Associate Director of Competitive Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

At Lilly, we unite caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We are a global healthcare leader headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Our 35,000 employees around the world work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. We give our best effort to our work, and we put people first. We’re looking for people who are determined to make life better for people around the world.

Position Description:

Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. Lilly is a Fortune 500 company that has been in operation for over 145 years. We make medicine with safety first and quality always while living our company values of Integrity, Excellence, and Respect for People.

Lilly is designing and building a new, state-of-the art parenteral, device assembly, and packaging facility located in Concord, North Carolina. This is an exciting opportunity to help build and operate a state-of-the-art manufacturing site from the ground up.

The Associate Director of Competitive Continuous Improvement (CCI) and Operational Excellence (OE) will be responsible for leading OE efforts and driving continuous improvement across the site by combining knowledge of pharmaceutical manufacturing with CCI principles and tools. Results will include improvement across all aspects of safety, quality, environmental, reliable supply, new product commercialization, productivity, speed, and cost as well as to employee morale across all levels as more time will be spent on patient value-added activities. Methods used to deliver these improvements include both event-based (e.g., Kaizen events) as well as non-event-based daily improvements.

Key Objectives/Deliverables:

Systems & Strategies – Design and Governance:

• Lead the establishment of the CCI & OE systems (e.g., the Lean Production and Management systems and the digitally integrated visual management system) within assigned areas of responsibility, including the components and their interactions. 
• Facilitate the deployment of system standards.

• Facilitate and execute the process of systems governance and assessment – i.e., health, maturity, and performance – as well as the continuous improvement of the systems.

• Capture benefits of CCI program and report to site and executive leadership teams.
• Contribute to the CCI&OE program strategy within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Collaborate with central CCI&OE to provide input into the CCI & OE systems design.

Instructing and Training Others:

• Facilitate CCI&OE training across all levels of employees within assigned areas of responsibility to support deployment and ongoing sustainability of CCI&OE/Lean ways of working.
• Maintain CCI Coach Certification.
• Collaborate with central CI&OE to establish and actively maintain/improve training content and curricula for the key roles and capabilities necessary for the CCI & OE systems.
• Serve as technical coach for other CCI&OE associates to build their Lean/Six Sigma and project management skill set.

Coaching for Continuous Improvement:

• Provide ongoing coaching and mentorship to key roles in the organization regarding the practical application of principles/tools as well as the related critical thinking skills and behavioral characteristics necessary for role effectiveness and development.
• Leverage results of systems assessment with associated feedback processes and follow-up governance mechanisms to coach key roles in the organization.

Leading Engagements:

• Lead and/or partner on a variety of engagements across the site as well as within other areas of the Global Manufacturing & Quality organization.
• Serve as CCI coach and partner with business area leads to facilitate the chosen methodology for a given project (e.g., Lean lighthouse, Kaizen event).
• Provide support to ensure robust organizational change management and monitoring plans are in place to sustain improvements.
• Engage routinely with sponsors to provide status updates and escalate where appropriate as issues arise.
• Ensure Lean principles and tools are integrated into both project execution and solution design.
• Partner with site leadership/functions, including site lead team and other governance forums, to identify and prioritize major productivity improvement opportunities. Leverage internal and external networking.

Internal and External Integration:

• Facilitate and promote internal benchmarking and the sharing of best practices related to CCI & OE systems, practices, and developments through formal and informal mechanisms (e.g., events, networking, etc.).
• Participate in external Lean programs to continuously improve Lilly’s Lean approach.
• Represent the CCI&OE function in a variety of forums, primarily internally, to cultivate awareness, promote direction, seek out best practices and ideas, identify and recruit talent, and facilitate relationships/partnerships that further the CCI&OE mission and its own continuous improvement.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (e.g., business, operations, supply chain, engineering, sciences).
• Seven (7) years of relevant professional experience in Operational Excellence, project management, or related field.
• Experience with leading projects/improvement initiatives using CCI methodology/tools, including coaching, teaching, and mentoring.

Additional Preferences:

• Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Master Black Belt, or similar level of Lean Coach/Practitioner Certification.
• Experience in a formal leadership/direct supervisory position.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to influence across organizational levels and to facilitate teaching and training of others.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change while managing multiple, shifting priorities.
• Demonstrated learning agility and ability/willingness to adapt to continual change within a startup environment.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• High level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Pharmaceutical industry specific experience/ knowledge.

Other Information:

• The position is located onsite at the Concord, North Carolina site.
• Periodic travel may be required to other sites (up to 25%).

Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly USA, LLC and our wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively “Lilly”) are committed to help individuals with disabilities to participate in the workforce and ensure equal opportunity to compete for jobs. If you require an accommodation to submit a resume for positions at Lilly, please email Lilly Human Resources ( Lilly_Recruiting_Compliance@lists.lilly.com ) for further assistance. Please note This email address is intended for use only to request an accommodation as part of the application process. Any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

Our employee resource groups (ERGs) offer strong support networks for their members and help our company develop talented individuals for future leadership roles. Our current groups include: Africa, Middle East, Central Asia Network, African American Network, Chinese Culture Network, Early Career Professionals, Japanese International Leadership Network (JILN), Lilly India Network, Organization of Latinos at Lilly, PRIDE (LGBTQ + Allies), Veterans Leadership Network, Women’s Network, Working and Living with Disabilities. Learn more about all of our groups.

As a condition of employment with Eli Lilly and Company and its subsidiaries in the United States and Puerto Rico, you must be fully COVID-19 vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination satisfactory to the company (subject to applicable law). 

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