Lead Operational Excellence Specialist

What if the work you did every day could impact the lives of people you know? Or all of humanity?

At Illumina, we are expanding access to genomic technology to realize health equity for billions of people around the world. Our efforts enable life-changing discoveries that are transforming human health through the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and new treatment options for patients.

Working at Illumina means being part of something bigger than yourself. Every person, in every role, has the opportunity to make a difference. Surrounded by extraordinary people, inspiring leaders, and world changing projects, you will do more and become more than you ever thought possible.

Position Summary:

In partnership with the global operational excellence (OpEx) organization, the person who fills this position will be responsible for identifying and implementing system, culture and process improvements across the Madison site organization using Lean tools and principles. This role will drive value-added enhancements in cost optimization, production and quality through cross-functional collaboration and partnership to achieve organizational goals while supporting the development of a culture of excellence. Training, coaching, mentoring and the ability to influence and motivate others will be important skills needed to drive waste out of our systems while engaging others in their journey towards Lean Leadership.

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Culture Development & Strategy Support

• Influencing and collaborating effectively to engage stakeholders to gain buy-in for process improvement initiatives
• Promoting a culture of continuous improvement across the organization
• Contributing to development of systems that drive ideal behaviors
• Sustain and continuously improve Madison site systems which include but is not limited to tiered management, 6S, KanBan, etc.
• Developing or re-developing employee recognition tools and programs to support engagement
• Support policy deployment activities to define strategic objectives and metrics for the organization 
• Lead functions to development, implementation and monitoring of site goals and KPI’s through strategy deployment
• Promote site level communication and sharing through network

Project Management

• Managing project timelines, milestones and budgets with support from the area manager
• Facilitate process improvement projects across departments from initiation to closure
• Regularly provide updates on open projects and initiatives
• Drive meeting effectiveness across functions and levels

Lean Methodology

• Perform process mapping and documentation to identify areas of improvement
• Ability to identify waste, pain points and bottleneck areas
• Develop process improvement plans post process mapping analysis
• Regularly apply the principles of waste reduction
• Supports and leads complex improvement and optimization projects/initiatives in the areas of Safety, Quality, Productivity and Cost savings
• Facilitating cross-functional initiatives (such as RIEs and VSAs) of various scopes to achieve project and site objectives.
• Contribute to planning and execution of site Lean Transformation
• Encourages teams to think innovatively and test out new ideas to solve problems

Training and Coaching

• Proactively share knowledge and best practices across value streams
• Support Lean certification candidates in partnership with the area manager and global OpEx organization
• Develop, participate in, and lead training sessions in continuous improvement methodologies and mentors others in the application of these methods
• Facilitates/assists business process management and the teams supporting continuous improvement

Production Support

• Drive continuous improvements to production metrics to gain efficiency and increase productivity
• Participate in product escalations and issues to determine root cause as needed
• Develop data collection and retrieval tools for organizational use

Required and Preferred Skills (Preferred skills are specified)

Technical Skills

• Strong attention to details needed to execute complex tasks
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills, ability to solve complex and diverse business problems.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Foundational understanding of Lean principles, methodologies and tools
• Familiarity with resource management and database tools is preferred
• Training and/or experience in basic project management techniques

Soft Skills

• Exhibits behaviors and attributes that inspire followership such as but not limited to building trust, showing compassion, being a stable presence and infusing hope
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills
• Ability to influence across the organization at all levels and functions
• Strong leadership and facilitation skills

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in related field
• 3-5 years of experience in a manufacturing/production environment
• 3+ years of experience practicing Lean concepts
• Basic knowledge of various production processes
• Any Lean and/or Six Sigma certification is preferred

The estimated base salary range for the Lead Operational Excellence Specialist role based in the United States of America is: $107,400 - $161,000. Should the level or location of the role change during the hiring process, the applicable base pay range may be updated accordingly. Compensation decisions are dependent on several factors including, but not limited to, an individual’s qualifications, location where the role is to be performed, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Additionally, all employees are eligible for one of our variable cash programs (bonus or commission) and eligible roles may receive equity as part of the compensation package. We offer a wide range of benefits as innovative as our work, including access to genomics sequencing, family planning, health/dental/vision, retirement benefits, and paid time off.

At Illumina, we strive to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by cultivating an environment in which everyone contributes to our mission. Built on a strong foundation, Illumina has always been rooted in openness, collaboration, and seeking alternative views and perspectives to propel innovation in genomics. We are proud to confirm a zero-net gap in pay, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or race. We also have several Employee Resource Groups (ERG) that deliver career development experiences, increase cultural awareness, and demonstrate our collective commitment to diversity and inclusion in the communities we live and work. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunity regardless of sex, race, creed, color, gender, religion, marital status, domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, pregnancy, military or veteran status, citizenship status, and genetic information. If you require accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact [email protected]. To learn more, visit: https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.