Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Cytokinetics•South San Francisco, CA

60d

About The Position

Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. The Associate Director of Operational Excellence (OpEx) is a key leadership role responsible for driving end-to-end process improvement, operational efficiency, and organizational capability building across Supply Chain, External Manufacturing, and Technical Operations within the pharmaceutical manufacturing network. This role will partner with internal and external stakeholders to deliver transformational initiatives, ensure robust supply performance, and enhance the company’s ability to deliver high-quality medicines to patients reliably and cost-effectively. The ideal candidate brings expertise in Lean Six Sigma, pharmaceutical manufacturing processes (including cGMP), and the unique challenges of managing a global external manufacturing and supply network.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Life Sciences, or related field required; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
Minimum 8–10 years of experience in a regulated healthcare industry segment (e.g., pharmaceutical development, supply chain, manufacturing, medical device, or technical operations, with at least 3–5 years in operational excellence, continuous improvement, or similar leadership roles.
Strong understanding of manufacturing and supply chain processes, cGMP, regulatory requirements, and the complexities of external manufacturing.
Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in operational performance, cost reduction, and process efficiency.
Experience managing and improving external manufacturing or supplier relationships in a regulated industry.
Exceptional project management, change management, and facilitation skills.
Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management abilities across all organizational levels and with external partners.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, matrixed, and global environment.
Strategic thinking with a hands-on approach.
Results-oriented and data-driven decision-making.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to lead without authority and drive collaboration.
Passion for excellence and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or equivalent) strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead Operational Excellence Strategy & Execution Develop and execute the Operational Excellence roadmap for Supply Chain, External Manufacturing, and Technical Operations, aligned with business goals and priorities.
Drive transformational initiatives that enhance reliability, agility, and cost-effectiveness of the end-to-end supply network.
Embed a culture of continuous improvement across internal teams and external partners.
Monitor industry trends and benchmark performance to sustain competitive advantage in operational practices.
Process Improvement & Performance Optimization Identify, prioritize, and implement process improvement opportunities to enhance service, reduce costs, and ensure compliance across planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.
Facilitate cross-functional projects using Lean, Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping, and other proven methodologies.
Support Technical Operations in problem-solving initiatives by coaching team leads to effectively utilize fit-for-purpose frameworks for identifying root cause(s).
Standardize and digitize key supply chain and manufacturing processes to improve visibility, control, and decision-making.
External Manufacturing & Supplier Excellence Collaborate with CMOs/CDMOs and internal stakeholders to assess and improve external manufacturing performance through systematic KPI reviews and improvement plans.
Lead joint improvement initiatives with external partners while ensuring cGMP and regulatory compliance.
Build strong relationships and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement with suppliers and contract manufacturers.
Tier Management & Visual Performance Management Design, implement, and sustain a Tiered Management System (Tier 1–3) across Supply Chain, External Manufacturing, and Technical Operations to enable effective daily, weekly, and monthly performance management.
Deploy visual management tools and performance dashboards at each tier level to drive accountability, transparency, and fast problem resolution.
Train and coach teams and partners in daily management practices, visual controls, and structured problem-solving.
Ensure escalation processes and feedback loops are effective and standardized across the network.
Capability Building & Change Leadership Build organizational capabilities by developing and delivering training on Operational Excellence tools and methodologies to internal teams and external partners.
Coach functional and site leaders in OpEx mindset and practices to enable self-sufficiency and sustained improvements.
Lead change management efforts to overcome resistance and embed new ways of working.
Act as a role model for continuous improvement, demonstrating a data-driven, collaborative, and solution-oriented approach.