Senior Lean Transformation Specialist

NorthBay Healthcare Corporation•Fairfield, CA

About The Position

At NorthBay Health, the Senior Lean Transformation Specialist is a senior-level change agent responsible for advancing NorthBay Health’s transformation to a lean management system. This role partners with executive, clinical, and operational leaders to redesign processes, eliminate waste, and build sustainable continuous improvement capabilities. The Specialist leads high-impact improvement initiatives, coaches leaders at all levels, and embeds lean thinking into daily operations to improve quality, access, cost, and workforce engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, health care administration, Industrial Engineering or related field.
Lean certification required or within one year of hire.
Five (5) years of experience in operational excellence, performance improvement, or healthcare consulting.
Demonstrated success leading lean transformations or large-scale process improvement initiatives in complex organizations, preferably healthcare.
Proven experience operating within a lean management system.
Advanced facilitation and coaching skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with a data-driven mindset.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence.
Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and drive cross-functional alignment.
Change management expertise with a track record of sustaining improvements.
Ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously in a dynamic environment.
Must possess excellent leadership, communication and negotiation skills in order to influence results, gain support and tactfully manage complex relationships within and across the organization.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Lean Black Belt certification preferred.
Lean certification (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Shingo-aligned training) preferred, or ability to obtain within one year of hire.
Deep expertise in value stream mapping, Kaizen facilitation, A3 thinking, and daily management systems.
Previous experience in healthcare/hospital operations performance and process improvement is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead transformation of core business and clinical processes using value stream mapping, waste identification, and structured redesign methodologies.
Partner with operational and clinical leaders to translate strategic priorities into executable process improvements.
Champion and model lean principles, driving a system-wide cultural shift toward continuous improvement and operational discipline.
Build organizational capability and belief in lean as a sustainable operating model through visible leadership and hands-on engagement.
Lead and facilitate Kaizen events and rapid improvement workshops across varying levels of complexity, from departmental initiatives to enterprise-wide redesign efforts.
Apply A3 problem solving, root cause analysis, and data-driven countermeasure development to address operational challenges.
Support strategic initiatives from the Enterprise Annual Plan with structured improvement methodologies.
Deliver measurable results within accelerated timelines while building internal capability.
Maintain a portfolio of improvement initiatives with defined KPIs, tracking benefit realization and reporting outcomes to leadership.
Ensure transparency and accountability through regular progress updates and visual performance management.
Contribute to building NorthBay’s internal lean infrastructure, including training curricula, coaching models, and standardized methodologies.
Reduce reliance on external consultants by institutionalizing internal expertise.
Support development and rollout of NorthBay’s Daily Engagement System, including standard work, visual management, tiered huddles, and leader standard work.
Ensure alignment between frontline execution and organizational priorities through disciplined daily management practices.
Coach senior and executive leaders on lean principles, leadership behaviors, and sustainment of a lean management system.
Provide structured training on continuous improvement tools, including A3 thinking, root cause analysis, and standard work.
Partner with the Integration Management Office to apply lean principles to integration activities, including workflow harmonization, operational readiness, and Day-One planning for acquired entities.
Engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels, from frontline all levels of staff and leadership, adapting communication and facilitation styles as needed.
Communicate with clarity, purpose, and emotional intelligence to influence alignment and drive action.
Lead change management strategies for improvement initiatives, proactively identifying resistance, building buy-in, and ensuring sustained adoption.
Embed changes into standard work and management systems to prevent regression.