Company Description

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.

Job Description

We are currently looking for a Quality Control Laboratory Planner to join our team in Cork and to work with the Quality Laboratory. This person will be responsible for the planning and control of the testing schedule for all raw materials and finished products released from AbbVie Cork. The QC Planner is responsible for preparing short-term and long-term testing schedules and incorporating non-routine testing needs such as process validation testing, customer complaint testing, testing arising from non-conformances, training activities, etc. into the QC testing schedules. The role will play a key part in the planning of external testing activites.

The QC Planner serves as the key contact within the QC department for both internal and external customers as well as third party laboratories. They will be responsible for the provision of updates to stakeholders  on the status of testing and QC release, and for inclusion of new testing requests in the short-term and long-term testing schedules. The role requires the building of excellent relationships, within and outside of the QC department, to ensure the optimum testing schedule is agreed with all stakeholders.

The role requires the use of planning tools to oversee the mid- to long-term planning activities within the laboratory and will be critical in supporting the implementation and subsequent utilization of SmartQC, a state-of-the-art planner tool designed for optimizing laboratory operations. The Planner will be responsible for ensuring efficient resource allocation, project scheduling, and financial oversight to maintain operational excellence and cost-effectiveness within the QC lab.

Key Responsibilities:

Mid- to Long-Term Planning: Develop and manage laboratory schedules for QC testing to ensure timely completion of testing activities for both ongoing and future projects. Create forecasts for resource needs, including personnel, equipment, and consumables, aligning with business and production goals.Utilization of SmartQC Tool: Utilize SmartQC to effectively plan, monitor, and optimize laboratory operations. Leverage the tool’s capabilities to track workloads, prioritize tasks, and ensure compliance with QC timelines. Provide insights and recommendations for tool enhancements or further integrations to maximize utility.Resource Allocation: Coordinate the allocation of lab personnel and equipment to optimize workflow and minimize bottlenecks. Maintain awareness of lab capacity and ensure optimal usage of all resources, addressing any over- or under-utilization.Financial Oversight: Collaborate with the finance and procurement teams to track budget adherence, analyze cost drivers in QC operations, and propose cost-saving initiatives. Monitor expenditure related to laboratory supplies, testing, and personnel allocation to maintain financial control over QC processes.Process Improvement & Efficiency: Identify opportunities to streamline QC laboratory workflows and enhance operational efficiency such as working with supervisors to implement standard work. Collaborate with the QC and operations teams to implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce testing lead times and optimize resource usage.Risk Management: Proactively assess risks related to lab capacity, resource shortages, or scheduling conflicts. Develop contingency plans and adjustments to ensure QC operations remain uninterrupted and meet business targets.Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as production, supply chain, and R&D, to align QC schedules with overall business objectives and product timelines. Act as a liaison between the QC lab and other business units to communicate timelines, issues, and project updates. Serve as the QC representative for weekly raw materials and operations planning meetings.Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze key performance metrics related to QC operations (e.g., testing turnaround time, resource utilization, cost efficiency) and generate regular reports for senior management. Provide data-driven recommendations for strategic planning and process improvement.
Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Quality Management, Operations, Laboratory Sciences, or Business).
• 3+ years of experience in a planning, scheduling, or operations role, preferably in a laboratory or manufacturing setting.
• Experience with laboratory planning software, SmartQC experience preferred.
• Strong financial acumen with experience in budget management and cost analysis.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work cross-functionally and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in data analysis and reporting tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI).
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to anticipate and mitigate risks.

Preferred Skills:
• Experience in Quality Control or Laboratory Operations.
• Knowledge of Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) or Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
• Project management experience or certification.

Additional Information

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.

US & Puerto Rico only - to learn more, visit https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/equal-employment-opportunity-employer.html 

US & Puerto Rico applicants seeking a reasonable accommodation, click here to learn more:

https://www.abbvie.com/join-us/reasonable-accommodations.html