Head of Capital Project Engineering (m/f/d) - EMEA, Canada and Pakistan

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health.We’re always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology.

Head of Capital Project Engineering (m/f/d) - EMEA, Canada and Pakistan )

The Opportunity

This position works out of ourNeustadt am Rübenberge site, Abbott Laboratories GmbH in the EstablishedPharmaceuticals division.

The Head of Capital Project Engineering (m/f/d)- EMEA, Canada and Pakistan will act as the functional leader within the assigned regions for Engineering, Capital Management and responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and governance of capital projects, ensuring alignment with Abbott’s global standards, compliance with regulatory requirements, and delivery of sustainable, cost-effective facilities and infrastructure.

For the Established Pharmaceutical Division (EPD) sites in the assigned region, it is a main leadership role for:

• Strategic leadership: Define and implement regional capital project strategies aligned with Abbott’s global pharmaceutical business objectives, including capability building and consistent approach towards development
• Project portfolio management: Oversee multi-site capital projects, including new facility builds, expansions, and technology upgrades.
• Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with Global Engineering Service (GES), manufacturing, quality, EHS, supply chain, finance, and regulatory teams to ensure project success.
• Governance & compliance: Ensure adherence to GMP, health & safety, environmental, and local regulatory standards.
• Budget & resource management: Manage multimillion-dollar budgets, optimize resource allocation, and deliver projects on time and within scope.
• Innovation & sustainability: Drive adoption of advanced engineering practices, digital tools, and sustainable design principles.
• Talent development: Build and mentor a high-performing engineering team across EMEA, Canada and Pakistan.
• Establish and lead Climate change/energy conservation strategy for EPO and deliver sustainability investments to achieve Abbott 2030 & 2050 through site surveys, investment, and SME support. Support EHS directors with EPD energy reporting and target setting
• Driving standardization and leading critical processes which span across multiple regions.
• Ensure Highly Protected Readiness status across the sites in the assigned regions through a critical oversight of Engineering, facilities, Utilities, critical systems

Core Job Responsibilities:

• Implement world-class processes to manage, provide visibility, leverage and make decisions on Abbott's capital assets, including capital budget allocation and planning, capital project management and capital asset, management to improve financial and business performance. Roll out divisional Maintenance & Energy Management
• Embed maturity system with site assessments and site roadmap to achieve maintenance and sustainability excellence.
• Implement capital management process, R&R, instruments for capital allocation and tracking of projects.
• Roll out Engineering capability building program in Advanced Data Analytics, Energy, water Systems & Maintenance Excellence
• Capital Planning - Work with the assigned regions and plants to develop the capital plan, ensuring the projects match the business plan and ensure the cost and scope are well enough defined to add the project to the plan.
• Front End Planning / Project Development - Verify that adequate engineering is done pre-RCE to ensure the project will be successful from a scope, schedule and functionality point of view such that it meets the business objectives of the RCE.
• Roll out resources for supporting ad hoc commissioning or troubleshooting for machine performance at key third party manufacturers in the assigned region.
• Identifies opportunities for productivity initiatives in a manner that systematically improves operational execution and delivers value before further capital is invested.
• Establishes and performs a robust, regular capital investment planning process in line with strategic plans including cash flow planning to meet EPD objectives.
• Defines in close collaboration with the assigned regions standards and governance including maturity assessments, benchmarking exercises and identifies opportunities to leverage synergies and 'best practice' sharing to maximize value.
• Maintains global engineering, productivity, sustainability and quality metrics/measurement standards (KPIs) to ensure optimum efficiency and quality and develops a reporting process across the regions to utilize the metrics which drive operational improvements.
• Creates cohesive, collaborative, cross functional teams that are willing and capable of taking the organization to the next levels. Fosters a culture of customer centeredness and continuous operational improvement.
• Leads, inspires, and develops a talented team that supports the strategic and future needs of the business through Engineering TMR (ETMR) and Engineering Development Program (EDP).
• Ensure role out of serialization technology ahead of future regulations

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, or related field); Master’s preferred.
• Experience: 12+ years in capital project management / Engineering / Energy Management / Hygienic design / Process design / i4.0, with at least 8 years in leadership roles within the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry.
• Global exposure: Proven track record managing projects across multiple geographies and cultures.
• Technical expertise
• Strong knowledge of GMP, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes, and facility design. Required to understand and advocate technical solutions.
• Leadership skills: Ability to influence senior stakeholders, manage diverse teams, and drive organizational change. High performing and highly result driven, who strives consistently for continuous improvement and is motivated by a high sense of personal performance expectations.
• Financial acumen: Expertise in capital budgeting, ROI analysis, and risk management.
• Communication: Excellent presentation and negotiation skills in English; additional languages such as German, Dutch or French are an asset.
• Experience in project management, coaching and change management
• Experience in production/ manufacturing sites.
• Successfully managed Engineering function in production or development fields
• Conceptual and strategic thinker with relevant experience at production/ manufacturing site level to deploy meaningful organizational responses, programs and actions.
• Track record in Project Management and ability to challenge through 'facts & figures'
• Proven ability to work within a matrix organization and at ease within a fast paced and demanding environment combined with cultural awareness and sensitivity
• Strong ability to network and collaborate across various functions
• Needs to be able to travel approximately 25%.