Manager, External Supply
AbbVie
August 19, 2026
Remote friendly (North Chicago, IL)
United States
$109,500 - $208,500 USD yearly
Operations
The External Supply Manager is responsible for managing assigned supplier relationships in support of AbbVie’s manufacturing network. The role partners cross-functionally to monitor supplier performance, drive assurance of supply (AoS) activities, coordinate operational activities, and help ensure quality, compliance, and service requirements are met.
Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain relationships with 1–3 assigned suppliers.
- Partner cross-functionally to address supplier performance and operational issues.
- Maintain and communicate supplier KPIs, performance metrics, and action plans.
- Lead supplier business/operational review meetings and track follow-up actions.
- Lead AoS activities: forecast alignment, capacity planning, risk identification, mitigation.
- Manage routine supply/service/quality escalations to timely resolution.
- Support due diligence/qualification/implementation for new materials and change notifications.
- Drive and support continuous improvement, productivity, and cost improvement; support RFP/RFx activities.
- Represent External Supply in cross-functional meetings; support supplier-management budgets.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (supply chain, Engineering, Business, Science, or related); master’s/MBA preferred.
- 7+ years in supply chain/external manufacturing/procurement/supplier management/operations.
- Experience in cross-functional teams managing supplier performance.
- Knowledge of supplier performance metrics, capacity planning, forecasting, and AoS.
- Strong communication, project management, analytical, problem-solving skills.
- Ability to travel domestically/internationally.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Raw material external supplier management in regulated industries.
- Regulated environment experience supporting quality/technical requirements (e.g., cGMP).
- Experience facilitating supplier business reviews and improvement initiatives.
- Familiarity with ERP (SAP) supplier quality systems and regulated documentation.
Benefits:
- Paid time off; medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k); long-term incentive program eligibility.
Responsibilities:
- Establish and maintain relationships with 1–3 assigned suppliers.
- Partner cross-functionally to address supplier performance and operational issues.
- Maintain and communicate supplier KPIs, performance metrics, and action plans.
- Lead supplier business/operational review meetings and track follow-up actions.
- Lead AoS activities: forecast alignment, capacity planning, risk identification, mitigation.
- Manage routine supply/service/quality escalations to timely resolution.
- Support due diligence/qualification/implementation for new materials and change notifications.
- Drive and support continuous improvement, productivity, and cost improvement; support RFP/RFx activities.
- Represent External Supply in cross-functional meetings; support supplier-management budgets.
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (supply chain, Engineering, Business, Science, or related); master’s/MBA preferred.
- 7+ years in supply chain/external manufacturing/procurement/supplier management/operations.
- Experience in cross-functional teams managing supplier performance.
- Knowledge of supplier performance metrics, capacity planning, forecasting, and AoS.
- Strong communication, project management, analytical, problem-solving skills.
- Ability to travel domestically/internationally.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Raw material external supplier management in regulated industries.
- Regulated environment experience supporting quality/technical requirements (e.g., cGMP).
- Experience facilitating supplier business reviews and improvement initiatives.
- Familiarity with ERP (SAP) supplier quality systems and regulated documentation.
Benefits:
- Paid time off; medical/dental/vision insurance; 401(k); long-term incentive program eligibility.