Operational Excellence Site Lead

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Westport; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

Professional development

Job summary

AbbVie is seeking an Operational Excellence Site Lead to drive strategy, governance, and continuous improvement across manufacturing, quality, and supply chain. You will lead the OpEx team, embed best practices, and build site capability to deliver measurable outcomes.

The role requires a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Master Black Belt preferred) and at least eight years in regulated manufacturing, with strong leadership and data-driven approaches to improve performance across the site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, business or related discipline; Lean Six Sigma Black Belt required, Master Black Belt preferred.
• Minimum eight years in pharma/biopharma/medical device or similarly regulated manufacturing with managerial experience.
• Two years of direct people management at a management level, preferably leading an OpEx, digital, PMO or project management function.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site OpEx team, including work prioritisation, capability building, performance management and stakeholder engagement.
• Coach and develop teams in Lean, Six Sigma, problem solving, and value stream mapping.
• Identify, prioritise, and deliver high-impact improvement initiatives to reduce waste and improve reliability.
• Deploy AI-enabled and digital solutions to improve decision-making and productivity.
• Partner with site functions, regulatory bodies, vendors, and suppliers to achieve objectives.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Change Management

Problem Solving

Data Analysis

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in science/engineering/business

Master Black Belt (preferred)

Tools

AI/Analytics tools

Job description

AbbVie's mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic areas including immunology, oncology and neuroscience - and products and services in our Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com . Follow @abbvie on LinkedIn, Facebook , Instagram , X and YouTube.

Job Description

The OperationalExcellenceSite Lead is responsible forleading thesite operational excellencestrategy, roadmap, andgovernance to improve performanceacross manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and support functions.

The roleleadstheOpExteam,builds sitecapability,standardisesbest practices, andembeds disciplined routines that supportaccountability, innovation, andsustainablecontinuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

Act as a trusted advisor to site leadership on operational excellence strategy, capability building, performance governance, and change execution.

Lead the siteOpExteam, including work prioritisation, capability building, performance management, stakeholder engagement, and delivery of agreed business results.

Lead the site continuous improvement strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with business priorities, resource capacity, and measurable performance outcomes.

Coach and develop teams in Lean, Six Sigma, structured problem solving, visual management, standard work, value stream mapping, and daily management systems.

Identify, prioritise, and deliver high-impact improvement initiatives that reduce waste, improve flow, increase reliability, strengthen compliance, and support RightFirst Timeperformance.

Identify and deploy AI-enabled and digital solutions that improve decision-making, reduce manual effort, enhance productivity, and create scalable operational improvements.

Partner with site functions, senior leaders, regulatory agencies, vendors, and suppliers to support departmental and organisational objectives.

Establish and govern performance metrics, departmental budgets, improvement portfolios, benefits tracking, and accountability routines.

Ensure effective controls are inplaceso the department and improvement activities operate in compliance with applicable quality, regulatory, safety, environmental, EHS&E, and AbbVie Global policy requirements.

Make and execute support-function decisions from a strategic perspective, balancing operational requirements, risk, compliance, stakeholder input, resource allocation, and business impact.

Build a culture of continuous improvement, involvement, open communication, integrity, effective teamwork, Perfect Performance, and sustainable change across the site.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, business, or a related discipline, with Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification required and Master Black Belt certification preferred.

Minimum of eight years’ experience in pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, or similarly regulated manufacturing, including relevant managerial experience and delivery of strategic business projects.

Minimum of two years’ direct people management experience at management level, preferably leading anOpEx, digital, PMO, or project management function.

Strong technical capability in Lean, Six Sigma, operational excellence, structured problem solving, data analysis, process mapping, root cause analysis, mistake-proofing, standard work, visual management, performance managementsystems, and benefits tracking.

Proven experience identifying and applying AI, digital tools, and analytics to operational challenges, with clear evidence of measurable impact on performance, productivity, manual effort reduction, and decision-making speed.

Strong business acumen, with the ability to translate site challenges into prioritised improvement opportunities linked to enterprise goals, customer needs, financial impact, and sustainable performance outcomes.

Collaborative and credible leader who can influence across functions, communicate clearly, facilitate change, build capability in others, and maintain high standards of integrity, quality, compliance, and engagement through periods of change.

Additional Information

AbbVie is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to operating with integrity, driving innovation, transforming lives and serving our community. Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.