Ops Excellence Lead: Lean, Six Sigma & AOS Champion

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

Job summary

Takeda in Bray, Ireland is seeking an Operational Excellence Lead to drive lean strategy and the Agile Operating System across manufacturing operations. You will coach cross-functional teams and implement process improvements while upholding safety, quality and regulatory standards.

You will partner with Quality, Production, Engineering and Digital teams, mentor Yellow/Green Belts, and advance digital transformation through data-driven optimization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or scientific discipline; a master’s degree (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 at all levels.
• Comfortable working in GMP-regulated environments; pharma experience is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with 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

• Lead the site’s Operational Excellence (OE) strategy and AOS roadmap.
• Lead Lean and Six Sigma initiatives to improve efficiency, quality, and cost performance.
• Facilitate workshops (Kaizen events, value stream mapping, root cause analysis).
• Coach and develop site teams in Lean methods and problem-solving.
• Collaborate with Quality, Production, Engineering, and Digital teams for alignment.
• Support digital transformation through automation opportunities and data-driven optimization.
• Oversee Six Sigma programs and mentor Yellow/Green Belt candidates.
• Monitor KPIs, identify gaps, and drive corrective actions.
• Apply Organizational Change Management (OCM) to drive project implementation.
• Support strategic programs like Business Process of the Future and Factory of the Future.
• Ensure initiatives meet safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Lean / AOS

Six Sigma Green Belt

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Analytical skills

Change management (e3+)

GMP experience

SAP / MES tools

Minitab

MS Office

English fluency

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor's degree in technical or scientific discipline

MBA or MSc (desirable)

Tools

SAP

MES

Minitab

MS Office

Job description

Takeda in Bray, Ireland is seeking an Operational Excellence Lead to drive lean strategy and the Agile Operating System across manufacturing operations. You will coach cross-functional teams and implement process improvements while upholding safety, quality and regulatory standards.

You will partner with Quality, Production, Engineering and Digital teams, mentor Yellow/Green Belts, and advance digital transformation through data-driven optimization.