Global Director of Operational Excellence

Dechra; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Dechra is seeking a Global Director of Operational Excellence to drive process improvements and operational efficiency across the organization. This role involves leading large-scale cultural change, collaborating with senior leadership, and implementing best practices to enhance business performance globally. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in process optimization, change management, and team leadership, with a commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Benefits

33 days annual leave

Employee Assistance Program

Life Assurance

Enhanced Family Leave

Car / Car Allowance

Bonus

Discounted Pet Food

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in a leadership role driving Global Practical Process Improvement.
• Proven track record of building high-performing teams and delivering measurable results.
• Expertise in managing large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global PPI strategy for continuous improvement.
• Lead cultural change initiatives and embed operational excellence.
• Oversee design and governance of PPI/OpEx programs across divisions.

Skills

Change Management

Analytical and Data-Driven

Project Management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, Engineering, or a related field

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification

Job description

Global Director of Operational Excellence

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Direct message the job poster from Dechra

Talent Acquisition Partner - Talent Management, Executive Search

This position is remote and can be based anywhere in the UK or Europe. It is a GLOBAL role and requires someone who has operated at this level.

Thank you for checking out our vacancy, we're delighted you want to learn more about joining Dechra.

A career at Dechra is different. Sure, we're a growing global company with a presence in 27 countries but our purpose is simple - to achieve the sustainable improvement of animal health and welfare globally.

If you want to be part of a team that invests in your future and ensures you have the support to reach your full potential and thrive, please read on.

The Opportunity

The Global Director of Practical Process Improvement (PPI) and Operational Excellence (OpEx) will drive a culture of continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and sustainable business performance across the organization. This role will focus on leading large-scale cultural change, building high-performing teams, and rolling out global process improvement programs across multiple divisions.

Role Responsibility

So, what will you be doing? This role has a broad and varied remit and the successful candidate will have responsibility for duties including:

* Develop and execute a global PPI strategy that fosters a sustainable culture of continuous improvement.

* Lead large-scale cultural change initiatives, embedding a mindset of operational excellence throughout the organization.

* Partner with senior leadership to align improvement strategies with business objectives and drive adoption across all levels.

* Oversee the design, rollout, and governance of PPI/OpEx programs across multiple divisions, ensuring scalability and consistency.

* Collaborate with regional and global teams to implement best practices and achieve operational efficiency across Dechra.

* Act as the central point of leadership for OpEx transformation efforts, managing program roadmaps, timelines, and deliverables.

* Lead and execute end-to-end process improvement initiatives using PPI, Lean, Six Sigma, and other methodologies to deliver measurable results.

* Standardize processes, tools, and workflows to ensure global consistency, quality, and compliance.

* Identify and eliminate inefficiencies by leveraging data-driven approaches to improve cost, speed, and operational performance.

* Build, mentor, and inspire high-performing teams capable of driving transformational change globally.

* Develop and deliver training programs to strengthen employee capabilities in PPI and OpEx principles.

* Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning across Dechra.

* Lead change management efforts to drive the adoption of new processes and behaviours across a global, matrixed organization.

* Engage stakeholders at all levels to ensure alignment, mitigate resistance, and build strong buy-in for improvement initiatives.

* Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, providing regular updates on program progress, key milestones, and ROI.

* Develop, track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of OpEx initiatives on business performance.

* Establish governance frameworks to monitor program execution and ensure alignment with strategic goals.

* Share successes, best practices, and lessons learned across divisions to create a culture of continuous improvement.

The Candidate

Here at Dechra we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer. We know that individuals' unique background and experience can bring a wealth of variety and expertise to our global workforce. For this role, we're particularly keen to hear from those who have/are:

• Interfacing with the C Suite level within Dechra.
• Proven track record in a similar global leadership role within a large pharmaceutical organization, bringing expertise in process optimisation, cross-functional collaboration, and change management on a global scale.
• 10+ years of experience in a leadership role driving Global Practical Process Improvement, Operational Excellence, or similar initiatives.
• Proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving large-scale change, and delivering measurable results across multiple divisions.
• Results-oriented, with a strong drive to deliver sustainable improvements and value creation.
• Change Management: Strong expertise in leading cultural change and influencing behaviours across large organizations.
• Analytical and Data-Driven: Proven ability to leverage data and metrics to identify improvement opportunities and track performance outcomes.
• Project Management: Expertise in managing large-scale projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Communication: Exceptional stakeholder management, presentation, and negotiation skills to influence at all organizational levels.
• Adaptable and resilient in navigating complexity, ambiguity, and change.
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Engineering, or a related field (master's degree preferred), or equivalent work experience. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent experience is strongly preferred.

Additional Information:

• Frequent global travel will be required with this role.
• This role is based in UK or Europe remote

What we can offer you:

• 33 days annual (inclusive of Bank Holidays)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Life Assurance
• Enhanced Family Leave
• Car / Car Allowance (discretionary)
• Bonus (discretionary)
• Discounted Pet Food

About the Company

If a career at Dechra has piqued your interest. Dechra is a growing, global specialist in veterinary pharmaceuticals. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide.

All applications received are reviewed by our internal talent acquisition team and we will get in touch if your skills and experience match what we're looking for. Should you not hear back from us within 28 days please don't be too disappointed - we may keep your CV on our database for any future vacancies which could be suitable, and we encourage you to keep an eye on our career site. We value diversity within our global workforce and encourage an inclusive culture. Any questions or queries, please contact us.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Director

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Manufacturing and Management

• Industries

  Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

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