Sr. Specialist, Operational Excellence

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Specialist, Operational Excellence to serve as our Company's Production System Lead at our Elkhorn, NE facility. In this role, you will act as a Lean Practitioner, Coach, and Project Manager, driving operational excellence and continuous improvement across the site. You will lead the development and execution of the site’s improvement strategy, serving as the primary point of contact for Production System initiatives.

As a Lean Practitioner and Coach, you will identify, analyze, and implement improvements while mentoring colleagues at all levels to embed lean principles into daily operations. As a Project Manager, you will lead strategic projects focused on improving supply reliability, increasing productivity, and reducing costs. This is an ideal role for a pioneer of transformational change.

This role is part of a larger network of similar positions, and offers the opportunity to work with regional and global resources to identify best practices and benchmarking for production system implementation.

Key Responsibilities

Lean Practitioner / Coach

• Initiate and implement improvement projects using Lean tools (e.g., Standardization, 5S, Poka-Yoke, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Visual Management, SMED, Capacity Analysis/Debottlenecking).

• Provide hands-on support for operational problem-solving and cross-functional investigations using scientific problem-solving techniques.

• Coach lean roadmaps and deliver training on foundational competencies (tier management, problem solving, leader standardized work, standardized work, and Hoshin Kanri).

• Act as a role model for continuous improvement, inclusion, and change management while developing colleagues at all organizational levels.

• Serve as point of contact to plant manager and regional team for production system implementation.

Lean Project Manager

• Facilitate value scouting workshops and Kaizen events.

• Lead larger cost-savings and productivity improvement projects to achieve business objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business, Biology, Engineering, or related field.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a continuous improvement environment within biopharmaceuticals, manufacturing, or quality. Military service, coursework, and degrees may be considered as alternatives.

• Proven experience in project facilitation and project management.

• Strong analytical skills with experience in data analysis and trend visualization.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Project, Minitab).

• Ability to coach and influence at all levels, with demonstrated change management skills.

• Hands-on experience deploying lean tools and concepts in multiple environments.

• Familiarity with strategy deployment (Hoshin Kanri, Policy Deployment) and A3 Thinking.

Preferred Qualifications

• Project Management Certification.

• Formal Lean training or advancement in our Company’s Competency System.

• Lean Practitioner Certification

• Six Sigma Greenbelt/Blackbelt Certification

• Ability to lead transformational change

Required Skills:

Change Driver, Continuous Improvement, Continuous Monitoring, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Kaizen (Continuous Improvement), Lean Principles, Operational Excellence, Process Improvements, Project Management, Roadmapping, Site Implementation

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristi