Director, Operational Excellence

Just-Evotec Biologics is seeking a highly motivated Director of Operational Excellence that desires a significant opportunity to improve worldwide access to biotherapeutics and apply advanced innovative lean practices in biotechnology operations. This role will develop and execute the strategic goals for operational excellence across our J.Plant and J.POD® plants as we start to expand globally. Operational excellence is critical at Just Evotec to ensure reliable supply for patients, maintain a safe work environment, achieve robust success rates across operations, and continually improve and compete. As part of our High Performing Team approach, it will be critical to have lean systems thinking embedded into our culture to succeed on our mission. This strategic leader will be focused on quality & reliability while maximizing cost-effectiveness.

Responsibilities:

• Lead strategy for our GMP biologics drug substance production plants to consistently supply product in adherence to the supply plan, drive lean technology continuous improvements, maximize capacity utilization to reduce the cost of supplying product, lower operating inventory to increase flexibility while maintaining responsiveness, and collaborate with suppliers and customers in the supply chain
• Responsible for implementing and overseeing application of problem-solving tools to maintain the optimal Lean approach to drive cost-effectiveness, prevent scrap, as well as lead Kaizens as issues arise
• Influence all Operations' leaders to ensure staff apply mistake-proofing operations to reduce opportunities for errors, embrace Right First Time mentality, lead our risk mitigation efforts to current realities (Single-Points-of-Failures/ Error-traps), continuously improve human performance/process/system robustness, and continually advance process capabilities with high success rates.
• Provide onboarding training to new employees on understanding and application of operational excellence to their daily work
• May participate in assessment of financial methodologies, as well as may collaborate with suppliers on cross-organizational improvement opportunities
• Applies knowledge and expertise to solve complex technical problems; may apply novel approach that provides significant lean advancements
• Significant contributor to multi-disciplinary teams at the functional level; mentors and provides technical advice to individuals within the team
• Active participation/lead major projects with collaborators and vendors

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in biological or engineering science with 10+ years relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• 15+ years relevant experience in biopharmaceutical and/or medical device manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated experience in having responsibility for broad organizational operational excellence improvement efforts or cross- organizational lean transformation
• Proven knowledge of lean six sigma and/or operational excellence practices
• Experienced with cGMP requirements to ensure compliance
• Significant experience in applying improvement tools and producing results
• Possess effective task/time management organizational skills
• Capacity to develop solutions to technical issues of moderate scope
• Ability to organize, analyze/interpret, and effectively communicate data and results
• Active and successful management of multiple challenging work assignments
• Motivated, self-starter with strong leadership skills
• Good interpersonal, team, and communication skills are a must
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Experience with capacity planning tools and allocation of resources and equipment

About Just - Evotec Biologics

Just - Evotec Biologics, wholly-owned by Evotec SE, is a unique platform company that integrates the design, engineering, development, and manufacture of biologics. With deep experience in the fields of protein, process and manufacturing sciences, the Just team came together to solve the scientific and technical hurdles that block access to life-changing protein therapeutics; from the design of therapeutic molecules to the design of the manufacturing plants used to produce them. Just's focus is to create access and value for a global market through scientific and technological innovation. Our state-of-the-art labs and cGMP clinical manufacturing plant are co-located in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood - the center of Seattle's medical, global health, and technology industries and a noted top emerging life science hub in the U.S. Our fast-growing team of 100 employees is expanding Just's innovative platform and footprint - building our first North American J.POD® commercial manufacturing facility in the Seattle area. For job opportunities, learn more at www.just.bio/careers