Director, Operational Excellence

KBI Biopharma; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 164,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is seeking a Director of Operational Excellence to spearhead the Boulder site's OpEx strategy and a global portfolio of transformation programs.

You will guide a team of OpEx professionals, partnering with executives to accelerate continuous improvement, deliver measurable operational and financial results, and embed Lean into everyday operations. You will coach leaders, deploy strategy through Hoshin Kanri, and champion data-driven decision-making, standard work, and

Qualifications

• Experience leading enterprise-wide OpEx, Lean, and Six Sigma transformations that deliver measurable improvements.
• Deep expertise designing and sustaining OpEx systems and BPM, Lean, Six Sigma, and Strategy Deployment.
• Proven ability to lead multi-site/global improvements in matrixed organizations.
• Ability to leverage digital technologies, analytics, automation, and AI to boost performance.
• Strong executive presence with stakeholder management and change leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of the OpEx framework and strategy.
• Identify and drive global, site, and functional improvement opportunities.
• Develop and manage a portfolio of transformational initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional projects from opportunity to sustainable results.
• Coach and develop OpEx leaders to enable autonomous improvement.
• Coordinate a network of OpEx practitioners for alignment and knowledge sharing.
• Partner with leaders to set performance metrics and drive data-based decisions.
• Design scalable OpEx tools and capability-building programs.
• Collaborate to remove barriers and sustain project benefits.
• Champion BPM, simplify workflows, and drive standardization and innovation.
• Support digital, automation, and AI-enabled solutions within OpEx.
• Develop and communicate performance reports, dashboards, and visuals.
• Provide strategic guidance for transformations and capital investments.
• Align OpEx initiatives with culture, values, and priorities.
• Support risk management, tech implementations, and manufacturing innovation.
• Act as SME in Lean, Six Sigma, BPM, and Strategy Deployment.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Change Management

Business Process Management

Strategy Deployment

Kaizen

Value Stream Mapping

Standard Work

Visual Management

Kanban

Mistake-Proofing

Digital Analytics

Education

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Master Black Belt

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Business, or Operations

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Job summary

The Director, Operational Excellence is responsible for leading the Boulder site's Operational Excellence strategy and a global portfolio of continuous improvement initiatives, transformational projects, and Lean maturity programs that drive sustainable business performance and customer value. This role provides leadership to a team of Operational Excellence professionals and partners closely with business leaders across the organization to accelerate continuous improvement, strengthen organizational capabilities, and deliver measurable operational and financial results.

The Director serves as a catalyst for cultural transformation by embedding Operational Excellence principles into daily operations, developing Lean leaders at all levels, and empowering employees to identify and implement meaningful improvements. Through coaching, capability building, strategy deployment, and cross-functional collaboration, the Director ensures the successful execution of improvement initiatives while establishing robust, scalable, and sustainable business processes that support the organization’s strategic objectives. This role is accountable for fostering a culture of continuous improvement, operational discipline, innovation, and accountability across the global network.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of the Operational Excellence (OpEx) framework and strategy to support business objectives and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identify, prioritize, and drive global, site, and functional improvement opportunities that enhance customer value, improve performance, and eliminate waste through Lean methodologies, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, and Strategy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri).
• Develop and manage a portfolio of transformational continuous improvement initiatives across the enterprise, ensuring alignment with global, site, and functional objectives.
• Lead high-impact, cross-functional improvement projects from opportunity identification through implementation and sustainability, delivering measurable business results.
• Build organizational capability through coaching, mentoring, training, and development of OpEx leaders, enabling teams to independently drive continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Lead and support a network of Operational Excellence practitioners, ensuring alignment in project execution, reporting, recognition, communication, and best practice sharing across the organization.
• Partner with business and functional leaders to establish meaningful performance metrics, drive data-based decision-making, and improve operational effectiveness.
• Design and deliver scalable OpEx tools, learning programs, and capability-building initiatives that accelerate adoption, competency development, and continuous improvement maturity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to identify improvement opportunities, remove barriers, and ensure sustained achievement of project benefits.
• Champion business process management principles to simplify workflows, eliminate non-value-added activities, and drive process standardization, innovation, and performance.
• Support the integration of digital, automation, and AI-enabled solutions within the Operational Excellence framework to eliminate waste, improve productivity, enhance process visibility, and accelerate continuous improvement outcomes.
• Develop and communicate compelling operational performance reports, dashboards, presentations, and visual management tools that support transparency, engagement, and decision-making.
• Provide strategic guidance to ensure business transformations, organizational changes, capital investments, and operational initiatives align with the enterprise OpEx strategy.
• Promote alignment between Operational Excellence initiatives and the organization’s culture, values, and strategic priorities.
• Support operational assessments, risk management activities, technology implementations, and manufacturing innovation initiatives as required.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in Lean, Six Sigma, Change Management, Business Process Management, and Strategy Deployment methodologies.
• Lead and support site leadership in reporting, KPIs, risk management, problem solving, and decision making
• Lead and support site culture initiatives, events, communication, engagement, and recognition programs.
• Act as a visible change leader by modeling Operational Excellence behaviors, advocating continuous improvement principles, and driving sustainable cultural adoption across the organization.

