Associate Director - Operations Job in Abbott Laboratories

Job Title:

Associate Director - Operations

Location:

Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Site

Key Goals

Set and Monitor Goals & KPIs:

• Define clear performance goals and targets for the Manufacturing and Engineering departments.
• Establish and utilize KPIs to monitor departmental performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Leadership Collaboration:

• Serve as a key interface with the Site Director, actively contributing as part of the Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Management Team.

Supplier Resilience:

• Partner with the SQA team and Supply Chain teams to strengthen supplier resilience and ensure continuity of supply.

Quality Improvement:

• Collaborate closely with Quality Teams to drive and support improvement projects across the site.

Knowledge Sharing & Communication:

• Foster an open exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing across the Manufacturing and Engineering teams, enhancing cross-functional cooperation.

People & Culture Development:

• Cultivate a positive work environment within Manufacturing and Engineering, promoting strong human relations and employee engagement.
• Collaborate with HR for talent acquisition, development, and performance management ensuring compliance with company policies and local legislation.
• Oversee performance reviews, goal setting, and career growth planning to develop strong talent pipelines within the departments.

Best Practices Adoption:

• Champion and lead best practices such as Class A Manufacturing, CAPA, HACCP, and ISO systems to ensure operational excellence.

Audit Readiness:

• Play an active leadership role in preparing for internal audits (Finance, Quality, EHS) and external regulatory audits, ensuring successful outcomes.

Core Responsibilities

Relationship Building:

• Build strong interpersonal relationships with colleagues from diverse functions at the site to foster collaboration and problem-solving.

Effective Communication:

• Engage in clear and effective communication to understand stakeholder needs and deliver timely solutions to peers and internal customers.

Strategic Thinking:

• Demonstrate strategic acumen by thoroughly understanding complex manufacturing and engineering challenges and providing practical, long-term solutions.

Decision Making:

• Apply strong decision-making abilities to resolve operational challenges effectively and efficiently.

Educational Qualifications

Minimum:

• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Engineering, or related disciplines.

Preferred:

• Lean/Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt/Black Belt) for process optimization advantage.

Required Background & Experience

• Solid understanding of manufacturing finance processes.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Proven people leadership skills with the ability to motivate, develop, and engage employees across all levels.
• Demonstrated commitment to compliance and regulatory standards.
• Minimum 15 years experience in operations roles within a manufacturing environment.
• At least 5 years experience in senior-level operations management.
• Hands-on experience making quality-related decisions within a regulated environment.