About the position
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. The Opportunity: Creates, develops, and leads teams that execute human factors engineering process for critically important products and product lines with the purpose of meeting divisional growth objectives. Plans, leads and conducts customer and competitive research to identify, prioritize/develop new projects, create detailed usability improvement plans and conceptual design, and select/manage external usability design resources. Leads internal and external development resources to conduct customer usability research, conceptual design development, usability testing, interaction design and usability validation. Responsible for usability initiatives across product/organizational lines, and for training staff members about relevant usability theory, resources, and technology. Identifies and routinely uses the most effective and cost efficient best business practices to execute processes; continually evaluates their effectiveness and appropriateness. Applies advanced usability improvement principles to the evaluation and solution of complex product design problems. Remains abreast of and consults on usability improvement advancements. Creates and trains others in the use of the most effective, cost efficient and best usability related processes.
Responsibilities
- Proposes and establishes the business case for usability improvement projects using knowledge of customer needs, company technology, market research, financial tools, and business plans.
- Communicates improvement plans, concepts, and status across the Marketing department, development staff, and senior management.
- Plans and conducts worldwide customer, competitive, and software industry research to identify and prioritize usability improvement possibilities and solutions.
- Creates detailed usability improvement concepts and may lead design teams.
- Works across product lines, internal departments, and company sites to create and manage usability improvement plans and usability standards.
- Leads usability conceptual design development, usability research, interaction design, and usability validation on prototypes as well as finished products.
- Organizes and manages work to deliver usability deliverables on programs; leads other human factors engineers or other external resources in the execution of assigned work.
- Prioritizes tasks by distinguishing urgent from important tasks and assesses cost/benefit trade-offs.
- Contributes to the development of department staff through leading work assignments, sharing knowledge and experience, and identifying training opportunities for less experienced team members.
- Contributes to the product charter/contract and works with multiple development teams simultaneously to successfully implement usability improvement concepts.
- Leads and assists in the management of internal and external development resources, and assists in the development of engineering documents, user manuals, online help, and training materials.
- Provides worldwide Marketing department, engineering management, and staff with training and mentoring on usability theory, resources, and technology.
- Creates and refines usability related processes, and trains others in their use.
- Innovates within program to improve the organization, solve technical challenges, and develop intellectual property.
- Supports all company initiatives as identified by management and in support of Quality Management Systems (QMS), Environmental Management Systems (EMS), and other regulatory requirements.
- Complies with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, other regulatory requirements, company policies, operating procedures, processes, and task assignments.
- Maintains positive and cooperative communications and collaboration with all levels of employees, customers, contractors, and vendors.
Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, Human Factors Engineering, Biomedical Engineering or a related field or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- Minimum 12 years of progressively more responsible work experience with the design of software for complex applications.
- In-depth knowledge and experience of human factors as well as cognitive psychology theory and application, the software development process, software technology, and effective methods of working with research and development teams.
- Documented record of delivering software engineering information which adds value to management's decision-making process.
- Advanced personal computer skills including spreadsheet, word processing, database management, and specialized application.
- Experience working in a broader enterprise/cross-division business unit model preferred.
- Ability to work in a highly matrixed and geographically diverse business environment.
- Ability to work within a team and as an individual contributor in a fast-paced, changing environment.
- Strong verbal and written communications with ability to effectively communicate at multiple levels in the organization.
- Ability to multitask, prioritize and meet deadlines in a timely manner.
- Strong organizational and follow-up skills, as well as attention to detail.
- Ability to travel approximately 10%, including internationally.
Nice-to-haves
- Experience working in a broader enterprise/cross-division business unit model preferred.
Benefits
- The base pay for this position is $146,700.00 - $293,300.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.
