Operations Director, Clara Abbott Foundation

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’ll also have access to:

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of

• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year

• An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution

• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree

• 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

The Clara Abbott Foundation, established by the wife of Abbott’s founder, is organized as a 501(c)(3) corporation with a separate Board of Directors. Our mission is to provide need-based financial assistance and college scholarships to Abbott employees, retirees, and/or their dependents worldwide. The Foundation’s compassionate and dedicated team positively impacts the lives of thousands of Abbott families in more than 60 countries each year.

We are seeking a strategic, globally minded leader who is passionate about our mission, developing people, driving operational excellence, and delivering meaningful impact. This role is ideal for a proven, energetic leader from commercial, sales, operations, or business management environments who brings exceptional communication skills, strong business acumen, a data-driven approach to decision-making, and proven ability to establish and maintain stakeholder relationships. The successful candidate will have an entrepreneurial mindset, can effectively lead across cultures, functions, and geographies, and be willing to both develop client-centered strategies, and roll up their sleeves to execute them.

This position offers broad exposure to strategy, finance, operations, communications, talent development, technology transformation, and governance, making it an exceptional opportunity for an individual interested in pursuing a future General Management or Executive Leadership career path.
 

What You'll Work On

Vision and Strategy:

• Understand the current business environment and the impact of the programs on the overall CAF business strategy. Effectively translate business vision and broad strategies into a tangible business plan and goals, prioritizing initiatives appropriately

• Link the program business plans to constituency needs and environmental conditions. Provide leadership in directing initiatives that meet these needs and conditions while operating within budgetary guidelines set by the Board of Directors.

• Work with the VP/Executive Director and Chairperson of the Foundation Committees to develop short and long-term strategies to improve programs.

Financial and Reporting:

• Manage operating budget ($15MM), and headcount responsibility.

• Collaborate with Foundation senior management staff to gather information to help forecast and develop strategic plans for future communications based on The Foundation’s long-range plan.

• Manage monthly departmental budget and provide comments to ensure expenses are within acceptable limits.

• Develop Plan, Update and LRP for all programs.

Public Relations / Communications:

• Prepare and deliver verbal, written and electronic presentations to multiple levels of management, including Abbott’s senior-level leaders and The Foundation’s Board of Directors and program committees.

• Ensure program materials and news updates are communicated to all staff members and eligible employees/retirees on a timely basis.  Drive translation of program strategic goals into a tangible marketing and communication plan, crafting effective messages/communications to CAF external audiences to create awareness of and promote the program's strategic direction.

Personnel Management:

• Responsible for the direct management of exempt staff, (5); and non-exempt staff, (1); and the indirect management of external consultants, (10-15).

• Conduct annual performance evaluations and merit budgeting in accordance with the Abbott Performance Excellence Program.

• Negotiate contracts for programs.  Set consulting fees, objectives and indicate training needs for the consultants.

• Counsel, develop and mentor staff.

Operations:

• Ensure that the ongoing function of receiving and processing applications from applicants across 60 countries worldwide continues without interruption or issue.

• Identify areas to improve process efficiency and document and train team to such new processes and procedures for all programs.

• Responsible for compliance with applicable Corporate and Divisional Policies and procedures.

• Manage and balance workload across the team.

Program Development:

• Make recommendations and approve appropriate program development and fund distributions.

• Develop, execute and manage the international expansion of the programs and initiatives in collaboration with Human Resources and Abbott Affiliates.

• Establish short- and long-term strategies to improve all programs both domestically and internationally.

• Review on a regular basis the methodologies used to determine awards, and present appropriate recommendations to the Board of Directors.

• Conduct ongoing evaluation of programs effectiveness and recommend improvements while addressing constituent needs and environmental trends.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required preferably in business or related subject, or equivalent work experience

• Master’s degree or professional credentials preferred

• Ten (10) or more years of previous project or management experience required, including management of large scope program required 

• Strong problem solving and data analytic skills including detailed use of excel

• Strong leadership skills – team oriented, capable of working with top management on large scope initiatives or projects

• Understanding and sensitivity to other cultures and skills

Misc.: This is an onsite role at Abbott location in IL. This is not a remote role/opportunity.

APPLY NOW

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:  www.abbottbenefits.com

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.

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