Associate Director, OPEX

About the Role

The Associate Director, Operational Excellence, will support Manufacturing operations and associated key functions (such as Supply Chain & Purchasing) in the identification and implementation of continuous improvements. Will assist, coach, and mentor manufacturing areas in executing projects that drive elimination of waste, increase efficiency and productivity whilst driving quality improvements. Projects will support the Production Cells to achieve designated targets and drive sustainable long-term benefits. This person must demonstrate a high level of professional expertise and consulting skills with the ability to influence cross functional teams to ensure the implementation of recommendations to improve operating effectiveness.

Your Team

Within Quality, every role makes a difference. Products that Baxter makes are shipped worldwide for patients in need. Whether it's building a new process from scratch or facing a never-before-seen production hurdle, individuals within Quality are given the trust and opportunity to bring creativity to the table. Regardless of your specific role with a product, it is sure to touch a portion of our global operation. The mission of Baxter is to save and sustain lives. This mission is embedded into everything we do. This means if there is a decision to be made where quantity and quality are at odds, we will always choose quality. Our patients come first, always. The Quality function values both working together as a team and independently. We draw energy from working in a plant or an office where there are opportunities to collaborate. As the company evolves, so does the way our team approaches work as it strives to create top-of-the-line products. We build relationships with each other to get work done. Building these relationships is easy because we all share common traits of being reliable, ethical, and caring. We lean on our colleagues for their expertise and hold each other accountable. We feel empowered to speak up when there's a new insight or opportunity to improve something. This open dialog builds trust within the team and helps create a better product for our customers.

What You Will Be Doing

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the site's Operational Excellence strategy aligned with global business priorities.
• Translate corporate strategy into operational initiatives that drive measurable business performance.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the Site Leadership Team on productivity, transformation and operational effectiveness.
• Establish governance mechanisms to monitor strategic initiatives, portfolio execution and value realization.

Continuous Improvement & Business Transformation

• Lead enterprise-wide Lean, Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain and support functions.
• Build a sustainable Continuous Improvement culture through coaching, capability development and leadership engagement.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives that simplify processes, improve data visibility and increase operational efficiency.
• Identify operational risks, performance gaps and improvement opportunities using data analytics and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Sponsor cross-functional transformation projects with measurable impact on productivity, quality and financial performance.

Manufacturing Excellence

• Ensure Operational Excellence standards are consistently deployed across production operations.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing principles include Standard Work, Visual Management, Daily Management Systems, TPM, Value Stream Mapping, 5S and Kaizen.
• Partner with Manufacturing and Engineering leaders to optimize capacity, productivity, process reliability and equipment effectiveness.
• Drive productivity improvements through process redesign, waste elimination and workflow optimization.

Performance Management

• Establish KPIs, dashboards and governance routines to monitor operational performance.
• Lead business performance reviews with senior leadership.
• Monitor project portfolio execution, savings realization and operational maturity.
• Ensure continuous alignment between operational objectives and financial targets.

Quality, Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure Operational Excellence initiatives fully comply with GMP, regulatory requirements and Quality Management System.
• Partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to strengthen process robustness, compliance and inspection readiness.
• Promote a proactive risk management culture using structured methodologies.

Financial Management

• Lead identification, prioritization and delivery of productivity and cost optimization initiatives.
• Own Operational Excellence investment portfolio and associated financial business cases.
• Monitor project financial performance, savings validation and return on investment.
• Support annual strategic planning, budgeting and forecasting activities.

People Leadership

• Build, develop and mentor high-performing Operational Excellence teams.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and accountability-driven culture.
• Develop organizational capability through coaching, succession planning and leadership development.
• Drive employee engagement and continuous learning across the organization.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in an engineering or science discipline. Master's degree preferred.
• 10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing environments such as Manufacturing, Engineering, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Project Management, Operational Excellence or Quality. Preferably in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or comparable environments.
• Minimum 5 years in a lean/continuous improvement role preferred.
• Minimum 5 years in a people leadership role.
• Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification is desirable.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Very strong attention to detail.
• Solid understanding of lean, kaizen, VSM and other improvement tools and techniques.
• Detailed operational knowledge of manufacturing environments. Previous experience of aseptic manufacturing is desirable.
• Ability to set priorities and manage multiple projects with minimal supervision.
• High energy, enthusiasm, and strong interest in continuous improvement.
• Advanced/Strong computer skills: MS Access, PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for an employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.

Pay

The estimated base salary for this position is $152,000 - $209,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage (starting on day one)
• 160 hours of Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• 401K match
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Educational assistance programs
• Family and medical leaves of absence
• Commuting benefits
• Employee Discount Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Childcare benefits