Senior Specialist, Operational Excellence

At KBI Biopharma, we are advancing science and accelerating breakthroughs. As a global leader in biopharmaceutical development and manufacturing, we empower life science companies to bring new medicines and vaccines to the world faster. Explore your potential at KBI, where innovation meets impact. 

Position Summary:

The Senior Specialist, Operational Excellence works with department leaders, finance, and staff to identify business critical process improvement needs aligned with the business unit goals, financial targets, and business growth strategies. Creates project proposals/business cases and have them approved by appropriate governance forums. This role is intended to support the analytical and process development leaders for the mammalian business unit.

Responsibilities:

• Support the network’s portfolio of continuous improvement projects, activities, and high-value initiatives.
• Manage several projects concurrently, ensuring the capture of sustained benefits and significant value for customers.
• Mentor and coach leaders and employees on continuous improvement practices, Kaizen events, and Lean Leadership behaviors.
• Lead and participate in process improvement events to build a culture of continuous improvement, efficiency, and sustainable business processes.
• Support the establishment of the network continuous improvement framework and strategic deployment plan to meet business objectives.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities to eliminate waste and increase value for customers using Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, and Hoshin Kanri strategy deployment.
• Lead and execute critical cross-functional continuous improvement projects, ensuring the achievement of business objectives.
• Support the identification, collection, and clear reporting of key performance indicators across the business.
• Deliver streamlined OpEx tools and training to optimize learning experiences and increase time to competency.
• Maintain partnerships and collaborate with key functional leaders to identify new improvement opportunities and ensure sustained results.
• Drive the business process management model within the continuous improvement framework to promote simplification and innovation in process flow.
• Develop clear, concise, and informative reports, presentations, and digital communications to effectively convey key messages and metrics.
• Participate in and facilitate global process improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment with overall OpEx strategy.
• Act as a change agent for cultural adoption of continuous improvement, promoting, recognizing, and influencing good OpEx behaviors.
• React to change productively and handles other essential tasks as assigned.

Requirements: 

• B.S./B.A. degree in a science or engineering field or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Minimum requirement of a Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Six Sigma Black Belt is highly desired
• 5+ years of experience in Operational Excellence
• Proven track record of utilizing Operational Excellence, Lean, or Six Sigma tools to improve processes, eliminate waste, and achieve sustainable business results
• Demonstrated ability to lead the design and implementation of clean, modern, streamlined OpEx tools for Problem Solving, 5S, Kanban, Visual Controls, Kaizen, Standard Work, Mistake-proofing, Value Stream Mapping, Line balancing, Just-in-Time manufacturing, Business Process Management, Six Sigma, and Strategy Deployment
• Strong business and financial acumen with ability to identify and quantify financial benefit from project work
• Proficient in data collection, extraction, and analysis
• Strong project and change management skills
• A drive for excellence, continuous improvement, simplification, and making things easier
• Ability to motivate, influence, and coach others under their direct or indirect management
• Strong facilitation and oral/written communication skills

Salary Range: $84,000 - $115,500

Salary range provided per current averages and expectations. The salary and job title for this opening will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience and may be outside this range. KBI has a robust total rewards strategy which includes an annual bonus structure for all employees, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid PTO and holidays, Sabbatical program, 401K matching with 100% vesting in 60 days and employee recognition programs.   

About KBI: 

KBI Biopharma, Inc., a JSR Life Sciences company, is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing fully integrated and accelerated drug development and biologics manufacturing services to life science companies. KBI supports its 500+ customers in advancing more than 160 drug candidates from preclinical and clinical stages to market, including the manufacture of ten commercial products. Recognized for quality manufacturing, KBI delivers robust process development and cGMP manufacturing services across its six global locations in the USA and Europe. For more information, visit www.kbibiopharma.com. 

KBI is a proud EEO/AA employer dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We believe that innovation thrives in an environment where all voices are heard and valued. That's why we actively seek individuals from all backgrounds – regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status – and strongly encourage all qualified candidates to apply and bring their unique perspectives to our team. 

KBI Biopharma is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. Any employee entering a KBI site located in the US must inform KBI Biopharma of their vaccination status and must submit their vaccination status. All vaccinated employees are required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, with a COVID-19 vaccination which has been granted FDA approval or Emergency Use Authorization.

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is an EEO/AA employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. Therefore, all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply.

I understand that neither the completion of this application nor any other part of my consideration for employment establishes any obligation for KBI Biopharma, Inc. to hire me. If I am hired, I understand that either KBI Biopharma, Inc. or I can terminate my employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause and without prior notice. I understand that no representative of KBI Biopharma, Inc. has the authority to make any assurance to the contrary.

I attest with my signature below that I have given to KBI Biopharma, Inc. true and complete information on this application. No requested information has been concealed. I authorize KBI Biopharma, Inc. to contact references provided for employment reference checks. If any information I have provided is untrue, or if I have concealed material information, I understand that this will constitute cause for the denial of employment or immediate dismissal.