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 at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

We have an exciting new opportunity for an Automation Team Lead to join our Automation Team in Westport on a 24-month fixed-term contract. This newly created role reports to the Associate Director of Automation and will be pivotal in supporting our transition to the Factory of the Future, utilising control systems such as Siemens, Rockwell, and Wonderware. The successful candidate will manage a team of 8-10 Automation Engineers, oversee several automation projects, and provide ongoing operations support for AbbVie's Eye Care Business Unit. This position offers potential for career advancement in management while contributing to innovative automation solutions.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise and manage a team of 8-10 Automation Engineers across the BUs and ensure uptime and efficiency
• Define team schedules, rota for off-shift/on-call support, and oversee training and development.
• Serve as primary point of contact onsite for Automation related issues
• Assign key SMEs within the group to best support the issues in manufacturing and packaging
• Work with team to develop optimum solutions to process automation issues
• Escalate complex issues to the Associate Director of Automation to get additional support from PLC and SCADA SMEs within the group
• Responsible for delivering support to the business and achieving system metrics.
• Evaluate process improvements and initiate projects to improve reliability, improvement processes or eliminate waste
• Manage automation improvement projects, track milestones, and drive results to meet schedules.
• Manage automation vendors and contractors including system support contracts and external access arrangements.
• Support Capital project requests for automation support, if required.
• Support cost savings initiatives onsite and within the engineering team
• Support any safety or quality initiatives that required automation support
• Work closely with the Business Technology Services group
• Ensure systems comply with cGMP/regulatory requirements and SOPs
• Support DI (Data Integrity) issues that arise within the Business
• Support automation related change controls.
• Support long term plans for control system maintenance and improvements.
• Direct project execution by assigning tasks, tracking project schedules, identifying risks, and developing and executing contingency plans.
• Communicate project status by preparing standard status reports, and by participating in departmental and customer project status update meetings.
• Resolve project/system issues by working with team members, project customers, and others as appropriate.
• Manage and approve associated documentation and specifications.
• Supports the execution of control systems project activities as per site business needs and to meet clearly stated objectives.
• Act as a key contact for automation-related audits and reviews.

• Degree in a relevant subject area such as Mechatronics / Engineering
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing and control systems is essential
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Batch processing operations in an FDA/ HPRA regulated industry.
• 3 years’ experience in configuring control systems in a batch manufacturing environment
• 1 -2 years’ experience in a people management/supervisory role would be an advantage.
• A strong knowledge of cGMP and regulatory requirements relating to the pharmaceutical industry.
• Experience of operating in a team environment with active participation in proactive improvement programs is required

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives, serving our community and embracing diversity and inclusion.  It is AbbVie’s policy to employ qualified persons of the greatest ability without discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, status as a protected veteran, or any other legally protected group status.

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