Senior Director, AI & Digital Transformation, Operations

AbbVie•North Chicago, IL

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 establishes a multi-year digital vision, architecture principles, and investment roadmap that connect Industry 4.0/5.0 capabilities, data and AI platforms, and site-level execution to measurable business value. The role represents Operations in leadership and enterprise governance forums, helping position the organization as a leader in digitally enabled, compliant, and resilient manufacturing and supply. The position sets a 3-to-5-year digital strategy and target-state architecture, translates these into a prioritized and funded roadmap, and evaluates emerging technologies. It establishes reusable digital standards, architectures, and data foundations; ensures governance and compliance requirements are integrated into initiatives; and manages portfolio business cases, KPIs, benefit tracking, and scaled deployment. The Senior Director also develops external technology partnerships, builds and leads a high-performing team, promotes digital fluency and innovation, and communicates progress, risks, and investment needs to senior executives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
Minimum of 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 track 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.
Demonstrated executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders, build coalitions, and navigate a complex global matrix organization.
Strong change leadership skills and experience driving adoption of new technologies and 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 3-to-5-year Operations digital strategy and target-state architecture across Supply Chain, Quality/QC, PDS&T, Engineering, and Security, aligned with enterprise, Operations, and AI strategies.
Translate strategy into a prioritized, sequenced, and funded roadmap, including long-range resource and investment planning.
Scan, benchmark, and assess emerging technologies against industry peers and recommend adoption pathways.
Establish common digital standards, reference architectures, and data foundations that enable reuse and scale across sites and functions and avoid duplicative solutions.
Chair or co-lead digital governance and technology review forums with BTS, Quality, and Security; integrate GxP/data integrity, computer system assurance, IT/OT cybersecurity, and regulatory expectations into digital initiatives.
Define digital portfolio business cases, KPIs, and benefit-tracking, and report realized value to the Operations Leadership Team and Finance.
Partner with functional leaders, site leadership, BTS, and Global Engineering & Automation to scale proven pilots through standardized, multi-site deployments with clear 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 and digital fluency and foster continuous improvement and innovation across Operations.
Represent Operations Digital Strategy in enterprise forums, communicating progress, risks, and investment needs to senior executives.