Controls and OT Engineering Group Lead - Columbus, OH

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Group Leader, Operational Technology (OT) and Controls Engineering

About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader, creating breakthrough science to improve people's health. Our Nutrition business develops science-based products for people of all ages—from helping babies and children grow to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions around the world rely on our leading brands, including Similac®, PediaSure®, Pedialyte®, Ensure®, and Glucerna®, to live their healthiest lives.

Working at Abbott

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow and learn, care for yourself and your 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 a high employer contribution.
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and the FreeU education benefit—an affordable and convenient path to earning a bachelor’s degree.
• Recognition globally as a great place to work, and for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Columbus, OH in the Nutrition Division.The Group Leader, Operational Technology (OT) is responsible for leading a team of Controls Automation and OT Systems Engineers while overseeing the successful delivery of capital projects, digital transformation initiatives, and operational technology strategies across the manufacturing organization. This role provides technical leadership, people management, and strategic direction to ensure the organization achieves its operational, financial, and business objectives.The position serves as a key liaison between Engineering, Operations, Information Technology, Quality, and senior leadership, driving collaboration, resource optimization, and continuous improvement across multiple sites and programs.The Group Leader is accountable for developing team capability, delivering business-critical projects, optimizing organizational resources, and advancing Operational Technology strategy to support long-term business growth and manufacturing excellence.This role is expected to maintain a balanced focus across:

• People Leadership and Talent Development
• Project and Program Execution
• Strategic and Organizational Initiatives

WHAT YOU’LL DO

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of engineering professionals.
• Conduct performance evaluations, career development discussions, succession planning, and employee engagement activities.
• Mentor team members in technical execution, project management, stakeholder management, and leadership competencies.
• Support talent acquisition, onboarding, workforce planning, and employee retention efforts.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, safety, and continuous improvement.

Resource and Operational Management

• Manage engineering resource planning, utilization forecasting, and workload balancing to support business priorities.
• Support portfolio planning and organizational capacity management activities.
• Establish team priorities and adapt resource allocation to meet changing business needs.
• Communicate organizational objectives, project priorities, and key business updates to team members.
• Support department-wide initiatives and organizational development activities.

Project and Program Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for automation, controls, manufacturing systems, and Operational Technology capital projects.
• Guide project planning, budgeting, scheduling, scope definition, risk management, and execution.
• Support development of equipment specifications, technical standards, cost estimates, and project bid packages.
• Oversee system design, implementation, installation, validation, commissioning, startup, and project handoff activities.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex project, technical, and stakeholder issues.
• Ensure projects are executed safely and meet quality, regulatory, financial, scope, and schedule requirements.

Continuous Improvement and Technical Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance engineering effectiveness, project execution, and operational performance.
• Develop, implement, and maintain engineering standards, best practices, and execution methodologies.
• Identify technical and operational risks and implement effective mitigation strategies.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions to improve manufacturing capability, reliability, and efficiency.
• Balance technical, operational, and financial considerations to support sound business decisions.

Strategic Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Engineering, Operations, Quality, IT, Supply Chain, and business leadership teams.
• Serve as a primary interface between site leadership and divisional or regional engineering organizations.
• Communicate project status, business risks, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
• Manage vendor, contractor, and service provider relationships.
• Lead cross-functional teams, Communities of Practice, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
• Support long-term technology roadmaps, technology strategy development, and organizational planning efforts.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE YOU’LL BRING

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of eight years of experience in engineering, automation, manufacturing controls, operational technology, industrial IT systems, or related technical fields.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex engineering projects and programs.
• Strong knowledge of industrial automation, control systems, manufacturing technologies, and project execution processes.
• Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Proven ability to influence stakeholders and lead teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and talent development capabilities.
• Excellence in project and program execution.
• Effective stakeholder management and organizational influence.
• Strategic thinking and business acumen.
• A commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• The ability to drive innovation, standardization, and digital transformation across manufacturing operations.

Preferred:

• Previous experience leading and developing technical engineering teams.
• Experience managing capital projects and engineering portfolios.
• Knowledge of financial planning, budgeting, and resource management.
• Experience establishing engineering standards and driving continuous improvement programs.
• Strong stakeholder management, vendor management, and negotiation skills.
• Experience working within regulated manufacturing industries, including healthcare, nutrition, pharmaceutical, medical device, or consumer products manufacturing.

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.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

The base pay for this position is

$113,300.00 – $226,700.00

In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.

JOB FAMILY:

Engineering

DIVISION:

ANSC Nutrition Supply Chain

LOCATION:

United States > Columbus : 2900 Easton Square Place

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS:

WORK SHIFT:

Standard

TRAVEL:

Yes, 25 % of the Time

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE:

No

SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES:

Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday)Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans.EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdfEEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf