Director, Danaher Business Systems (Continuous Improvement, Lean, Operations)

Radiometer; Muskegon (MI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus/incentive pay

Medical/dental/vision insurance

401(k)

Job summary

Cytiva, a Danaher operating company, is seeking a Director of Danaher Business Systems to lead DBS deployment at the Muskegon site in Michigan. You will collaborate with site leadership to shape DBS maturity, coach leaders, and align resources to startup with high product quality and safety standards.

We value experience in complex manufacturing, change leadership, and driving measurable improvements using visual management, leader standard work, and problem solving. On-site role in Muskegon, MI.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience leading DBS deployment or operational excellence in manufacturing.
• Proven ability to coach senior leaders and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Establish core DBS elements to support Day 1 manufacturing readiness.
• Lead DBS deployment across the Muskegon site to ensure safe startup and consistent product quality.
• Elevate daily management with visual management, leader standard work, and accountability routines.
• Coordinate high-impact Kaizen events and site-level improvement initiatives.

Skills

DBS deployment

Lean coaching

Executive coaching

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

DBS tools

Visual management tools

Job description

Bring more to life. Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology? At Cytiva, one of Danaher’s 15+ operating companies, our work saves lives—and we’re all united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact. You’ll thrive in a culture of belonging where you and your unique viewpoint matter. And by harnessing Danaher’s system of continuous improvement, you help turn ideas into impact – innovating at the speed of life. Working at Cytiva means being at the forefront of providing new solutions to transform human health. Our incredible customers undertake life-saving activities ranging from fundamental biological research to developing innovative vaccines, new medicines, and cell and gene therapies. At Cytiva you will be able to continuously improve yourself and us – working on challenges that truly matter with people that care for each other, our customers, and their patients. Take your next step to an altogether life-changing career. Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

The Director, Danaher Business Systems is responsible to lead deployment and maturation of the Danaher Business System (DBS) across the Muskegon site in alignment with business priorities, site complexity, and operational readiness. This position reports to the Senior Director Operations, Muskegon and is part of the Operations leadership team located in Muskegon, MI and will be an on-site role.

What you will do:

• Establish core DBS elements to support Day 1 manufacturing readiness (approved validation).
• The top shared priority across both site and project functions, ensuring decisions, resources, and execution are aligned to achieve start-up safely and with consistent product quality.
• Elevate the site’s daily management system by strengthening visual management, leader standard work, and accountability routines, while coaching leaders to use DBS rigor to drive accountability in ways that build trust, strengthen engagement, and sustain improvement.
• Partner with site leadership to continually assess DBS maturity, identify gaps, and coach leaders and teams on DBS principles, tools, and problem solving to reinforce accountability and the leadership behaviors that build trust and engagement.
• Coordinate high impact multi-Kaizen events and site level improvement initiatives while enabling the Muskegon team to grow and lead individual Kaizens independently.
• Influence and challenge leaders appropriately to ensure improvement commitments are clear, measurable, and followed through.
• Connect the site to broader Cytiva and Danaher DBS resources, best practices, and peer networks to accelerate learning and impact.

Who you are:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related field.
• Prefer 5+ years of experience leading business system deployment, continuous improvement, or operational excellence in complex manufacturing or operations environments.
• Demonstrated success coaching senior leaders and cross-functional teams to strengthen operating rigor, drive accountability, and align competing priorities to critical business outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead in high‑pressure, evolving environments where competing priorities must be balanced.
• Deep knowledge of DBS tools, daily management, transactional process improvement, visual project management, lean conversion, leader standard work, problem solving process and sustainment monitoring and coaching with demonstrated ability to apply them on a scale.
• Strong business judgment and proven ability to translate enterprise and site needs into clear improvement priorities, measurable outcomes, and disciplined execution.
• Exceptional facilitation, influence, and change leadership skills, with credibility to challenge and guide leaders across functions and levels.

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

• Experience in a start-up, high‑growth, or evolving site environment.
• Experience operating in environments with competing operational and project priorities, including cross‑functional coordination, timeline management, and resource constraints.
• Experience in Danaher or another highly mature lean business system environment.

Benefits:

• Cytiva, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives.
• Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job.
• Check out our benefits at Danaher Benefits Info.
• This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay.
• We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Danaher Corporation and all Danaher Companies are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other characteristics protected by law. The U.S. EEO posters are available here.

We comply with federal and state disability laws and make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact:1-202-419-7762 or [e-mail].

Danaher is a leading global life sciences, biotechnology, and diagnostics innovator, helping to solve many of the world’s most important health challenges, ultimately improving quality of life for billions of people today, while setting the foundation for a healthier, more sustainable tomorrow.

The Danaher ecosystem is made up of more than 15 businesses united by a shared commitment to innovate for tangible impact. Please read our Applicant Data Privacy Notice carefully here.