Associate Director, Design Quality Late Stage Development

Responsible for quality of assigned New Product Introduction (NPI) combination products and medical devices to ensure business objectives are met with regards to on time delivery of product while assuring compliance to local divisional and corporate policies and external agency regulations worldwide. Products include on-body delivery systems pre-filled syringes auto-injectors infusion pumps enteral and sub-cutaneous tubing pump carrying accessories and other drug administration system accessories.  Products may be produced by AbbVie plants or by third-party manufacturers in licensing relationships or co-marketing relationships.  Develops the appropriate Regulatory Quality and Product Development strategies for NPI products in concert with Regulatory Affairs marketing Product Development and other cross-functional stakeholders. Acts as the primary quality representative and manages a team of product subject matter experts (SMEs).  

Responsibilities: 

• Lead a team of Quality Professionals responsible for managing Design Control activities for NPI projects and direct cross-functional team members to achieve on-time quality deliverables high customer value and profitable results.
• Ensures delivery of all quality elements needed to facilitate new product introductions of combination products and medical devices. 
• Develops Global Product Quality Assurance strategy and implements agreed strategy to support the development of NPI projects. 
• Makes key decisions on product quality compliance and regulatory conformance issues for medical devices and combination products and ensures risk-based elevations to AbbVie leadership. 
• Leads the collection verification and improvement of Quality metrics for management review in partnership with senior leadership to develop a clear picture of overall compliance state and linking this to local/global project implementation. 
• Leads a team of SMEs and provides an oversight for project activities and the team members (within and outside of AbbVie) to achieve on-time quality deliverables high customer value and profitable results. Primary driver for the quality and compliance aspects of NPI projects. 
• Participates in the development of global Quality Assurance strategy for NPI projects to support development of device and combination products. Implements agreed strategy. 
• Communicates and negotiates with external companies quality organization to maintain a consistent level of quality and a level of expectation that will minimize compliance risks but also balance the cost of operating to provide AbbVie with the agreed service. Prioritizes programs initiatives and problem solving with consideration for impact to timelines resources and conflicting priorities. 
• Interfaces with AbbVies audit team to develop audit plans due diligence plans and inspection readiness plans review audit observations and responses and maintain corrective action timetable. Provides support for quality audits initial site approvals and due diligence activities. Leads and manages pre-approval inspection readiness as related to contract manufacturers to ensure regulatory approvals are obtained with no delays to market entries. 
• Collaborates with internal and external partners in providing feedback on product quality for management reviews with assigned contract manufacturers that identify and address quality operational and organizational issues.  

Qualifications :

• Bachelors Degree in relevant Life Science or other technical required. Graduate degree desired. Technical or Analytical background required for problem resolution with technical quality product and or engineering related issues.
• Total combined years of experience. Minimum of 10 in Quality Assurance Operations Management Regulatory Operations or Technical Support in a pharmaceutical setting. Required regulatory inspection experience with direct interaction with regulatory inspectors. Direct Plant experience in a pharmaceutical setting with a minimum of 5 years preferred.
• Knowledge and a comprehensive understanding of some biological and/or pharmaceutical technologies (sterile biological liquid ointments devices solid tablets and caplets suspensions granulations soft elastic capsules gel caps extended release products coating solutions and/or active pharmaceutical ingredients).
• Possesses knowledge and a skill set to operate within an environment that requires a high degree of urgency strong analytical and problem solving skills positive interpersonal skills ability to manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously and capable of performing as leaders team members and individuals.
• Strong quality assurance / control manufacturing laboratory technical support regulatory and / or validation background is required.
• A wide range of activities are undertaken from long term strategy development to short term crisis management. The incumbent must be capable of understanding and overcoming differing cultural and language obstacles to provide solutions that satisfy Corporate Divisional regional and local objectives to effectively manage the action plans that will resolve the issues.
• Experience working the requirements for third party external manufacturing.

Additional Information :

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 Companys sole and absolute discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Companys 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  & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation click here to learn more:

Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time