Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Samsung Biologics RKV; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 158,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

13 paid holidays

Vacation time

401K match

Medical, dental and vision benefits

Job summary

Samsung Biologics RKV is seeking an Associate Director, Operational Excellence to lead enterprise-level continuous improvement initiatives across our Maryland manufacturing operations. You will partner with site leadership to design governance, build Lean capabilities, and drive cost, quality, and delivery improvements while sustaining a culture of operational discipline.

The role reports to the Senior Director, Operational Excellence and focuses on enabling successful product launches,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a technical discipline as listed.
• 15+ years of manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, operations, safety, or continuous improvement in a complex production environment.
• Proven success leading Lean transformation and Operational Excellence programs across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Demonstrated ability to drive sustainable culture change and continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable results.
• Experience partnering with Finance to improve business performance, operational cost drivers, and value realization.
• Track record of delivering year-over-year improvements resulting in financial and operational benefits.
• Strong change leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lean Transformation: Build and deploy a Lean Center of Excellence with tools, governance, and methodologies to drive improvements.
• Shape Site Performance Through Governance: Design governance forums like Business Performance Reviews and Site Scorecard Reviews.
• Create a Continuous Improvement Culture: Develop systems, recognition programs, and engagement strategies to empower employees to identify opportunities, eliminate waste, and improve performance.
• Build Organizational Capability: Coach leaders, frontline teams, and OE professionals in Lean principles, problem-solving, and performance management.
• Deliver Strategic Business Results: Lead high-impact initiatives focusing on cost, quality, productivity, delivery, and customer satisfaction using Lean methodologies.
• Enable Successful Product Launches: Partner with Manufacturing, Technical Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and PMO to support new product introductions and campaigns.

Skills

Lean transformation

Operational excellence

Change leadership

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Performance improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Life Sciences, Business, or related

Advanced degree (BS, MS, Engineering, or related)

Job description

Associate Director, Operational Excellence

Samsung Biologics is seeking an experienced Associate Director, Operational Excellence to play a pivotal leadership role in shaping the future of our manufacturing operations. Reporting to the Senior Director, Operational Excellence, you will lead enterprise-level continuous improvement initiatives that directly impact customer delivery, operational performance, quality compliance, and workforce capability. This is an opportunity to help design and implement the operational foundation that enables sustainable growth, supports new product introductions, enhances regulatory readiness, and positions the site as a world-class manufacturing organization. If you thrive on driving change, developing people, and delivering measurable business results, we want to hear from you.

The Impact You'll Make

As our Associate Director, Operational Excellence, you will help to create the systems, capabilities, and culture that enable our site to consistently achieve four critical outcomes: Customer Excellence: Deliver products on time, in full, every time. Operational Excellence: Build efficient, scalable processes that improve performance and accelerate growth. Quality Excellence: Protect our license to operate through right-first-time execution and robust compliance. People Excellence: Develop an engaged, capable workforce empowered to drive continuous improvement. As the site expands its portfolio and manufacturing capabilities, you will help to ensure that growth is supported by standardized processes, strong governance, and a culture of operational discipline and innovation.

What You'll Do

• Lean Transformation: Build and deploy a Lean Center of Excellence that establishes the tools, governance, and methodologies necessary to drive sustainable operational improvements across the organization.
• Shape Site Performance Through Governance: Help design key business governance forums, including Business Performance Reviews and Site Scorecard Reviews.
• Help to create a Continuous Improvement Culture: Champion a mindset where continuous improvement becomes everyone's responsibility. Develop systems, recognition programs, and engagement strategies that empower employees at all levels to identify opportunities, eliminate waste, and improve performance.
• Assist with build Organizational Capability: Coach and develop leaders, frontline teams, and Operational Excellence professionals in Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and performance management practices. Create lasting capabilities that strengthen the organization for years to come.
• Deliver Strategic Business Results: Lead high-impact improvement initiatives focused on cost, quality, productivity, delivery, and customer satisfaction. Use Lean and Operational Excellence methodologies to unlock measurable business value while enhancing operational stability.
• Enable Successful Product Launches: Partner with Manufacturing, Technical Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and PMO teams to support new product introductions and campaign readiness. Ensure operational systems and processes are prepared to deliver successful launches and sustainable execution.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Life Sciences, Business, or a related technical discipline
• 15+ years of manufacturing, engineering, quality, supply chain, operations, safety, or continuous improvement experience within a complex production environment
• Proven success leading Lean transformation and Operational Excellence programs across diverse stakeholder groups
• Demonstrated ability to drive sustainable culture change and continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable results
• Experience partnering with Finance to improve business performance, operational cost drivers, and value realization
• Track record of delivering year-over-year improvements resulting in both financial and operational benefits
• Strong change leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management capabilities

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (BS, MS, Engineering, or related discipline)
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification
• Experience within biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience supporting site expansion, operational scale-up, or new product introductions

The anticipated salary range for this position in Maryland is $157,575 to $210,100 plus annual bonus, when eligible. The final salary offered to a successful candidate may vary, and will be dependent on several factors that may include but are not limited to: the type and length of experience within the job, type and length of experience within the industry, skillset, education, business needs, etc.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays
• Vacation time
• 401K match
• Medical, dental and vision benefits effective day one of employment

Samsung Biologics is a fully integrated CDMO offering state-of-the-art contract development and manufacturing services. With proven regulatory approvals, the largest capacity, and the fastest throughput, Samsung Biologics is an award-winning partner of choice and is uniquely able to support the development and manufacturing of biologics products at every stage of the process while meeting the evolving needs of biopharmaceutical companies worldwide.