Senior Director, AI & Digital Transformation, Operations
About The Position
The Senior Director, AI & Digital Transformation, Operations defines and drives AbbVie Operations’ enterprise-level digital strategy across Supply Chain, Quality (including QC), Product Development Science & Technology (PDS&T), Engineering, and Security. Reporting to the VP of Operations AI and Digital Transformation, the role sets the multi-year digital vision, architecture principles, and investment roadmap, connecting Industry 4.0/5.0 capabilities, data and AI platforms, and site-level execution to measurable business value. The role represents Operations in engagement with the Operations Leadership Team, Business Technology Solutions (BTS), and enterprise governance forums, helping position Operations as a leader in digitally enabled, compliant, and resilient manufacturing and supply. The Senior Director owns a three-to-five-year digital strategy and target-state architecture, translates the strategy into a prioritized and funded roadmap, and assesses emerging technologies and adoption pathways. The role establishes shared standards, reference architectures, and data foundations; co-leads governance and technology reviews; and ensures digital initiatives account for GxP and data integrity, computer system assurance, cybersecurity, and regulatory expectations. The position manages portfolio value through business cases, KPIs, benefit tracking, and reporting to Operations leadership and Finance. It partners with functional and site leaders, BTS, and Global Engineering & Automation to scale proven pilots across sites, and develops relationships with vendors, startups, academia, and industry groups. The role also builds and leads a high-performing digital strategy, architecture, and portfolio team, develops talent and digital fluency across Operations, and represents Operations Digital Strategy in enterprise forums.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
- 15–18 years of experience in biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, or regulated manufacturing operations, digital, or technology roles.
- At least 8 years leading enterprise-scale digital strategy or transformation in a senior leadership capacity.
- Proven record of setting multi-year digital roadmaps and delivering scaled, measurable value across multiple sites and functions, including manufacturing, supply chain, quality/QC, engineering, and PDS&T.
- Deep understanding of Industry 4.0/5.0 and digital manufacturing technologies, including MES/MOM, IIoT, data platforms, digital twins, advanced process control, robotics/automation, AI/ML, and GenAI, and their application in GxP environments.
- Working knowledge of GxP/GMP, data integrity (ALCOA+), computer system assurance, and OT/IT cybersecurity expectations for pharmaceutical operations.
- Experience establishing digital governance, architecture standards, and investment/benefit-management frameworks in partnership with IT/BTS and Finance.
- Executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders, build coalitions, and navigate a complex global matrix organization.
- Strong change leadership skills and experience driving technology adoption and new ways of working at scale.
- Experience building and developing leaders and multidisciplinary teams.
- Excellent strategic thinking, communication, and storytelling skills, including the ability to translate complex technology concepts into business outcomes.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or MBA.
- Consulting or external technology-partner experience.
Responsibilities
- Define and own the three-to-five-year Operations digital strategy and target-state architecture across Supply Chain, Quality/QC, PDS&T, Engineering, and Security.
- Translate digital strategy into a prioritized, sequenced, and funded roadmap, including long-range resource and investment planning.
- Scan, benchmark, and assess emerging technologies and recommend adoption pathways.
- Establish common digital standards, reference architectures, and data foundations that support reuse and scale across sites and functions.
- Chair or co-lead digital governance and technology review forums with BTS, Quality, and Security, ensuring compliance and security expectations are built into initiatives.
- Define business cases, KPIs, and benefit tracking for the digital portfolio, and report realized value to Operations leadership and Finance.
- Partner with functional leaders, site leadership, BTS, and Global Engineering & Automation to scale proven pilots into standardized, multi-site deployments with ownership and adoption plans.
- Develop strategic relationships with technology vendors, startups, academia, and industry consortia, and shape sourcing strategy with Procurement.
- Build and lead a high-performing digital strategy, architecture, and portfolio team; develop talent, digital fluency, and a continuous improvement and innovation culture across Operations.
- Represent Operations Digital Strategy in enterprise forums and communicate progress, risks, and investment needs to senior executives.
Benefits
- Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and sick time.
- Medical insurance.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- 401(k).
- Eligible to participate in long-term incentive programs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
