Senior Manager Operational Excellence

Kyowa Kirin is a fastgrowing global specialty pharmaceutical company that applies stateoftheart biotechnologies to discover and deliver novel medicines in four disease areas: bone and mineral; intractable hematologic; hematology oncology; and rare disease. A Japanbased company our goal is to make people smile by delivering breakthroughs where no adequate treatments currently exist working from drug discovery to product development and commercialization. In North America we are headquartered in Princeton NJ with offices in California Massachusetts and Ontario.

The Senior Manager Operational Excellence will be responsible for designing developing and implementing a sitewide Lean Manufacturing Systems for the new Kyowa Kirin Manufacturing site in Sanford NC. The incumbent will provide expertise and leadership in both Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to help enable the business towards its goals. They will be responsible for leading cross functional teams and executing comprehensive lean manufacturing strategies and tools across the manufacturing facility leading continuous improvement initiatives identifying and eliminating waste optimizing processes and driving operational efficiency while ensure alignment with company goals and quality standards.

As a people leader you will embody compassionate peoplecentric leadership to guide and support our team. You will collaborate closely with others fostering a collaborative inclusive and supportive environment while driving team development. Your work will reflect the organizations values and integrity in all your actions. Utilizing situational leadership and emotional intelligence you will align diverse viewpoints manage stakeholders and make empathetic decisions to address individual and team needs effectively. You will also be resultsoriented ensuring that your team not only adapts to challenges but also delivers measurable outcomes that align with business objectives. Additionally you will help teams navigate through change and uncertainty with resilience and clarity enabling them to adapt to fastevolving rapidly scaling environments and meet new challenges in the biotech industry with a patientfocused mindset.

This position reports to the Director of Manufacturing

Technical Skills Knowledge and Experience
Strategic Leadership: Design develop and implement a comprehensive lean manufacturing system aligned with overall business objectives. Create and scale operational excellence program and standards. Establish clear performance metrics and targets for lean initiatives across the manufacturing facility. Champion a culture of continuous improvement and lean thinking throughout the organization.
Process Improvement: Identify and analyze areas for process improvement using lean tools like value stream mapping 5S and root cause analysis. Lead crossfunctional teams to design and implement process improvements eliminating waste and optimizing workflows. Lead Kaizen events to rapidly identify and address operational inefficiencies.
Team Management: Develop and mentor a team of lean specialists and process improvement leaders. Empower teams to take ownership of lean initiatives and drive results. Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing across departments.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to lean initiatives including cycle time lead time and defect rates. Regularly report on progress and identify areas for further optimization to senior management.
Change Management: Communicate lean methodologies and benefits clearly to all levels of the organization. Manage change effectively to ensure successful implementation of lean practices.

Leadership
ResultsOriented: Lead teams by setting clear measurable goals and ensuring accountability for achieving key objectives. Align resources effectively remove obstacles and maintain focus on delivering highquality results within set timelines.
Empathetic Communication: Listen carefully give helpful feedback and handle conflicts with care.
Team Development: Mentor and guide team members create growth plans support ongoing learning and develop the team with a patientfocused mindset.
Inclusive Leadership: Build a diverse respectful environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Supportive Environment: Encourage a positive workplace celebrate achievements and promote worklife balance.
Collaboration: Lead by example promote teamwork and respect and ensure your actions reflect the organizations values.
Emotional Intelligence: Manage emotions thoughtfully make empathetic decisions with a patientfocused mindset and stay calm under pressure.
Change Management: Help teams navigate change with clear communication and flexibility.
Situational Leadership: Adapt your leadership style to meet the needs of the team offering guidance or independence as needed while keeping patient outcomes in mind.
Stakeholder Management and Alignment Building: Work with different people to build alignment guide discussions toward common goals and ensure decisions are aligned with a patientfocused mindset.

Continuous Improvement Specialists

Education
Bachelors degree in engineering or life sciences.

Experience
Minimum of 5 years of experience preferably in biopharmaceutical manufacturing
Six Sigma and/or Lean Green Belt certification by a recognized thirdparty and supported by of a green belt project.
Demonstrated experience with deploying lean manufacturing systems
Demonstrated use of project management methodologies including agile.
Knowledge/experience in Continuous Improvement programs and Change Management practices.
Experience with starting up and operating a biopharma manufacturing facility is a plus.

Technical Skills
Deep Expertise in Lean Manufacturing: Thorough understanding of lean principles tools and methodologies like 5S Standard Work Visual Management Kanban Error Proofing and Six Sigma.
Leadership and Team Building: Proven ability to lead and motivate crossfunctional teams globally to achieve results.
ProblemSolving Skills: Excellent analytical skills to identify root causes of problems and develop effective solutions.
Communication and Stakeholder Management: Strong communication skills to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders across the organization.
Project Management: Proven ability to manage complex improvement projects from initiation to completion.

NonTechnical Skills
Resultsoriented and able to navigate ambiguity you set clear outcomes track progress follow through on commitments and ensure your actions lead to measurable results that advance organizational objectives. Respond promptly take accountability and manage tasks efficiently. Adapt to change with clarity patience and understanding guiding teams through evolving challenges. Exhibit strong organizational skills attention to detail and a solid work ethic while demonstrating cultural sensitivity and the ability to foster alignment in a global environment. Communicate with care by actively listening and considering others perspectives fostering productive engaging interactions and managing relationships with kindness. Embrace personal growth through continuous learning and knowledge sharing maintaining a growth mindset. Promote inclusive collaboration by respecting diverse perspectives and creating a welcoming work environment. Contribute positively by recognizing achievements and encouraging a healthy worklife balance. Collaborate with respect integrity and humility prioritizing collective success over individual gain. Resourceful and proactive challenge the status quo drive innovation and develop creative solutions. Apply an enterprisewide holistic mindset working beyond siloed thinking to deliver cohesive integrated solutions.

Initially working on a construction site and ultimately in a biotech manufacturing site in Sanford NC.

Work is 100 onsite. This is not a hybrid or remote role.

Requires up to 10 domestic and limited international travel.

KKNA and all of its employees have an obligation to act in accordance with the law and with integrity in all our operations and interactions

It is the policy of Kyowa Kirin North America Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons without regard to race religion creed color pregnancy sex age national origin disability genetic trait or predisposition veteran status marital status sexual orientation or affection preference or citizenship status or any other category protected by law.

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