Director, DBS Leader - Lean

Leica Biosystems; Richmond (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Leica Biosystems, a Danaher operating company, seeks a Director, DBS Leader - Lean to lead DBS deployment at the Richmond, Illinois site. The role partners with leaders to drive Kaizen results, safety, quality, and cost improvements, and to mentor DBS practitioners.

This on-site position requires a strong Lean DBS background and cross-functional collaboration. Responsibilities include developing processes within Operations, steering DBS training, and ensuring alignment with business metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Science, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in Operations, Engineering, Lean, or related continuous improvement role.
• Hands-on experience implementing improvements in DBS/Lean Six Sigma/TPS environments.
• Practitioner-level mastery of DBS Fundamentals with Lean tools; certification preferred.
• Ability to partner with business leaders and deliver measurable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Serve as DBS SME for Richmond, IL site; drive DBS improvements and Kaizen results.
• Drive safety, quality, delivery and cost improvements using DBS Fundamentals and tools.
• Develop and improve processes within Operations as a site leadership team member.
• Lead Kaizen Funnel and Certified Practitioner plan to close KPI gaps with Visual & Daily Management.

Skills

DBS Lean knowledge

DBS Fundamentals

Lean tools

Communication with leaders

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Engineering/Science

Master’s degree (plus)

Tools

DBS Tools

Lean Six Sigma

TPS

Job description

Bring more to life.Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology?

Bring more to life.Are you ready to accelerate your potential and make a real difference within life sciences, diagnostics and biotechnology? At Leica Biosystems, 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.

At Leica Biosystems, we’re not just shaping the future of cancer diagnostics — we’re transforming lives. Our mission of “Advancing Cancer Diagnostics, Improving Lives” is the driving force behind everything we do. As a global leader with the most comprehensive portfolio spanning from biopsy to diagnosis, we empower clinicians with innovative, reliable solutions so they can give patients timely, accurate answers when they need them most. When you join Leica Biosystems, you’re not just taking a job; you’re becoming part of a passionate team that knows every moment matters when it comes to cancer. You’ll help develop diagnostic solutions that turn anxiety into answers, and aid the acceleration of next-generation, life-changing therapies. Surrounded by a diverse and collaborative global community, you’ll be inspired each day to stretch, grow, and make an impact.

Learn about the Danaher Business System which makes everything possible.

The Director, DBS Leader - Lean is responsible for promoting and leading the successful implementation of Lean Danaher Business System (DBS) in Leica Biosystems’ Richmond, Illinois site. They will be a key business partner and sit on the local leadership team, who is results driven with a strong ability to drive effective use of DBS. This position reports to the Global Director of DBS Lean and is part of the global DBS Lean team; the associate will be located in Richmond, IL and will be an on-site role.

In This Role, You Will Have The Opportunity To

• Serve as Lean Danaher Business System (DBS) Subject Matter Expert to our Richmond, Illinois manufacturing site; drive sustained operational improvements and Kaizen results that impact Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through facilitation of DBS activities and mentorship of Leaders, Associates, and Kaizen teams.
• Drive results across the dimensions of Safety, Quality, Delivery and or Cost with the DBS Fundamentals and the DBS Tools within the Lean Segment. Leverage a solid understanding of DBS Fundamentals combined with Lean tools from four (4) different areas: Reliability, Operations, Supply Chain, and Materials.
• Develop and continuously improve processes within Operations at the Richmond, Illinois site as a member of the site leadership team.
• Create and lead prioritized Kaizen Funnel and Certified Practitioner plan to close KPI gaps with appropriate Visual & Daily Management and Leadership engagement. Improve DBS training and facilitation by pursuing certification in DBS tools for yourself and others.
• Facilitate and Lead PSP (Problem Solving Process) Teams in everyday Problem Solving. Install and facilitate Visual & Daily Management at Gemba across the Richmond, Illinois site.

The Essential Requirements Of The Job Include

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in Operations, Engineering, Lean, or combined experience in a related continuous improvement role.
• Proven hands‑on experience implementing improvements within a structured continuous improvement environment (e.g., DBS, Lean Six Sigma, TPS) in line management or consulting settings.
• Practitioner‑level mastery of DBS Fundamentals with strong proficiency in Lean tools across operations and transactional processes; certification preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to partner strategically with business leaders, influence without authority, and deliver measurable, time‑bound improvements tied to business metrics

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

• Master’s Degree in Business, Engineering, or Science
• Knowledge of key DBS Lean Tools: Operations, Danaher Reliability System, Supply Chain, and the Danaher Materials System.
• Certified Practitioner in a minimum of one appropriate Lean DBS Tool.
• Experience managing people and/or projects

Travel (approximated by overnight stays per week)

• Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time; predominantly domestic with some international travel as needed

Leica Biosystems, 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.

The annual salary range for this role is $180,000 to $200,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future. In addition, 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.

Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.

For more information, visit www.danaher.com.

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