SMS Program Lead ( Lean Engineer)

Sanofi; Geel; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanofi Geel seeks a Lean Engineer to drive performance and transformation within the Operational Excellence organization. You will deploy SMS 2.0, lead continuous improvement programs, and standardize processes across the site, partnering with shopfloor teams and process owners to deliver measurable impact.

You will coach and empower teams, apply Lean and data-driven problem solving, and ensure alignment with the One Industrial Manufacturing strategy while fostering a performance-oriented

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or Operations.
• 5+ years manufacturing or LEAN experience.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives.
• PM/CM experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive performance & transformation initiatives across the site.
• Deploy SMS 2.0 and standardize processes.
• Collaborate with shopfloor teams and process owners.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts and problem solving.
• Foster a performance-oriented culture aligned with strategic goals.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Project management

Change management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business/Operations

Tools

MS Office

Power BI

Job description

Lean Engineer Location: Geel

About the job

Position within the Operational Excellence organization, focusing both on performance and standardization, the Lean Engineer reports to the Head of Operational Excellence and Smart Factory She / He will play a key role at the Geel site by driving performance & transformation initiatives to achieve the site’s strategy & ambition. As a Lean Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in transformational initiatives and driving continuous improvement principles (SMS = Sanofi Manufacturing System, Lean) across the organization. Your mission encompasses deployment and monitoring of SMS 2.0, driving continuous improvement, diagnosing area site performance, developing improvement solutions, fostering a performance-oriented culture, and ensuring alignment with strategic goals, at all levels of the organization. The Lean Engineer will collaborate with the departments, areas management, shopfloor teams and process owners to initiate and implement performance improvement projects/initiatives. You will be serving either as a project lead, coach, empowering other employees on site to drive change, applying the lean and continuous improvement principles consistently and effectively, assuring impactful and quantified performance improvement, as well as sustainability.

Main responsibilities

• Transformation & programs deployment and sustainment: Drive performance & transformation initiatives (e.g., SMS 2.0 deployment, boosters, Factory 4.0 solutions, etc.), actively supporting impact quantification, ensuring impact delivery and sustainability. Ensure inclusion of the effective use of Digital to transform site operations.
• Continuous improvement: Work with business leaders to identify process gaps that will be captured in continuous improvement plans and facilitated by the continuous improvement teams for impactful results. Lead waste elimination to build teams’ skills at identifying and eliminating waste. Support execution, CI (Continuous Improvement) standard deployment, problem solving, Operational Excellence (LEAN) methods…
• Maturity of the Sanofi Manufacturing System 2.0: ensure process confirmation and sustainment of SMS standards (planning, owner, follow up, prioritization).
• Standardization: Ensure alignment of site to Global SMS 2.0 standards, including continuous improvement to standards and maturity of standards, replicating best practices across departments, and sharing across the organization. Ensure teams are utilizing the appropriate improvement methodology including training on tools and application as required.
• Industrial culture: Drive a performance-oriented culture & instil a continuous improvement mindset throughout the organization. Ensure alignment with strategic goals, at all levels of the organization.

About you

• Bachelor of Science, Engineering, Business or Operations.
• 5+ years manufacturing experience or LEAN industrial experience with good understanding of overall business operations knowledge and Good Manufacturing Practices.
• Experience in leading complex and cross-functional initiatives.
• Project Management and Change Management experience preferred.
• Highly Proficient in MS Office Applications including Excel, PowerPoint & PowerBi.
• Excellent Communication Skills both in English and Dutch (verbal, written and presentation)
• Excellent Interpersonal and Influential Leadership Skills, and strong end-to-end Business Acumen.
• Demonstrates Leadership behavior for challenging status quo and driving Transformation.
• Ability to function within a diverse team, from shop floor to leadership.
• Ability to train and coach.
• Ability to adapt within rapidly changing business environment.
• Pragmatic, analytical and data driven with systematic problem-solving capabilities.

Why choose us?

This is a great opportunity to join the Operational Excellence & Transformation Team of Sanofi Geel. Our team role is to drive simplification, standardization and digitization that will support the One Industrial Manufacturing and Supply Network Strategy toward competitive and sustainable growth. You’ll work with talented and passionate colleagues in an environment offering plenty of opportunities for career development.

At Sanofi, we provide equal opportunities to all regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, ability or gender identity.

The salary range for this position is :€70 400,00 - €93 867 Final compensation will be determined based on demonstrated experience, skills, location, and other relevant factors. Employees may be eligible to participate in Company employee benefit programs.

We are an R&D driven, AI-powered biopharma company committed to improving people’s lives and creating compelling growth. Our team is guided by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. We want to build a healthier, more resilient world, and turn the impossible into the possible by discovering, developing, and delivering medicines and vaccines for millions of people around the world. Discover more about us visiting www.sanofi.com or via our movie We are Sanofi Start a career that makes a difference. Reinvention is in our DNA. It’s what drove our evolution from a small French enterprise to one of the world’s leading biopharma companies. Whether it’s using AI to shorten drug-discovery times or building trust in healthcare, you could be helping our teams make life better for patients, partners, and communities. This is where you grow your career. We open the door for you to explore new opportunities, push your limits, and connect with people who are driven by a shared purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives.