Senior Operational Excellence and Digital Specialist

About the Role

As a Senior PPI Business System Specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific's Greenville pharmaceutical manufacturing site, you will drive measurable improvements through the Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System and DPD One Way. This hands-on role combines manufacturing-floor problem solving, independent project delivery, and team coaching to enhance throughput, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), and other key performance metrics while ensuring safety and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Build a prioritized pipeline of site PPI and digital opportunities aligned with site and divisional priorities.
• Observe processes, identify constraints, and develop project charters with clear scope, owners, baselines, and success criteria.
• Deploy and sustain DPD One Way visual management, daily accountability routines, KPI reviews, and escalation processes.
• Coach and train teams in daily tier accountability, KPI management, and frontline coaching.
• Apply A3 problem solving, Six Sigma DMAIC, root-cause analysis, and structured experimentation to address losses and variation.
• Use statistical process control (SPC) and process capability analysis (e.g., Cpk) with tools like Minitab.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to remove constraints and support deviation and CAPA investigations.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and apply Lean principles (5S, value stream mapping, standard work, etc.).
• Improve OEE through quick changeover, mistake proofing, and total productive maintenance (TPM).
• Lead initiatives from charter to sustainment, managing schedules, resources, and dependencies.
• Ensure change controls, procedure updates, training, and validation are completed before implementation.
• Coach operators, team leaders, and managers at the point of work and verify adoption of changes.
• Support business cases, document benefits, and provide KPI inputs to site and divisional reviews.
• Support digital solutions by mapping processes, identifying use cases, and collaborating with digital specialists.
• Verify sustained improvements through adoption measures and follow-up performance reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with ~8 years of relevant experience or advanced degree with ~6 years (Engineering, Science, Operations, Business, or related preferred).
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification with a track record of delivering measurable, sustained improvements.
• Experience in sterile pharmaceutical manufacturing is strongly preferred; other regulated manufacturing experience considered.
• Practical experience with statistical analyses (SPC, process capability) and translating findings into countermeasures.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects, including planning, risk management, and benefits tracking.
• Familiarity with change management approaches (e.g., Prosci, Kotter) and Agile fundamentals is preferred.

Skills

• Ability to connect shop-floor observations and data to clear problem statements and effective solutions.
• Operational credibility and ability to influence without direct authority.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and communication skills in English.
• Working knowledge of strategy deployment, financial performance, and project management.
• Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and digital tools (Power BI, MES, CMMS, eQMS, etc.).
• Practical experience with AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) for operational analysis and productivity.

Work Environment

• Primarily onsite in Greenville, North Carolina, with regular manufacturing-floor engagement.
• GMP manufacturing environment with adherence to safety, gowning, and contamination-control procedures.
• Some degree of PPE required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs, etc.).
• Travel of 0–15% as business needs require.