Director of Packaging & Design

Primary Job Function:

The Director of Packaging & Design, Product Design and Development (PDD) within Innovation & Development (I&D) is responsible for managing the global function leading a team of packaging and design specialists that designs human usage experiences for Abbott Established Pharmaceutical Divisions (EPD) brands and categories.

The job is responsible for establishing and integrating design as a key strategic and competitive capability within Abbott EPD. With a team of directly and indirectly reporting material scientists, engineers and device designers to generate prototype packaging, drug delivery solutions and medical devices to create tangible healthcare benefits. The role will have a specific focus on long term sustainability. The role will help create a pipeline of projects such as: sustainable packaging platforms; novel drug delivery devices; solutions to adhere to product compliant usage; interactive digital connections with patient and consumer benefits.

The job requires the management of external partners that participate in the development process. This position has a significant impact on the end results for successful completion of the portfolio of projects and the bottom line of the division. The job requires a passion materials and design thinking that will enhance the user’s product usage experience.

Core Job Responsibilities:

• Establishes design as a key strategic capability and competitive advantage through human factor research such as interactive design, behavioral understanding, sensory science and other design disciplines.
• Align with Senior leadership a comprehensive packaging development strategy
• Leverages extensive knowledge of a broad range of materials, packaging systems and testing protocols to assess the performance of packaging structures.
• Active member of the global innovation process to help generate new products, extended claims via usage experiences and tangible benefits based on consumer insights, patient & HCP needs.
• Establishes and lead the usage of innovation methodologies, like Design Thinking, in order to capture new healthcare opportunities for prototyping and development.
• Leads and collaborates with packaging engineers, product development scientists, software engineers, commercial managers to translate user and patient needs into unique, highly usable design outcomes.
• Designs packaging formats, drug delivery device combinations, solutions to adhere to product compliant usage, interactive digital connection and combinations.
• Produces usable prototype products, devices for usage testing and evaluation.
• Responsible for the setup, oversight and activities within the Mumbai Design Centre to ensure good design practices, safety oversight and health & safety practices.
• Leads and manages teams of scientists and designers to deliver the responsibilities.
• Drives the intellectual property strategy within EPD together with IP department.
• Ensures clear communication within project teams, therapeutic area teams and senior management

Supervisory/Management Responsibilities:

• Supervises directly scientific staff, typically 5 to 10 team reports depending on the stage of the project(s) and resource assigned.
• Operates in talent review and selection, provides development opportunities with Abbott.
• Sets up and maintains relationships with Contract Research Organizations (CROs).

Position Accountability/Scope:

• Reports to the Head of Product Design and Development, I&D.
• Supports scientific reviews with commercial, I&D, MS&T, internal and external organizations

Minimum Education:

Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant discipline (e.g. packaging, engineering, material science, design). Ideally a higher degree such as a master’s degree or a Ph. D in a related discipline with 15 - 20 years of experience

Minimum Experience/Training Required:

Ability to establish a new design center and align a new team of designers. Proven track record of leading and managing people and multiple projects. Ability to provide leadership to help organize and guide design activities, while also spending a portion of time creating designs and assets.