Operations Facilities Lead

Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, Abbott has been helping people reach their potential — because better health allows people and communities to achieve more. Joining us, you can shape your career as you shape the future of healthcare.

With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create new solutions — across the spectrum of health, around the world, for all stages of life. Whether it’s next-generation diagnostics, life-changing devices, science-based nutrition, or novel reformulations, we are advancing some of the most innovative and revolutionary technologies in healthcare, helping people live their best lives through better health.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

As a result of strong business growth, industry-leading product development in the biosensor business and a long-term commitment to high volume manufacturing in Witney, we have an opportunity for an Operations Facilities Lead to join the team.

As an Operations Facilities Lead, you will be responsible for managing and developing a team of employees within your area of responsibility. You will ensure activities are performed in a manner that supports a Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, Good Manufacturing Practice, and best-in-class working practices. Your focus will be on project management, decision-making, and driving continuous improvement.

In this role, you will:

1. Lead and develop a team, providing direction to ensure product availability, maintaining regulatory compliance, and optimizing productivity. You will foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement. This includes mentoring and coaching your team to support their growth and career development, managing strategic relationships both internally and externally, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration within the team.
2. Oversee and manage engineering projects to reduce energy consumption, reduce costs, and support the introduction of new systems and equipment. Ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
3. Make strategic decisions to support business growth, optimize process performance, and ensure compliance with EHS regulations and Abbott standards. Demonstrate leadership and commitment through actions and provision of sufficient resources.
4. Monitor and be responsible for the overall quality of the product and documentation produced. Ensure compliance with EHS regulations and maintain EHS systems, programs, and procedures.
5. Drive rapid and compliant transfer/start-up of new processes. Optimize the processes by directing support staff and facilitating collaboration with Engineering, Schedulers, QA, and technical teams.

Working at Abbott, you can help shape the future of healthcare whilst shaping your career.

ABOUT YOU:

To be successful, you will need proven experience in operations or manufacturing settings, ideally within a regulated environment, with working knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), technical, and quality requirements. You will have completed recognized apprenticeship in Engineering and relevant qualifications (e.g., City & Guilds, BTEC, or National Diploma) or technical degree/equivalent qualification.

Other key attributes sought include:

1. Experience in overseeing and managing engineering projects, reducing costs, and supporting the introduction of new systems and equipment, with proven ability to deliver projects on time, within scope, and within budget.
2. Experience in managing and developing teams, including mentoring and coaching employees to support their growth and career development.
3. Proven experience in line management, including strategy, resource planning, and financial management.
4. Experience in making strategic decisions to support business growth and optimize process performance.
5. Ability to optimize production areas by directing support staff and facilitating collaboration with various teams.
6. Strong communication skills, an engaging and motivating style, and a passion for leading change and continuous improvement projects.
7. Ability to work proactively, manage time effectively, and accomplish objectives in a fast-paced, changing environment.
8. Experience with systems, plant, and components, and good general knowledge of all building services mechanical systems is preferable but not essential.

WHAT WE OFFER:

This is a fantastic opportunity to become a valued member of our highly skilled Engineering team working with brand new state-of-the-art automation in a fast-growing area of our business. Engineering skill is key to us, with members working in areas including projects, process, production, systems, software, R&D, and machine vision.

Abbott offers a benefits platform that provides security to you and your family. As you’d expect from an innovative global healthcare company, we offer a competitive range of benefits including excellent salaries, a class-leading defined contribution pension scheme, private healthcare, life assurance, subsidized canteen, and a flexible benefits scheme. Here at Witney, we also like to help our employees live life to the fullest, and therefore we offer a range of optional initiatives for you to get involved in, including local community STEM outreach, couch to 5k campaigns, yoga, and more!

ABOUT OUR DIABETES CARE DIVISION:

World Leader in Glucose Monitoring, Abbott’s Diabetes Care business designs, develops, and manufactures glucose monitoring systems for use in both home and hospital settings. We have a Centre of Excellence in Witney for the development and manufacture of electrodes and biosensors used by patients and healthcare professionals for the day-to-day management of diabetes. The Witney site has been instrumental in the research, development, and manufacture of the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System as well as exciting developments in the Libre family including FreeStyle Libre 2, FreeStyle Libre 3, and the Libre Sense system. The FreeStyle Libre systems are now used by over 5 million people around the world. We are passionate about doing work that improves the quality of people’s lives.