Lab Operational Excellence Lead - M/F/X

Mars; Veghel; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars Global Services Laboratories seeks a Lab Operational Excellence Lead to harmonize global standards, drive Lean Six Sigma initiatives, and partner with regional directors across Americas and Europe/APAC. This role emphasizes change management, governance, and cost-effective lab operations in a multi-country matrix.

You will build and animate communities of practice, lead continuous improvement roadmaps, and ensure laboratories align with Mars strategic objectives while sustaining strong

Qualifications

• Senior experience in production or quality control laboratory or industrial operations.
• Experience managing regional/global projects in a multi-country matrix.
• Proven track record in continuous improvement and Lean Six Sigma.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills; ability to influence without authority.
• Fluency in English and comfort working with diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Define, document, and deploy global standards and improvement roadmaps across 5 regional laboratories to minimize process variance.
• Lead the systematic application of Lean Six Sigma tools to eliminate waste, optimize throughput, and reduce lead times.
• Establish and govern a centralized KPI dashboard to transparently track performance against global targets.
• Oversee global CAPEX with Finance and Engineering to maintain a robust investment plan.
• Coordinate change management and foster a global Community of Practice for knowledge sharing.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Change management

Cross-functional collaboration

English fluency

Job description

Job Description

Our Mars Global Services (MGS) Laboratories are entering an exciting transition phase. With five regional laboratories across the globe specializing in testing and technical consultancy, our mission is to deliver critical support to our diverse Mars businesses, including Snacking, Petcare, and Food. We are looking to bring unified standardization, robust governance, and operational excellence to our global network.

As our Lab Operational Excellence Lead - M/F/X, you will report directly to our Lab Operational Excellence Manager. You will be the driving force behind harmonizing our global standards, partnering closely with our regional directors in the Americas and Europe/APAC. This is a highly collaborative, global role where you will manage change, challenge the status quo, and implement Lean Six Sigma methodologies. By connecting directly with our manufacturing sites and business segments, you will ensure our laboratory services are cost-effective, efficient, and perfectly aligned with our operations.

What are we looking for?

• You have prior senior experience working in a production or quality control laboratory, or within industrial operations (ideally in the agri-food or pharmaceutical sectors).


• You have solid experience managing regional or global projects within a complex, multi-country matrix environment, showing a strong ability to manage change.


• You think in terms of continuous improvement and have practical experience in Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt is ideal).


• You possess outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with a proven ability to influence without authority and a desire to build and animate active, collaborative communities of practice.


• You are fluent in English and are energized by working with diverse, multicultural teams.

What would be your key responsibilities?

Drive Global Standardization & Continuous Improvement:

• You will define, document, and deploy global operational standards and continuous improvement roadmaps across our 5 regional laboratories to minimize process variance.


• You will lead the systematic application of Lean Six Sigma tools such as Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen, and DMAIC to eliminate process waste, optimize sample throughput, and reduce laboratory lead times.

Standardize Best Practices & Monitor Performance:

• You will establish and govern a centralized \"Excellence Dashboard,\" setting up key performance indicators (KPIs) to transparently track, audit, and benchmark laboratory performance against global targets.


• You will monitor local laboratory initiatives to identify regional best practices, scaling and deploying them as global standards.

Govern Global Lab CAPEX & Investments:

• In close partnership with our Finance partners and Segment Industrial Engineers, you will oversee the global laboratory Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) process.


• You will consolidate regional machinery and equipment requirements to maintain a robust 5-year global investment plan, track actual spending against the budget to ensure high financial discipline, and coordinate major equipment business cases with regional engineering teams.

Lead Collaborative Change & Community Engagement:

• You will align global and regional stakeholders on priorities and project roadmaps, providing virtual guidance and coaching to cross-functional teams to drive accountability without direct reporting lines.


• You will proactively identify process risks, manage change requests with the leadership team, and facilitate a global Community of Practice to foster knowledge-sharing, peer learning, and a strong continuous improvement culture.

What can you expect from Mars?

• At Mars, we believe in a relationship of mutual trust, dignity and respect between our company and Associates that is more meaningful than the standard employer/employee relationship.


• As Associates, we can expect to be respected, supported and valued as individuals, to be treated fairly and equitably.


• The opportunity to learn and develop, taking charge of your own career across Mars.


• You will be part of a new team and a new position with the opportunity to shape your role and your team's role with your team and your manager.


• The mission of Mars Global Services Associates is to be the foundation that serves, protects and supports our business.


• By joining our 200 Mars Global Services Associates, the diversity of encounters will be your daily life: Digital Technologies, Finance, People & Organization, Insights, Laboratories, Commercial. The Mars Global Services Associates accompany the transformation and growth of each of our segments.