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Abbott’s Established Pharmaceuticals Division (EPD) is looking to recruit a
PRIMARY JOB FUNCTION
The role reports to Senior Director EPD EHS, Security, and Capital Engineering and will act as a technical leader and subject matter authority within the division and support the execution of ~$220MM capital spend every year.
The role, in collaboration with the local site teams, will improve constructability, strengthen site execution discipline, and ensure civil and building work supports safe, compliant, on-time delivery of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facilities and utilities.
The Director Civil & Constructions Engineering Capital Projects is accountable for setting the divisional standards for civil, structural, architectural, and construction execution for a portfolio of capital projects across all EPD’s manufacturing sites.
CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides the necessary technical leadership and subject matter expertise and oversees complex capital projects across all EPD sites to enhance capital execution predictability.
Defines and deploys enterprise standards, design criteria, and delivery expectations for site development, earthworks, foundations, buildings, cleanroom envelopes, structural systems, underground networks, construction sequencing, etc. for pharmaceutical manufacturing projects.
Basic Engineering & FEP:
Lead civil input into feasibility, concept selection, site master planning, plot plans, utility corridors, logistics strategy, geotechnical assessments, constructability reviews, and early risk identification to avoid late design changes and delays.
Challenge concepts for simplicity, modularization potential, site access, laydown needs, crane strategy, prefabrication opportunities, and construction phasing to reduce cost, complexity, and schedule risk before projects are sanctioned.
Detailed Engineering:
Ensure mature, coordinated detailed design packages are issued with clear construction work packs, interface management, clash resolution, permit inputs, and complete specifications to ensure competent field execution and reduce design gaps or rework.
Lead constructability reviews with engineering, site operations, EHS, quality, and contractors.
Verify that design reflects real field conditions, shutdown constraints, operational continuity, brownfield tie-ins, material flows, and GMP boundary requirements.
Commissioning, Qualification, Validation (CQV):
Ensure buildings, structures, drainage, roadways, access systems, equipment foundations, architectural finishes, and environmental conditions are completed to the required standard and handed over in a controlled manner to support safe commissioning starts.
Verify that civil and architectural elements affecting GMP compliance, including room finishes, cleanroom shell integrity, pressure envelope readiness, access controls, drainage slopes, hygienic details, and walkdown closure are complete before qualification activities begin.
Partner with Quality, Engineering, and site operations to confirm building performance, room classification enclosures, environmental stability, personnel/material flows, and facility compliance elements are stable and sustained for validation execution.
Builds civil engineering capability and community of practice:
Coach site project managers and engineering leads, create standard playbooks and review checklists, and establish lessons learned across the 20-site network to continuously improve estimating accuracy, schedule predictability, and field productivity.
Identify and prevent recurring failure modes such as late drawings, underground surprises, rework, poor contractor coordination, permit delays, weather impacts, and site logistics constraints.
Represent EPD in the Global Engineering Services (GES) community of practice.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
Expertise in civil engineering for complex (international) capital projects, such as those involving civil or building works, in pharmaceutical industry, with experience in procurement, construction, and other project-related activities.
Strong commitment to safety and environmental guidelines.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
Additional German and/or Dutch and/or Spanish language knowledge is a plus.
Must be able to work with minimal direct supervision to accomplish goals and meet schedules.
Proven work ethic and ability to work well with multi-cultural teams.
Possess strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
Must be open-minded and adaptive to change, promote the collective interests of the team more than self-interest, and resolve problems in a respectful manner.
Thrives in a fast-paced environment and manages competing priorities effectively.
Excellent in managing various stakeholders, including Procurement, Legal, Engineering, and site leadership.
Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication and presentation skills.
PROFILE REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s or master’s degree in civil engineering, structural engineering, construction engineering, or related field.
15+ years of experience in large industrial/manufacturing (international) capital projects, with strong exposure to pharma, biotech, life sciences, sterile, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API), or GMP-regulated environments.
Deep knowledge of brownfield construction, cleanroom buildings, structural systems, site infrastructure, and industrial construction execution.
Proven track record improving constructability, field productivity, schedule recovery, and capital efficiency across multiple sites or large programs.
Strong understanding of how civil/building readiness impacts CQV, GMP compliance, and operational handover.
Demonstrated ability to influence Engineering Procurement Construction companies, design firms, site leaders, project directors, EHS, Quality at senior levels.
Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.
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