Minimum Requirements

• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide Operational Excellence, Lean, and Six Sigma transformations that deliver measurable and sustainable business results.
• Deep expertise in designing, implementing, and sustaining Operational Excellence systems and tools, including Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kanban, Mistake-Proofing, Business Process Management (BPM), Strategy Deployment (Hoshin Kanri), and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Proven ability to develop and execute Operational Excellence strategies, governance models, roadmaps, and maturity plans that align improvement efforts with enterprise objectives.
• Experience leading large-scale business transformations that improve productivity, quality, delivery, customer experience, employee engagement, and financial performance.
• Strong Business Process Management expertise, including process architecture, ownership models, process performance measurement, process standardization, and continuous optimization across end-to-end value streams.
• Demonstrated capability to leverage digital technologies, advanced analytics, automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven decision-making to accelerate operational performance and continuous improvement outcomes.
• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-site, and global improvement initiatives within matrixed organizations, influencing stakeholders without direct authority.
• Expert facilitation skills in Kaizen events, Rapid Problem Solving workshops, Value Stream Mapping sessions, leadership alignment activities, and strategic planning processes.
• Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to identify opportunities, quantify benefits, build business cases, establish value realization plans, and deliver measurable operational and financial results.
• Ability to analyze operational, statistical, and financial data to identify trends, solve complex problems, mitigate risk, and support fact-based decision-making.
• Exceptional executive presence and stakeholder management skills, with demonstrated success influencing senior leaders, aligning competing priorities, and driving organizational commitment to change.
• Experience developing and executing culture transformation initiatives that embed Operational Excellence principles, accountability, continuous improvement behaviors, and performance management into everyday ways of working.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and talent development skills with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, developing Lean leaders, and mentoring employees through Lean Six Sigma certification and capability-building programs.
• Experience developing and deploying modern learning solutions, including instructor-led training, e-learning, simulations, workshops, and blended learning approaches that accelerate capability development and adoption.
• Outstanding written, verbal, visual, and presentation communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into compelling messages for frontline teams, leaders, and executives.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge conventional thinking, drive innovation, simplify complexity, and lead breakthrough improvements that generate sustainable competitive advantage.
• Experience leading change initiatives in GMP-regulated and highly regulated environments required.
• Strong commitment to collaboration, ownership, innovation, continuous improvement, simplification, and operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

• Lean Sensei, Six Sigma Black Belt, or Master Black Belt certification required.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and certifying others through Lean Six Sigma and Operational Excellence development programs required.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Business, Operations, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Fifteen (15) or more years of progressive leadership experience in Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Lean Transformation, Manufacturing Excellence, or related disciplines, including leadership of people, programs, and organizational transformation efforts.

Salary range: $163,680 -$225,060

Salary range provided per current averages and expectations. The salary and job title for this opening will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience and may be outside this range. KBI has a robust total rewards strategy which includes an annual bonus structure for all employees, medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid PTO and holidays, 401K matching with 100% vesting in 60 days and employee recognition programs.

KBI Biopharma, Inc. is an EEO/AA employer and actively seeks to diversify its work force. Therefore, all qualified applicants, regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability or veteran status, are strongly encouraged to apply.