Manager, Operational Excellence

Canadian Blood Services; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 108,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health service provider is looking for a Regular, Full-time Manager, Operational Excellence in Vancouver. This role focuses on implementing continuous improvement practices and will involve leading workshops, developing initiatives, and enhancing efficiency. Candidates should have at least 10 years in a manufacturing environment, and a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering is required. Attractive benefits include performance awards and comprehensive health plans.

Benefits

Annual performance award up to 10%

Defined benefits pension plan

Comprehensive group health benefits

Qualifications

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or closely related field is required.
• Certification in Lean manufacturing or related field.
• 10 years within a manufacturing or pharmaceutical environment with at least 5 years of Lean/Six Sigma/Continuous Improvement Engineering experience.

Responsibilities

• Implement continuous improvement principles and proven best practices.
• Lead and facilitate process improvement workshops and Kaizen events.
• Provide scorecard reporting to track progress and outcomes.

Skills

Strong relationship‑building and communication skills

Proactive problem‑solving

Expertise in continuous improvement methodologies

Deep knowledge of process improvement tools

Project management proficiency

Effective oral and written communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or related field

Certification in Lean manufacturing

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

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Please note this role will work in a hybrid environment. The successful candidate will be working a mixture of on‑site and off‑site work at Canadian Blood Services' 4750 Oak St, Vancouver, BC location based on the parameters for our operations to meet the needs of our donors, our staff and our communities. Currently, employees are expected to have an in‑person presence for at least 80% of their work time. This requirement may vary depending upon circumstances.

Job category: Continuous improvement and project management

Job posting ID: 8114

Employment status: Regular full‑time

Classification: MGMT

Salary/Rate of pay: $108,493 - $125,026

• Your up‑to‑date resume.
• We recommend you save a copy of the job posting for reference throughout the recruitment process.

Do you currently work for Canadian Blood Services? All employees must apply via the internal career page.

Together, we can make all the difference in the lives of others.

Be part of a dynamic, collaborative and caring organization committed to saving and improving lives. Thousands of patients depend on us every day for reliable access to safe blood, plasma, stem cells and organs and tissues.

If you are looking for a rewarding experience with a values and mission‑driven team, join Canada’s Lifeline and make a meaningful difference.

We acknowledge that the work of Canadian Blood Services spans many Territories and Treaty areas across the country, and we are grateful for the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who have guided us in this important work. We recognize the land and waters that have inspired our work and offer gratitude to those Indigenous peoples on whose territory we work, live and play.

About the Role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for aRegular, Full‑time Manager, Operational Excellenceto join our dynamicOperational Excellenceteam.

TheOperational Excellenceteam is responsible for supporting Canadian Blood Services by empowering our employees to improve their own processes, so that problems can be easily surfaced and solved for good.

In this role, you will be responsible for implementing continuous improvement principles and proven best practices. This work will occur with staff and management and includes workplace organization, material and information flow, value stream mapping, materials control, throughput leveling and improved customer service.

You will lead and facilitate process improvement workshops and Kaizen events, develop and promote continuous improvement initiatives, and drive efforts to reduce costs and improve efficiency to meet organizational objectives. Additionally, you will provide scorecard reporting to track progress and outcomes of these activities.

Formula for Success

Strong relationship‑building and communication skills, applied to engage process owners and help them see how proposed changes align with shared goals and organizational priorities.

Proactive problem‑solving and business insight, used to uncover opportunities for improvement and to work collaboratively with teams to turn those insights into actionable solutions.

Expertise in continuous improvement methodologies, applied to design work systems that enhance process flow productivity and reduce lead times.

Deep knowledge of process improvement tools and techniques, leveraged to deliver practical, hands‑on solutions for eliminating waste.

Project management proficiency, applied to support continuous improvement projects, achieve targeted savings, and develop reporting and scorecard systems. This includes guiding teams through planning, analysis, recommendations, payback analysis, approval, and deployment.

Understanding of adult learning principles, used to foster a continuous improvement culture, maintain education programs, and provide mentoring and training to staff and management.

Desired Education and Skills

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering or closely related field is required.
• Certification in Lean manufacturing or related field.
• 10 years within a manufacturing or pharmaceutical environment with at least 5 years of Lean/Six Sigma/Continuous Improvement Engineering experience.
• Proven experience implementing continuous improvement strategies on the shop floor, combined with the ability to explain in layman’s terms to front line staff.
• Experience facilitating and implementing change management methodologies.
• Experience applying and coaching SPC and other analytical methods to quantify process performance, identify waste, and validate the impact of improvement initiatives.
• Skilled in AutoCAD or other drafting tools for mapping process flows, facility layouts, workstation designs etc.
• Experience with waste reduction, standardized work, one‑piece flow, just in time production, 5S, trying to keep WIP to a minimum, and inventory reduction.
• Requires effective oral and written communication skills, excellent interpersonal skills, and computer literacy.
• Strong Project Management skills are required.
• Must be able to work in a team environment.
• Experience with directing and delegating to cross‑functional continuous improvement project team members.
• Experience with incorporating adult learning principles is an asset.

What we Offer You

• Annual performance award up to 10%.
• Defined benefits pension plan.
• Comprehensive group health, dental and vision benefits for you and your family.
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources.

What You Can Expect

• This role will be based at Canadian Blood Services’ 4750 Oak St, Vancouver, BC location and expected to have an in‑person presence for at least 80% of the time/4 days of the week.
• You will work Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours per week, 7.5 hours a day. Additional hours may be required depending on project requirements.
• Travel requirements (up to 20%) – travel will be required to attend meetings and project commitments.

Diversity and inclusion play a vital role in ensuring health equity for patients across Canada. We are committed to reflecting Canada’s population in our organization and fostering an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves, with equal opportunities to succeed and contribute.

If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply by providing your up‑to‑date resume. This could be your first step towards a meaningful and inspiring career. Come to work each day knowing that you save lives.

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those considered for an interview or those invited to participate in an assessment will be contacted. Emails are sent directly from our system, to ensure you receive them please add [e-mail] and [e-mail] to your safe senders list.

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