcoming panel discussion, Navigating CMC Strategy in the Current Landscape, at, which is being held from October 25-28 in New Orleans. In part 1 of this 3-part interview, Rumondor and Singh discussed how chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) review practices are evolving and what that means for manufacturing strategy. Singh identified the most consequential shift as a move from informal, reviewer-dependent flexibility to formal, risk-based flexibility applied consistently across the product life cycle. She pointed to Operation TrailBlazer and updated phase 1 CMC guidance as examples, stating they are reducing required manufacturing data pre-investigational new drug application (IND). Singh also pointed out that cell and gene therapy programs no longer need 3 independent process performance qualification batches and can flex specifications for small-batch production. AI-driven tools and emerging credibility frameworks are reinforcing this trend by helping generate cleaner data packages for faster, more consistent regulatory decisions. Singh cautioned, however, that companies must build "risk justification muscle" rather than simply accepting flexibility at face value. Reduced requirements should be treated as deferral, not elimination, of data obligations; organizations need clear plans for when deferred data will be generated and which milestones trigger it. She emphasized investing early in comparability infrastructure, leveraging platform and prior-knowledge pathways, and engaging proactively with regulators. Rumondor addressed the pressure to compress development timelines. He argued the real question isn't whether compression is safe, but how to do it properly by working smarter rather than skipping steps. He cited premature form selection without adequate screening as a common shortcut that later may bring costly bridging and comparability studies, increasing both timeline and program risk. Compressed timelines are achievable, but only when teams rigorously plan the full development path upfront, according to Rumondor. About the speakers. Alfred Rumondor, PhD, is Director, Development Sciences Licensing and Acquisitions, at AbbVie. Dr. Swita Singh holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and brings over fifteen years of distinguished expertise in Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) development across biologics, antibody drug conjugates, and small molecules, with a proven record of driving strategic initiatives, optimizing complex business processes, and leading cross-functional teams to achieve regulatory and operational excellence. Recognized for delivering innovative, end-to-end CMC strategies that guide programs from early clinical development through successful commercialization, she has cultivated talent and shaped organizational culture throughout her career, while her commitment to stakeholder communication and cross-functional collaboration has consistently advanced program objectives across the industry. Having built her expertise at Pfizer and Eli Lilly and Company, Dr. Singh currently serves at Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), where she continues to lead CMC strategy in support of transformative therapeutic development.