Associate Director, Operational Excellence # 4890

Grail•Durham, NC

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Director, Operational Excellence is central to driving continuous improvement, operational rigor, and data-informed decision-making across laboratory and operational workflows. The ideal candidate combines deep analytical capability with proven experience in Lean methodologies and cross-functional leadership. They will play a critical role in transforming operational data into actionable insights, enabling scalable, high-quality execution in a regulated environment. This role works on-site full-time at our office located in Durham, NC.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations, Data Science, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
12+ years of experience in operational excellence, process improvement, or analytics, ideally in biotech, diagnostics, or regulated environments
Demonstrated expertise in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred), and Kaizen methodologies
Strong experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) and data analysis (SQL, Python, R, or similar)
Proven ability to work with SPC/QC frameworks and operational performance metrics
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders
Excellent problem-solving, communication, and organizational skills
Experience in NGS, clinical laboratory operations, or diagnostics workflows
Familiarity with regulated environments (CLIA, CAP, FDA) preferred

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and maintain operational dashboards and data visualizations to provide real-time visibility into performance
Generate and distribute KPI reports, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and alignment with organizational goals
Partner with stakeholders to define meaningful metrics and continuously improve reporting frameworks
Conduct deep data analysis to identify trends, anomalies, and leading indicators related to Statistical Process Control (SPC) and Quality Control (QC)
Establish and refine control limits, early warning systems, and predictive indicators to proactively manage operational risk
Translate complex data findings into clear, actionable recommendations
Lead and scale Lean initiatives, including 5S, Six Sigma, and Kaizen programs, across operational teams
Drive a culture of continuous improvement through structured problem-solving and iterative refinement of processes
Measure and track the impact of improvement initiatives, ensuring sustained gains
Develop and maintain a centralized system for capturing operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities
Synthesize inputs across teams into a structured backlog of initiatives
Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Engineering, Software, Lab) to prioritize and align on improvement efforts
Act as a key liaison between Operations and non-Operations teams to drive execution of improvement initiatives
Ensure alignment on priorities, timelines, and expected outcomes
Influence without authority to remove barriers and accelerate progress