Plant IT Manager

About Abbott

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.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self and live a full life. You will have access to :

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of.
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

As the Plant IT Manager, you will be responsible for managing the IT portfolio of the manufacturing sites in New Zealand to :

• Ensure compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional policies and procedures.
• Ensure adherence to all relevant governmental and regulatory requirements.
• Champion change and innovation by encouraging creativity, supporting new ideas, and recognizing individuals who initiate improvements. Proactively identify opportunities to leverage IT for business growth, process improvement, and cost efficiencies.
• Ensure that IT solutions meet business needs. Serve as the primary point of contact for all IT requirements of the manufacturing site and prioritize IT demand accordingly.
• Provide leadership through setting expectations, coaching, counseling, developing team members, conducting evaluations, giving feedback, hiring, and managing disciplinary actions or separations. Determine and develop the appropriate mix of skill sets within the team.
• Lead key IT functions include project management, business systems consulting, applications development and support, local site infrastructure, distributed computing support, data communications, local networking, and ensuring robust data management and integrity.
• Monitor and maintain systems, resolving issues as they arise. Analyze software and hardware problems and coordinate effective solutions. Plan, schedule, test, and coordinate system software upgrades.
• Ensure the availability and reliability of systems and application environments through proactive and reactive maintenance.
• Ensure that IT applications align with and support organizational objectives.
• Communicate effectively with team members and external stakeholders on matters related to IT applications.
• Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively within a team comprising both infrastructure and application specialists.
• Execute IT projects deployed locally or driven by corporate initiatives.
• Maintain strong awareness and appreciation of internal and external customer needs.
• Manage relationships with IT suppliers where applicable.
• This role is highly hands‑on, requiring technical competencies across servers, networks, cloud platforms, cybersecurity, and enterprise applications, while also providing leadership to a small IT team and overseeing critical operational activities.

Major Responsibilities

• Manage all IS&T services for the plant and serve as the primary IT liaison for site operations.
• Collaborate closely with corporate IT, Engineering, and business process owners to analyze requirements and implement effective systems and solutions.
• Lead a team of system and support analysts; provide direction, coaching, and technical guidance.
• Ensure effective implementation and maintenance of validated and non‑validated systems, including quality and compliance requirements.
• Perform operational analysis of data collection systems and control software.
• Provide regular updates, reports, and evaluations to project teams and stakeholders.
• Conduct technical training for internal and external users across various systems.
• Lead design reviews to ensure solutions meet operational and business needs.
• Ensure testing, change control, and documentation meet corporate policies and regulatory standards.
• Oversee integration of hardware, software, communication protocols, and user interfaces.
• Perform solution testing and support computer system validation activities.
• Ensure high availability and reliability of applications and plant systems.
• Work with cybersecurity, audit, and OT teams to ensure systems and applications meet compliance and security requirements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience, preferably in software engineering, business, information systems, engineering or a discipline closely related to the client area served.
• More than 5 years of relevant experience preferred, including 3 years of system management, or equivalent combination of education and work experience. It should also include project management skills, systems management, employee development, and strategic system planning input.
• Some understanding of GAMP 5 or SQA (Software Quality Assurance) or equivalent knowledge preferred, have worked in a regulated environment/GMP regulation but not mandatory.
• Demonstrate the ability to multitask and work with minimal supervision.
• Proactive problem‑solver who can dive deep into technical issues, ensure operational stability, and deliver scalable solutions that support business growth.
• Strong communication & stakeholder management skills
• People management experience

Location

This position is based in Waikato > Pokeno.

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to employee diversity.