The Director, Operational Excellence is responsible for driving continuous improvement initiatives and promoting Lean Sigma methodologies across the manufacturing facility. This role leads the implementation and sustainability of process improvement projects, reduce waste, optimize processes, and ensure that the facility meets its operational goals with a focus on efficiency, quality and cost reduction. This role also helps to define, establish and nurture a continuous improvement culture. This role is responsible for defining what good looks like starting with establishing the foundations of a strong program, developing and rolling out the right tools to be used, training to help all levels of the facility adopt and embed and finishing with ongoing monitoring and performance mgmt. that drives continuous improvement in to our ways of working, identifying issues and mitigating risk to drive the site to be a high performing site that is ambitious to continuously do better than yesterday. 

FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies is building the future of bioproduction in Holly Springs, North Carolina. By end of 2025, we’ll open North America’s largest end-to-end CDMO biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, offering drug substance production, fill-finish, and packaging under one roof.

We’re looking for passionate, mission-driven people to help us realize this exciting vision and deliver the next vaccine, cure, or therapy. We offer a dynamic work environment and we’re proud to cultivate a culture that will fuel your purpose, energy, and drive—what we call Genki. Ready to shape the future of medicine? Let’s transform healthcare together!

Holly Springs, North Carolina, combines small-town warmth with proximity to Raleigh’s thriving tech scene, making it the perfect blend of community and opportunity.

Fujifilm is globally headquartered in Tokyo with over 70,000 employees across four key business segments of healthcare, electronics, business innovation, and imaging. We are guided and united by our Group Purpose of “giving our world more smiles.” Visit: https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/about/region/careers

What You'll Do

• Defines and leads creation of program to be deployed for Lean Six Sigma principles through the manufacturing facility, including use of tools such as DMAIC, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, GEMBAs, 5S.
• Hires, Manages, Coaches and develops a strong team of Lean Sigma experts for the site
• Defines organization vision and mission, providing a goal for the organization to drive Six Sigma at all levels
• Maintains knowledge of industry trends and best practices in Lean Six Sigma methodologies
• Partners with cross-functional teams to identify areas for improvement and develop action plans and collaborate to implement process
enhancements
• Establishes and monitors KPIs to track success of Lean Sigma
• Ensures the improvement are standardized and maintained over time through use of visual mgmt., standard work procedures and ongoing audits
• Creates and manages processes for sustaining improvements and ensuring that gains are sustained long term
• Develops and maintains documentation for process improvement initiatives
• Designs and delivers training sessions on Lean Sigma tools for employees at all levels, ensuring understanding and practical application
• Acts as Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Lean Sigma methodologies, providing guidance and support as necessary
• Mentors and trains staff at all levels on Lean Sigma principles and practices to foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Facilitates workshops and meetings to drive continuous improvement efforts
• Supports change management processes during the introduction of Lean Sigma tools, methods and initiatives
• Overcomes resistance to change by demonstrating the value of process improvements and engaging employees in the transformation journey
• Monitors project progress and ensure alignment with organizational goals
• Reports on project outcomes and key performance indicators to stakeholder
• Prioritizes and manages multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring that timelines, budgets and resources ae effectively aligned with the facility’s operational goals
• Develops and implements strategies for eliminating bottlenecks, reducing cycle times and improving throughput
• Works closely with department leaders to identify critical areas for improvement and implement actionable solutions
• Analyzes data to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities
• Creates an environment which enables success including goals, measures, coaching, and communication, among others
• Completes required administrative tasks (e.g., timecard approvals, time off approvals, expense reports etc.)
• Addresses performance gaps, employee questions and concerns, and partners with HR as needed for resolution
• Performs other duties, as assigned

Minimum Requirements:

• Master’s degree in related field with 11+ years of experience; OR
• Bachelor’s degree with 13+ years of experience;
• 10+ years of people management, leadership & team management experience
• 3 years Lean Sigma leadership experience
• 7 years’ experience in GMP manufacturing
• Experience in process improvement and project management.
• Experience in a similar role, preferably within GMP manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of Lean management principles and Six Sigma methodologies
• Experience and proven track record for designing and implementing a Lean Sigma program

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in statistical software.

Preferred Requirements:

• Proven track record of successful process improvement initiatives
• Experience in leading cross-functional teams

Physical and Work Environment Requirements:

Will work in environment which may necessitate respiratory protection.

May work in Mechanical/Production spaces that may require hearing protection and enrollment in a hearing conservation program.

Ability to discern audible cues.

Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time up to 60 minutes.

Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time up to 240 minutes.

Ability to conduct activities using repetitive motions that include wrists, hands and/or fingers.

Ability to conduct work that includes moving objects up to 10 pounds.

To all agencies: Please, no phone calls or emails to any employee of FUJIFILM about this requisition. All resumes submitted by search firms/employment agencies to any employee at FUJIFILM via-email, the internet or in any form and/or method will be deemed the sole property of FUJIFILM, unless such search firms/employment agencies were engaged by FUJIFILM for this requisition and a valid agreement with FUJIFILM is in place. In the event a candidate who was submitted outside of the FUJIFILM agency engagement process is hired, no fee or payment of any kind will be paid.

Fujifilm is committed to providing equal opportunities in hiring, promotion and advancement, compensation, benefits, and training regardless of nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, political creed, ideology, national, or social origin, disability, veteran status, etc.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our HR Department (FDBN_PNC@fujifilm.com).