Operational Excellence Engineer

Vantive; Castlebar; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Company pension scheme

Annual bonus scheme

State-of-the-art equipment

Job summary

Vantive is seeking an Operational Excellence Engineer to drive Lean initiatives in its Castlebar manufacturing environment. You will blend hands-on technician work with strategic leadership to deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Key responsibilities include leading Kaizen events, implementing Value Stream Mapping, and coaching teams in Lean thinking, while ensuring rigorous change control and documentation across GMP processes.

Qualifications

• Experience in a regulated pharma/medical device manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Yellow Belt or Green Belt) is advantageous.
• Proven track record in process improvement and project delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean initiatives (OMS, Kaizen, 6S, Value Stream Mapping, OEE) to improve efficiency and reduce waste.
• Support structured problem-solving using A3 methodology, root cause analysis, and data-driven insights.
• Drive KPI improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost.
• Support manufacturing operations and GMP compliance within value streams.
• Lead problem-solving using A3, root cause analysis and data insights.
• Manage improvement projects and support new product introduction.
• Coach teams in Lean principles and continuous improvement practices.
• Collaborate with production teams to enhance day-to-day GMP-regulated operations.
• Act as a change champion to embed continuous improvement across teams.
• Ensure robust documentation, change control, and risk management for process improvements.
• Lead and support improvement projects from Kaizens to complex cross-functional initiatives.

Skills

Lean principles

Kaizen methodologies

6S

Value Stream Mapping

OEE analysis

Power BI

Excel

PowerPoint

Data-driven decision making

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Vantive is a vital organ therapy company on a mission to extend lives and expand possibilities for patients and care teams everywhere. For 70 years, our team has driven meaningful innovations in kidney care. As we build on our legacy, we are deepening our commitment to elevating the dialysis experience through digital solutions and advanced services, while looking beyond kidney care and investing in transforming vital organ therapies. Greater flexibility and efficiency in therapy administration for care teams, and longer, fuller lives for patients— that is what Vantive aspires to deliver.

We believe Vantive will not only build our leadership in the kidney care space, it will also offer meaningful work to those who join us. At Vantive, you will become part of a community of people who are focused, courageous and don’t settle for the mediocre. Each of us is driven to help improve patients’ lives worldwide. Join us in advancing our mission to extend lives and expand possibilities.

Role: Operational Excellence Engineer

Location: Castlebar | Reports To: OpEx Lead / Site Leadership

Role Overview

Drive continuous improvement in a regulated pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, delivering measurable gains across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost using Lean and data-driven methodologies. This role blends hands‑on execution (Technician-level) with strategic leadership (Engineer-level), focusing on delivering measurable improvements while embedding a culture of Lean thinking.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Lean initiatives (OMS, Kaizen, 6S, Value Stream Mapping OEE,) to improve efficiency and eliminate waste.


• Support structured problem-solving using A3 methodology, root cause analysis, and data-driven insights


• KPI improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost


• Support manufacturing operations and GMP compliance within value streams


• Lead problem-solving using A3, root cause analysis, and data insights


• Manage improvement projects and support new product introduction


• Coach teams in Lean principles and continuous improvement practices


• Partner with production teams to improve day-to-day operations within a GMP-regulated pharmaceutical environment


• Act as a change champion to embed continuous improvement behaviours across teams


• Ensure robust documentation, change control, and risk management for process improvements


• Lead and support improvement projects ranging from focused Kaizens to complex cross-functional initiatives

Candidate Profile

• Experience in manufacturing (pharma/medical device preferred)


• Strong Lean knowledge (6S, Kaizen, waste reduction)

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

• Experience with Power BI or other data visualisation tools is desirabl


• Proven track record in process improvement and project delivery


• Strong analytical and communication skills


• Lean Six Sigma certification (Yellow Belt or Green Belt) is an advantag


• Hands‑on technician experience looking for a defined progression path into an Engineering role

Why Vantive?

• Purpose-driven work: Contribute to products that directly improve and save lives


• High standards: Exposure to best‑in‑class quality systems and regulated processes


• Career growth: Structured development in Lean, Six Sigma, and leadership


• Innovation environment: Work on advanced manufacturing technologies and processes


• Stability & investment: Strong demand and long‑term industry growth


• Transferable expertise: Highly valued experience across global life sciences organisations

What To Include On My CV

• Quantified improvements (e.g., OEE increase %, cost savings €)


• Lean project delivery (Kaizen, DMAIC, waste reduction)


• Manufacturing impact (yield, efficiency, compliance)


• Leadership and cross-functional influence

What Can Vantive Offer To You

• A stable and secure work environment


• A comprehensive benefits package, including private medical insurance, company pension scheme, and annual bonus scheme


• A collaborative and dynamic work environment


• Access to state-of-the-art equipment and technology


• Recognition and reward for outstanding performance

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