Operational Excellence Leader

This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading biotechnology company as a Biotech Strategic Planning and Operations Manager. As a key member of the Site Operational Excellence Group, you will report to the Senior Manager of Operational Excellence and be responsible for enabling teams and business functions to improve operations and reduce waste by enhancing reliability and efficiency through the application of Continuous Improvement tools, techniques, and methodologies.

Key responsibilities include managing the existing portfolio of projects, ensuring effective execution and governance. Approximately 50% of your time will be dedicated to project and portfolio management. This role demands a strategic focus on overseeing project progression and implementing governance structures to optimize the portfolio's impact and efficiency.

As a Biotech Strategic Planning and Operations Manager, you will perform analysis and diagnostics to identify opportunities for improvement and make recommendations to leadership. You will coordinate idea generation, project identification, prioritization, and overall selection, ensuring that projects are integrated with business strategies.

Supporting the design and delivery of Lean/Six Sigma projects as part of a cross-functional team, identifying and justifying project financial savings, supporting teams assigned to implementing the recommendations, designing and facilitating workshops and Kaizen events.

You will drive achievement for own projects and projects you are supporting. Develop standards (labor/machine) and resource modeling. Train all levels of the organization on OE principles and methodologies through our OE Training Program. Coach and mentor Project Sponsors, Black Belts/Green Belts candidates on the proper use of tools, improvement processes, and deployment issues.

Encourage an OE culture by influencing and empowering employees to identify opportunities to apply techniques and tools in everyday work activities. Facilitate the sharing of best practices and project successes across the organization. Facilitate communications and change management for key programs and projects.

A bachelor's degree in Science or Engineering plus a minimum of 3-5 years of relevant experience. Experience in Project Management, manufacturing, technology, and supply chain, with experience in Drug Product manufacturing considered an advantage.

In-depth knowledge of at least one structured problem-solving approach (e.g., A3, DMAIC, 8D, etc.). Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent (nice to have). Exceptional data analysis skills, including acquisition and presentation of data. Proficiency in at least one of the following: Microsoft PowerQuery, Spotfire.

Ability to successfully operate in a matrix or team environment with site, divisional, and corporate executive leadership. Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, priorities, and tasks with minimal direction. Excellent oral and written communication skills. Excellent interpersonal skills to drive change management and influence for improvement.

Strong capabilities with Microsoft Office and Power Platform software – Power BI, Excel, PowerQuery, Project for the Web, PowerAutomate, as well as Word, PowerPoint, etc. Experience implementing Continuous Improvement methodologies such as Six Sigma, DMAIC, and/or Lean Manufacturing.

Experience developing standards (labor/machine) and performing resource modeling. Financial acumen. Experience with regulated environments (i.e., cGMP, OSHA, EPA).

Exceptional capacity to analyze facts and develop logical conclusions. Strong observational and listening skills – capable of quickly understanding the core elements of a new process. Excellent process mapping capabilities – capable of independently mapping a process and leading a team to map a process in a workshop event.

Digital skills – comfortable acting as a power user and early adopter of multiple digital tools to promote use within the organization, and capable of identifying ways to deploy digital tools to improve personal productivity. Highly productive and value-oriented.