Operations Director Jobs at AbbVie with Visa Sponsorship
Operations Director jobs at AbbVie involve leading manufacturing, supply chain, and quality functions across its global pharmaceutical and biologics network. The company has a consistent track record of sponsoring work visas for operations professionals, including both nonimmigrant and immigrant pathways, making it a realistic target for internationally qualified candidates.
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About AbbVie
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 including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
As Program Manager at ME&C, you are responsible for leading cross-functional teams to bring new or updated medical devices and combination products into commercial manufacturing. You oversee the transfer of products to manufacturing, integrate new suppliers into the supply network, and set up large-scale operations to support clinical trials, market registration, and product launches. Your role involves turning business goals into actionable project plans, establishing clear deliverables and milestones, removing barriers to success, managing risks, and driving collaboration across Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain. You are expected to be proactive, organized, and a strong leader, ensuring all teams work together to achieve program goals and deliver exceptional value.
Responsibilities
- Using a collection of program management tools, independently define and document the program scope, execution strategies, resources, deliverables and milestones. Create, implement and maintain PM tools.
- Develop cost estimates, secure funding/resources through Financial Planning and Long-Range Planning processes, manage the program per plan, report actual and forecasted spend and resolve financial variances.
- Assemble and lead cross-functional resources in a manner that results in the formation of effective, inclusive, high-performing teams with success-oriented focus. Mentor and develop program and project managers.
- Articulate the program execution strategy, deliverables and milestones to appropriate internal and external stakeholders maintaining a clear, consistent narrative to foster engagement, understanding and alignment.
- Work collaboratively with the program team to implement effective program governance structures, work breakdown structures, roles and responsibilities, integrated timelines and communication plans.
- Develop risk mitigation and contingency plans; implement as needed to keep the program on track.
- Identify and realize opportunities that result in acceleration, efficiency and cost avoidance/reduction. Understand and integrate changes in the global landscape for device and combination product industrialization, global quality and regulatory requirements and pathways for approval/market access in programs to deliver acceleration and value.
- Ensure the program team and stakeholders are aligned and the program is being executed efficiently. Manage competing timelines and make difficult decisions regarding priorities across the program. Drive rapid identification, communication and resolution of issues. Enable informed decision making, robust cross-functional problem solving and continuous improvement of program management practices and tools.
- Plan and facilitate program meetings, document minutes and actions, follow-up on closure, and hold team members accountable for decisions and deliverables.
- Ensure that programs and projects are technically and financially closed out upon completion and any ongoing responsibilities are formally transferred to appropriate parties.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering, science, or a closely related discipline.
- Advanced degrees and certifications such as Program Management Professional (PMP) are a plus.
- 15+ years of combined professional experience in manufacturing, engineering, technical operations or supply chain for a pharma/biotech/device manufacturer. Manufacturing experience is required.
- Minimum of 5 years of program and/or project management experience.
- Experience with product transfer from development to operations. Experience with industrialization/qualification of drug product fill/finish, device manufacturing and combination product assembly, labeling and packaging operations.
- Exposure to quality systems, design controls, product labeling, regulatory submission strategy/preparations and product launch/commercial supply are a plus.
- Fluent with MS Excel, MS Project and MS PowerPoint. Experience with MS Teams, SharePoint, Power BI/Smartsheet and open AI a plus.
- Ability to create program charters, execution strategies, milestone tables, Gantt timelines, MS Project schedules, work breakdown structures, RACI matrices, risk registers, material demand and supply plans.
- Excellent program and stakeholder management, written/verbal communication, active listening, negotiating, influencing and multi-tasking skills.
- Strong financial skills and business acumen. Must be able to effectively facilitate cross-functional resolution of complex scientific, technical, analytical and business issues.
- Proficiency in multiple languages is a plus.
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 Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until 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
Company Description
About AbbVie
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 including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.
Job Description
As Program Manager at ME&C, you are responsible for leading cross-functional teams to bring new or updated medical devices and combination products into commercial manufacturing. You oversee the transfer of products to manufacturing, integrate new suppliers into the supply network, and set up large-scale operations to support clinical trials, market registration, and product launches. Your role involves turning business goals into actionable project plans, establishing clear deliverables and milestones, removing barriers to success, managing risks, and driving collaboration across Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain. You are expected to be proactive, organized, and a strong leader, ensuring all teams work together to achieve program goals and deliver exceptional value.
Responsibilities
- Using a collection of program management tools, independently define and document the program scope, execution strategies, resources, deliverables and milestones. Create, implement and maintain PM tools.
- Develop cost estimates, secure funding/resources through Financial Planning and Long-Range Planning processes, manage the program per plan, report actual and forecasted spend and resolve financial variances.
- Assemble and lead cross-functional resources in a manner that results in the formation of effective, inclusive, high-performing teams with success-oriented focus. Mentor and develop program and project managers.
- Articulate the program execution strategy, deliverables and milestones to appropriate internal and external stakeholders maintaining a clear, consistent narrative to foster engagement, understanding and alignment.
- Work collaboratively with the program team to implement effective program governance structures, work breakdown structures, roles and responsibilities, integrated timelines and communication plans.
- Develop risk mitigation and contingency plans; implement as needed to keep the program on track.
- Identify and realize opportunities that result in acceleration, efficiency and cost avoidance/reduction. Understand and integrate changes in the global landscape for device and combination product industrialization, global quality and regulatory requirements and pathways for approval/market access in programs to deliver acceleration and value.
- Ensure the program team and stakeholders are aligned and the program is being executed efficiently. Manage competing timelines and make difficult decisions regarding priorities across the program. Drive rapid identification, communication and resolution of issues. Enable informed decision making, robust cross-functional problem solving and continuous improvement of program management practices and tools.
- Plan and facilitate program meetings, document minutes and actions, follow-up on closure, and hold team members accountable for decisions and deliverables.
- Ensure that programs and projects are technically and financially closed out upon completion and any ongoing responsibilities are formally transferred to appropriate parties.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering, science, or a closely related discipline.
- Advanced degrees and certifications such as Program Management Professional (PMP) are a plus.
- 15+ years of combined professional experience in manufacturing, engineering, technical operations or supply chain for a pharma/biotech/device manufacturer. Manufacturing experience is required.
- Minimum of 5 years of program and/or project management experience.
- Experience with product transfer from development to operations. Experience with industrialization/qualification of drug product fill/finish, device manufacturing and combination product assembly, labeling and packaging operations.
- Exposure to quality systems, design controls, product labeling, regulatory submission strategy/preparations and product launch/commercial supply are a plus.
- Fluent with MS Excel, MS Project and MS PowerPoint. Experience with MS Teams, SharePoint, Power BI/Smartsheet and open AI a plus.
- Ability to create program charters, execution strategies, milestone tables, Gantt timelines, MS Project schedules, work breakdown structures, RACI matrices, risk registers, material demand and supply plans.
- Excellent program and stakeholder management, written/verbal communication, active listening, negotiating, influencing and multi-tasking skills.
- Strong financial skills and business acumen. Must be able to effectively facilitate cross-functional resolution of complex scientific, technical, analytical and business issues.
- Proficiency in multiple languages is a plus.
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 Company's sole and absolute discretion unless and until 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
See all Operations Director Jobs at AbbVie
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Operations Director Jobs at AbbVie.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Operations Director Jobs at AbbVie
Align your credentials to pharma GMP standards
AbbVie's operations roles are tied to FDA-regulated manufacturing environments. Frame your resume around GMP compliance, biologics production, or pharmaceutical supply chain experience before you apply. Generic operations credentials won't hold up against candidates with regulated-industry backgrounds.
Target roles with international site accountability
AbbVie's Operations Director openings that span multiple manufacturing sites or global supply chains are more likely to carry visa sponsorship. Prioritize job postings that reference cross-functional or cross-border oversight, since those roles have historically attracted candidates who need sponsorship.
Use Migrate Mate to filter AbbVie operations roles by visa type
Search AbbVie's open Operations Director positions on Migrate Mate to filter specifically by your visa category. This saves time by surfacing only roles where AbbVie has sponsored that visa type, so you're not chasing postings where sponsorship is unlikely.
Clarify your status during the offer conversation
Raise your visa situation once you reach the offer stage, not the application stage. AbbVie uses an in-house immigration team for sponsored roles, so the process is structured. Asking too early can remove you from consideration before hiring managers have assessed your fit.
Understand how PERM timelines affect Director-level offers
If your goal is a Green Card through AbbVie, EB-2 or EB-3 PERM cases for Director-level roles require DOL to certify that no qualified U.S. worker was available. Labor certification processing currently runs 12 to 18 months at DOL, so factor that into your planning before accepting a role.
Prepare for specialty occupation scrutiny on ops leadership roles
USCIS applies the specialty occupation test to H-1B petitions, and operations roles get more scrutiny than technical ones. Make sure your offer letter specifies a degree requirement in a directly related field, such as engineering, life sciences, or supply chain management, not a general management requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does AbbVie sponsor H-1B visas for Operations Directors?
Yes. AbbVie sponsors H-1B visas for Operations Director roles, particularly in manufacturing, supply chain, and quality functions tied to its pharmaceutical and biologics operations. The role needs to qualify as a specialty occupation under USCIS standards, which means the position must require a specific bachelor's degree or higher in a directly related field, such as engineering, life sciences, or supply chain management.
Which visa types does AbbVie commonly use for Operations Director roles?
AbbVie sponsors H-1B, E-3 visa, H-1B1 visa, and TN visas for operations professionals depending on your nationality. For candidates pursuing permanent residence, AbbVie supports EB-2 and EB-3 Green Card pathways through PERM labor certification. F-1 OPT and CPT holders can also be considered for these roles if they meet the experience requirements and there's runway left on their authorization.
What qualifications and experience does AbbVie expect for Operations Director roles?
AbbVie typically expects a bachelor's degree in engineering, life sciences, supply chain, or a related field, with senior leadership experience in FDA-regulated manufacturing environments. Familiarity with GMP compliance, biologics or pharmaceutical production, and cross-functional team management is central to most postings. Advanced degrees or lean manufacturing credentials strengthen your profile for Director-level consideration.
How do I apply for Operations Director jobs at AbbVie?
You can find and filter AbbVie's open Operations Director positions by visa type on Migrate Mate, which shows roles where AbbVie has a documented sponsorship history. Apply through AbbVie's careers portal directly, and tailor your application to the specific function, whether that's manufacturing, supply chain, or quality operations. Clarify your visa situation after you've progressed through initial screening, not in your cover letter.
How long does AbbVie's visa sponsorship process take for Operations Directors?
For H-1B transfers or cap-exempt filings, USCIS standard processing runs three to five months, with premium processing available to reduce that to roughly 15 business days. If AbbVie is filing a new H-1B subject to the annual cap, you'd need to wait for the April lottery window. Green Card sponsorship through PERM adds significantly more time, with DOL labor certification alone currently averaging 12 to 18 months.