Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Curia • Springfield, MO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

Associate Director, Operational Excellence in Springfield, MO Build your future at Curia, where our work has the power to save lives Curia is a global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) with over 30 years of experience partnering with pharmaceutical and biotech companies to provide life-saving treatments to patients. At Curia, we are on a mission to advance our customers’ therapies from curiosity to cure and ultimately to improve patients’ lives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, operations, business, or a related field.
• At least eight years of progressive experience leading operational excellence, continuous improvement, manufacturing excellence, or performance transformation initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• At least two years of experience in a formal leadership or management role.
• Demonstrated success using Lean, Six Sigma, or comparable structured improvement methods to deliver measurable and sustainable business results.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects from problem definition through implementation and sustainment.
• Demonstrated ability to influence leaders and employees without relying solely on direct reporting authority.
• Experience supporting organizational change, developing employee capability, and improving management systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to interpret operational data, identify trends, determine root causes, and translate findings into action.
• Strong project-management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing environment.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and other tools used for data analysis, reporting, project management, and performance tracking.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting site remediation, operational turnaround, inspection readiness, or significant organizational transformation.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, change-management certification, Project Management Professional certification, or comparable credentials.
• Experience implementing OEE, tiered accountability, daily management, visual management, or leader standard work.
• Working knowledge of cGMP requirements and pharmaceutical quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Site Leadership Team to develop and execute an operational excellence strategy aligned with site remediation priorities, business objectives, and customer commitments.
• Translate site goals into focused improvement plans with clear objectives, ownership, timelines, performance measures, and governance.
• Conduct operational assessments and diagnostics to identify risks, performance gaps, process inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement.
• Support the development and implementation of effective management systems, standard work, escalation processes, and performance routines.
• Ensure improvement efforts strengthen operational readiness, compliance, reliability, and the site’s ability to consistently execute the production schedule.
• Partner with Quality and other functional leaders to ensure operational improvements support cGMP requirements, inspection readiness, and sustainable remediation outcomes.
• Lead projects that improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, capacity, productivity, and employee engagement.
• Establish and mature the site’s Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) program to identify, prioritize, and reduce sources of production loss.
• Use data and structured problem-solving methods to identify root causes, evaluate solutions, and drive measurable business results.
• Facilitate value stream mapping, process mapping, root cause analysis, and other improvement activities to simplify workflows and eliminate waste.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, 5S, visual management, and other appropriate tools based on the needs of the process and organization.
• Identify and lead cost-improvement opportunities while ensuring changes do not compromise employee safety, product quality, regulatory compliance, or supply reliability.
• Develop performance measures and reporting tools that provide clear visibility to progress, risks, trends, and business impact.
• Establish controls and follow-up processes to verify that improvements are adopted, effective, and sustained.
• Serve as a trusted coach and change leader for the Site Leadership Team, department leaders, supervisors, and employees.
• Build site capability in structured problem-solving, daily management, change leadership, and continuous improvement.
• Develop and deliver practical training, tools, and resources that help employees recognize problems, identify solutions, and improve their work.
• Mentor project leaders and improvement teams, helping them establish clear objectives, manage priorities, remove barriers, and achieve sustainable results.
• Engage employees closest to the work when assessing processes and developing solutions, recognizing that their knowledge and participation are essential to lasting improvement.
• Encourage a culture in which employees raise concerns, challenge inefficient practices, learn from setbacks, and take ownership of results.
• Model the Curia Way by demonstrating integrity, respect, collaboration, accountability, and a commitment to patients, customers, and one another.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams through complex improvement and remediation initiatives, ensuring roles, expectations, decisions, and deliverables are clearly defined.
• Develop stakeholder engagement and change-management plans that support understanding, adoption, and sustained use of new processes.
• Communicate effectively with employees and leaders at all levels, translating complex information into clear priorities and practical actions.
• Partner with other Curia sites and Operational Excellence leaders to share best practices, align approaches, and implement applicable enterprise initiatives.
• Balance multiple priorities and adjust plans as site risks, customer needs, and business conditions evolve.
• Promote a work environment in which safety, quality, and compliance are foundational to every improvement decision.
• Identify and escalate risks that could affect employees, product quality, data integrity, compliance, customers, or business continuity.
• Ensure operational excellence activities are appropriately documented and executed in accordance with applicable procedures, cGMP requirements, and regulatory expectations.
• Participate in site inspections, audits, governance meetings, and remediation activities as needed.
• Perform other duties in support of site and business needs.
• Perform all documentation in compliance with ALCOA++ principles and site SOPs.
• Adhere to applicable cGMP documents including SOPs, batch records, protocols, change controls, and controlled forms.
• Keep all required cGMP training current and escalate quality concerns along with proposed solutions to the Quality department.

Benefits

• Generous benefit options (eligible first day of employment)
• Paid training, vacation and holidays (vacation accrual begins on first day of employment)
• Career advancement opportunities
• Education reimbursement
• 401K program with matching contributions
• Learning platform

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director