Senior Operational Excellence Specialist

About the role

The Sr. Operational Excellence (OpEx) Specialist is responsible for designing, leading, and sustaining continuous improvement initiatives that enhance safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement across the site or network. This role partners with various functions including Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Support to drive value creation and embed standard work practices.

Responsibilities

• Translates site strategy into an annual OpEx plan, prioritizing projects linked to key performance indicators (safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale).
• Facilitates value stream mapping and diagnostic assessments to identify waste, constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Builds charters, defines problem statements, baselines, targets, scope, and success criteria.
• Leads cross-functional Lean Six Sigma projects from define through control, applying appropriate tools (DMAIC, PDCA, Kaizen, 5S, SMED, visual management, standard work, A3, mistake proofing, SPC).
• Quantifies financial and operational impact (cost savings/avoidance, throughput, cycle time, OEE, right first time) and collaborates with Finance to validate benefits.
• Establishes control plans and handoffs to ensure sustainability, adherence to standard work and control metrics.
• Implements daily management systems, tiered visual performance boards, and leader standard work.
• Facilitates root cause analysis (5 Whys, fishbone, fault tree) and corrective/preventive action closure for chronic issues.
• Develops and maintains dashboards; tracks and reports project performance, benefits realization, and KPI trends to leadership.
• Designs and delivers Lean Six Sigma training (awareness to Green Belt level), coaches project teams, and mentors Green Belts.
• Builds problem-solving capability at all levels; models effective facilitation and change leadership behaviors.
• Creates, refines, and deploys OpEx standards (playbooks, templates, standard work, audit criteria).
• Ensures improvement initiatives align with quality system requirements, validation needs, data integrity, and EHS standards.
• Applies structured change management (stakeholder analysis, communications, readiness, adoption metrics) to accelerate outcomes.
• Fosters engagement and recognition for teams; promotes a learning culture through retrospectives, yokoten (best-practice sharing), and communities of practice.
• Promotes cross-functional collaboration with leaders in Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, Engineering, IT, HR, and Finance to remove barriers and deliver results.
• Prepares and presents concise updates and business cases to site and functional leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in science, business, or a related field with 8 years of applicable industry experience OR Master’s degree in a related field with 6 years of applicable industry experience.
• Demonstrated track record leading cross-functional Lean Six Sigma projects to completion with sustained results.
• Advanced experience in Lean Six Sigma knowledge; proven application of DMAIC/PDCA, value stream mapping, kaizen events, 5S, SMED, visual management, standard work, SPC, and mistake proofing in regulated operations.
• Prior experience working with Pharma or Bio-tech industry.
• Experience standing up daily management systems and/or OpEx deployment models at the site or value stream level.
• Strong influencing, collaboration, oral and written communications skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for prolonged periods of time (30 minutes)
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods of time (30 minutes)
• Ability to conduct activities using repetitive motions that include wrists, hands and/or fingers

EEO Information

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.