Senior Site Operations Excellence Lead
About The Position
The Senior Site Operations Excellence Lead provides strategic leadership for Operational Excellence across Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Carlsbad site, driving business transformation, organizational capability, and sustainable manufacturing performance. The role reports to the Site Operations Leader and has a matrix reporting relationship to the PPI Senior Manager. It partners with site leadership to deploy Thermo Fisher’s Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System, translating business strategy into operational execution through Lean methodologies, scientific problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making. As a member of the site leadership team, the Lead drives high-impact manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives, develops organizational capability, and fosters accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. The position combines strategic partnership with hands-on leadership to deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement while enabling scalable business growth. The position is based in Carlsbad, California. Relocation assistance is not provided. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship and must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, including a drug screen. The work environment includes a laboratory and office setting, with some degree of PPE required.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, operations, or a related technical discipline.
- 12+ years of relevant industry experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device/diagnostics, or life science industries, with advancing roles from operations, supply chain, quality, or product management.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams and influencing executive stakeholders in highly matrixed organizations.
- Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, the Thermo Fisher PPI Business System, Strategy Deployment, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong scientific, engineering, and statistical problem-solving skills, with expertise in Quality Management Systems, validation, CAPA, and regulated manufacturing.
- Ability to influence leaders, build partnerships, and drive results across cross-functional, matrixed organizations.
- Success coaching leaders, developing organizational capability, and fostering accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Strong financial and operational acumen, including translating data and operational improvements into measurable business value.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and influencing skills, including the ability to lead organizational changes and drive sustainable results.
- Legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
- Able to pass a comprehensive background check, including a drug screen.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or MBA.
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Master Black Belt, or equivalent Operational Excellence certification.
- Direct leadership experience.
- 5+ years of hands-on Lean practitioner experience demonstrating a track record of continuous improvement that drives business value.
- Experience with Strategy Deployment/X-Matrix, value stream maps, visual management/5S, Kanban, standard work, tier daily management metric boards, gemba, and project funnel development.
- Expertise in problem-solving using a formal program or process.
- Hands-on leadership experience in change management situations.
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Site Operations Leader and PPI Senior Manager to translate business strategy into operational execution through Strategy Deployment (X-Matrix/A3), driving alignment, accountability, and measurable results.
- Lead governance of the site’s Operational Excellence portfolio, including project prioritization, performance metrics, executive dashboards, and risk management.
- Measure and communicate operational and financial performance and ensure continuous improvement initiatives deliver sustainable business value.
- Enable deployment and sustainment of the Thermo Fisher PPI Business System, embedding Operational Excellence into daily operations and leadership practices.
- Maintain a visible, hands-on presence on the manufacturing floor; coach leaders and teams, remove barriers, and drive accountability.
- Build organizational capability through training, mentoring, and development of leaders and teams.
- Provide technical leadership for complex manufacturing projects, New Product Introductions, technology transfers, validation, and manufacturing scale-up.
- Facilitate or own complex manufacturing and operational improvement projects from planning through execution, driving cross-functional alignment and technical, operational, and business results.
- Apply scientific, engineering, and analytical methodologies to solve manufacturing challenges, optimize process performance, and support data-driven decisions using statistical and visualization tools.
Benefits
- Competitive remuneration.
- Annual incentive plan bonus; position may also be eligible for a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results.
- Choice of national medical and dental plans and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs.
- Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement.
- At least 120 hours of paid time off (PTO).
- 10 paid holidays annually.
- Paid parental leave: 3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave.
- Accident and life insurance.
- Short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy.
- Competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan.
- Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), offering eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount.
- Career and development prospects.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
