Manager Process Improvement

Fresenius Medical Care • Waltham, MA

19h

About The Position

Contributes to the overall reduction of costs and improved patient outcomes within the Operational Excellence group by driving and directing a Lean Six Sigma program approach to process improvement and problem solving. Provides guidance, support and expertise to ensure the appropriate implementation of the program – providing training and education to the pertinent personnel as needed. Cultivates partnerships with the appropriate management to ensure the required level of support to achieve program goals and objectives. Ensures all initiatives and projects are conducted in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements, and according to company standards, policies and procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 5 – 8 years of project management or healthcare experience; or a Master’s degree with 3 years’ experience; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent directly related work experience.
• DMAIC project experience across broad functional areas in a services based (preferably healthcare) business environment.
• Formal Lean training and experience leveraging key Lean management tools and methods.
• Experience training and mentoring Black Belts, Green Belts and executive champions.
• Experience facilitating use of Value Stream Management and Kaizen tools and events.
• Proven leadership skills to develop and motivate a team.
• Demonstrated ability to foster positive relationships both with and among team members.
• A strong numerical comprehension and adeptness at working with statistics, analyzing and manipulating data, and making recommendations.
• Strong project management skills.
• An ability to structure and organize the analyses required to prove/disprove hypotheses.

Nice To Haves

• Business Management, Technical or Healthcare specialization preferred (for Bachelor's Degree)
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt Certification preferred

Responsibilities

• Utilizing knowledge and proficiency in the Lean Six Sigma system, collaborates with stakeholders to identify and define problems pertaining to inefficiencies and to eliminate waste within the division facilities and programs.
• Oversees the development, planning and implementation of the Lean Six Sigma process to address and correct the identified problems and to improve processes and procedures.
• Identifies anticipated benefits, quantifies targeted results, and assists with the establishment of measurement criteria and in the prioritization of the initiatives.
• Supports the implementation and management of the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) program to transform department, area, and regional performance with respect to customer service, productivity, operations, and finance, providing support, advice and expertise.
• Collaborating with the appropriate personnel to identify Six Sigma opportunities within all departments and across departmental lines.
• Organizes and leads meetings with department and/or area/regional leaders and stakeholders, educating and providing overview of LSS principles, methods and tools, and assisting with brainstorming to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities to select those providing the most impact such as improving clinical outcomes and/or financial outcomes.
• Evaluates and analyzes data and trends to assist in the identification of improvement opportunities and associated issues and risks.
• Overseeing the development and planning of the improvement projects.
• Utilizing six sigma project management tools such as Gant charts, process mapping, work flow process diagrams and spaghetti charts to provide pertinent oversight and project management for the long term Six Sigma projects as appropriate.
• Collaborating with local management to identify and train LSS Team members for the pertinent LSS Team positions – Black Belt, Green Belt and Champions.
• May develop training programs specific to the particular project to ensure all LSS Team members are familiar with and able to fully utilize the LSS methods and tools within the specific project.
• Providing support and guidance, acting as a mentor and resource to the LSS team members throughout the division regarding project management and the application of Lean Six Sigma methodology and tools to ensure success of local/core functional area projects.
• May assist with local project team self-analysis, implementing LSS tracking mechanisms, and providing step-by-step coaching as needed.
• Facilitating meetings with local and regional management to review and evaluate project progress toward achievement of stated project goals and objectives.
• Identifies and applies changes as needed to ensure project success.
• Taking the required actions to ensure that the projects remain on-time, on-budget, and that they deliver the expected results.
• Quantifying, tracking and providing supporting documentation regarding all projects and process improvement initiatives.
• Assisting and taking the required actions on projects where the pertinent LSS team is encountering difficulties with “root cause” identification and/or implementing the necessary changes.
• Work with the pertinent personnel to assist LSS Team in eliminating “road blocks”.
• Maintaining a current and accurate database of projects related to LSS ensuring appropriate utilization of the available tools.
• Responsible for providing stakeholders with the appropriate reports, updates and analyses regarding initiatives and process change program implementations.
• Identifies quantifiable metrics and benchmarks to measure and evaluate process improvement initiatives for general implementation and to ensure achievement of stated goals and objectives (such as cost savings over a period of time.)
• May develop a Scoreboard concept to measure the success of implemented process improvements.
• Maintains current knowledge regarding best practices, identifying practices relevant to the services provided by the Division and communicating this knowledge to the pertinent team members and senior management.
• May participate and contribute to the budget process as it pertains to LSS projects including forecasting, reporting and actual-to-date monitoring.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Additional responsibilities may include focus on one or more departments or locations.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance
• a 401(k) with company match
• paid time off
• parental leave
• potential for performance-based bonuses depending on company and individual performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees