Operational Excellence Lead

Takeda; Wicklow; On-site; EUR 72,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Bray site seeks an Operational Excellence Lead to drive Lean strategy and an Agile Operating System roadmap across manufacturing operations. You will coach cross-functional teams, implement process improvements, and partner with Quality, Production, Engineering, and Digital to optimize performance while upholding safety and compliance.

You will mentor Yellow/Green Belts, monitor KPIs, and advance digital transformation initiatives, including data-driven optimization and change management

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline; MBA or MSc is a plus.
• 5–8 years of experience in manufacturing or operations with a focus on Lean, OE, or Continuous Improvement.
• Lean/AOS and Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher); Yellow Belt training/certification preferred.
• Proven track record in leading cross‑functional projects and delivering measurable improvements.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience in change management (ideally e3+) and coaching stakeholders at all levels.
• Comfortable working in GMP-regulated environments; pharma experience is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with tools such as SAP, MES, Minitab, and MS Office.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Fluent in English; strong interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness for occasional travel and active shopfloor presence.

Responsibilities

• Drive the site’s OE strategy and AOS roadmap.
• Lead Lean and Six Sigma (Green Belt level) initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
• Facilitate workshops (e.g. Kaizen events, value stream mapping, root cause analysis) to identify and implement improvement opportunities.
• Coach and develop site teams in Lean methodologies, structured problem-solving, and continuous improvement practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners including Quality, Production, Engineering, and Digital (DD&T) to ensure alignment and integration of improvement initiatives.
• Support digital transformation by identifying automation opportunities and data-driven process optimization.
• Oversee the Six Sigma program, including mentoring Yellow/Green Belts and certifying Yellow Belt candidates.
• Monitor and report performance metrics (KPIs), identify gaps, and lead corrective actions.
• Apply Organizational Change Management (OCM) principles (e3+) to drive successful implementation of improvement projects.
• Support strategic programs like Business Process of the Future and Factory of the Future.
• Ensure all initiatives are aligned with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Project management

Change management

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Communication

Leadership

Problem solving

e3+

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or MSc

Tools

SAP

MES

Minitab

MS Office

Job description

Operational Excellence Lead

As Operational Excellence Manager at Takeda’s Bray site, you will play a key role in driving a culture of continuous improvement across our manufacturing operations. You will lead the site’s Lean strategy and Agile Operating System (AOS) roadmap, coach cross-functional teams, and implement impactful process improvements. Working closely with Quality, Production, and Digital teams, you will help streamline operations, increase efficiency, and ensure sustainable performance improvements — all while upholding Takeda’s high standards for safety, quality, and compliance.

Responsibilities:

• Drive the site’s Operational Excellence (OE) strategy and AOS (Agile Operating System) roadmap.
• Lead Lean and Six Sigma (Green Belt level) initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
• Facilitate workshops (e.g. Kaizen events, value stream mapping, root cause analysis) to identify and implement improvement opportunities.
• Coach and develop site teams in Lean methodologies, structured problem-solving, and continuous improvement practices.
• Collaborate with cross-functional partners including Quality, Production, Engineering, and Digital (DD&T) to ensure alignment and integration of improvement initiatives.
• Support digital transformation by identifying automation opportunities and data-driven process optimization.
• Oversee the Six Sigma program, including mentoring Yellow/Green Belts and certifying Yellow Belt candidates.
• Monitor and report performance metrics (KPIs), identify gaps, and lead corrective actions.
• Apply Organizational Change Management (OCM) principles (e3+) to drive successful implementation of improvement projects.
• Support strategic programs like Business Process of the Future and Factory of the Future.
• Ensure all initiatives are aligned with safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline; a master’s degree (MBA or M.Sc.) is a plus.
• 5–8 years of experience in manufacturing or operations with a focus on Lean, OE, or Continuous Improvement.
• Lean/AOS and Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher); experience with Yellow Belt training/certification preferred.
• Proven track record in leading cross‑functional projects and delivering measurable improvements.
• Strong project management, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience in change management (ideally e3+) and coaching stakeholders at all levels.
• Comfortable working in GMP-regulated environments; pharma experience is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with tools such as SAP, MES, Minitab, and MS Office.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Fluent in English; strong interpersonal skills in a multicultural environment.
• Willingness for occasional travel and active shopfloor presence.

More about us:

At Takeda, we are transforming patient care through the development of novel specialty pharmaceuticals and best in class patient support programs.
Certified as a Global Top Employer, Takeda offers stimulating careers, encourages innovation, and strives for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

Empowering our people to shine:

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

Bray, Ireland

Base Salary Range:

€72,000.00 - €99,000.00

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time