Director, Operational Excellence

Genmab; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 193,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Health, dental and vision insurance

Voluntary insurance plans

Paid vacation, sick leave and holidays

Discretionary paid parental leave

Commuter benefits

Tuition reimbursement

Lifestyle Spending Account

Job summary

Genmab, a leading international biotechnology company, seeks a Director, Operational Excellence to shape and advance our OE strategy. You'll partner with senior leaders to drive strategic transformation, embed continuous improvement, and govern improvement portfolios in a science-driven, global organization.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, coach leaders in Lean/Six Sigma, and measure outcomes with KPIs while leveraging AI and data to accelerate value realization within a matrix

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations Management, or related field; MBA/MSc preferred.
• 15+ years leading Operational Excellence or 12+ with Master's; Lean Six Sigma Black Belt required.
• Proven track record delivering measurable business impact across multiple functions.

Responsibilities

• Refine enterprise standards, governance, and best practices for continuous improvement.
• Lead improvement in R&D/TechOps aligned with business objectives; develop and execute plans.
• Coach leaders on Lean/Six Sigma, change leadership, problem solving, and continuous improvement.
• Influence cross-functional transformation; remove barriers and deliver sustainable improvements.
• Measure and sustain business impact through KPIs, governance forums, and reporting.
• Build organizational capability with learning approaches and communities of practice.
• Drive performance through AI, data, and insights to accelerate decisions.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration across the organization.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Influence senior leaders

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem solving

Execution discipline

Data-driven decision making

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA

MS or MSc (preferred)

Job description

At Genmab, we are dedicated to building extra[not]ordinary® futures, together, by developing antibody products and groundbreaking, knock-your-socks-off KYSO antibody medicines® that change lives and the future of cancer treatment and serious diseases. We strive to create, champion and maintain a global workplace where individuals’ unique contributions are valued and drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our patients, care partners, families and employees. Our people are compassionate, candid, and purposeful, and our business is innovative and rooted in science. We believe that being proudly authentic and determined to be our best is essential to fulfilling our purpose. Yes, our work is incredibly serious and impactful, but we have big ambitions, bring a ton of care to pursuing them, and have a lot of fun while doing so. Does this inspire you and feel like a fit? Then we would love to have you join us!

The Role

The Director, Operational Excellence is responsible for shaping and advancing the organization's Operational Excellence strategy by building on established frameworks, promoting a culture of continuous improvement, and strengthening the governance, capabilities, and networks that enable sustainable business performance. This role partners with (senior) leaders and all Genmab employees across the enterprise to drive strategic transformation projects and initiatives, help prioritize improvement opportunities, and embed a culture of continuous improvement. Success is achieved through project leadership, coaching, and influence rather than direct people management.

As a Director, Operational Excellence, you will help govern the organization's operational excellence strategy and improvement portfolio. As an individual contributor with no direct reports, success in this role will depend on the ability to influence the matrix, align, and enable employees across functions to deliver sustainable business improvements.

You will be part of a highly skilled Global Operational Excellence team, currently consisting of 10 colleagues, in a dynamic international environment focused on scientific excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. The position reports to the Senior Director, Global Head of Operational Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Evolve the Operational Excellence framework by further help refining enterprise standards, methodologies, governance, and best practices that drive continuous improvement and operational maturity while respecting the needs of a science-driven organization.
• Lead within the Research, Development and/or TechOps improvement portfolio, ensuring initiatives are aligned with strategic business objectives, detail project plans developed, executed and value realized.
• Coach and enable senior leaders and employees by providing guidance on operational excellence principles using Lean / 6 sigma methodology, change leadership, problem solving, and continuous improvement methodologies to optimize organizational capability and capacity.
• Influence and drive cross-functional transformation by partnering with functional leaders to identify opportunities, remove barriers, and deliver sustainable business improvements across the enterprise.
• Measure, communicate, and sustain business impact through meaningful KPIs, performance reporting, governance forums, and continuous monitoring of improvement outcomes.
• Build Organizational Capability Develop and strengthen Operational Excellence capabilities across the organization by creating learning approaches, fostering and using communities of practice, and promoting the adoption of continuous improvement principles and methodologies.
• Drive Performance Through AI, Data and Insights Establish performance metrics and operational health indicators to identify trends, measure improvement outcomes, and provide actionable insights that support strategic decision‑making and resource prioritization. Leverage digital, data, and AI‑enabled approaches where appropriate to accelerate insights and execution.
• Champion a Culture of Continuous Improvement Act as a visible advocate for Operational Excellence by promoting a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning, ensuring improvement becomes embedded in everyday ways of working.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations Management, or a related discipline. Post‑graduate degree (MBA, MSc) preferred.
• A minimum of 15 years of experience leading Operational Excellence, Business Transformation, and/or Continuous Improvement initiatives based on Lean/ 6 sigma; alternatively, 12 years of relevant experience with a Master’s degree.
• Proven track record of delivering measurable business impact across multiple functions.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification required.
• Additional certifications such as Prosci Change Management, PMP, Agile, BPM, Process Mining, or related disciplines are advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience implementing and/or working in enterprise‑wide Operational Excellence frameworks.
• Proven ability to influence (senior) executives and stakeholders without direct authority.
• Experience governing complex portfolios of transformation or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience with AI‑enabled process improvement initiatives is strongly preferred.
• Experience working within a global, matrixed organization; biotechnology, pharmaceutical, healthcare, or other highly regulated industry experience is preferred.

Moreover, You Meet The Following Professional Requirements

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate strategy into practical execution / Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline, focused on results / Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational objectives into operational improvements
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing capabilities across all organizational levels.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong analytical and systems‑thinking capability with a data‑driven approach to decision making.
• Ability to prioritize effectively and manage multiple initiatives in a dynamic environment.
• Comfortable working in a matrix organization with culturally and geographically diverse teams.
• Resilient, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast‑paced, patient‑focused organization.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships and drive alignment across complex stakeholder landscapes.
• High‑impact individual contributor who leads through influence, coaching, and governance.

For US based candidates, the proposed salary band for this position is as follows:

$193,280.00---$289,920.00

The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location. Also, certain positions are eligible for additional forms of compensation, such as discretionary bonuses and long‑term incentives.

When You Join Genmab, You’re Joining a Culture That Supports Your Physical, Financial, Social, And Emotional Wellness. Within The First Year, Regular Full‑time U.S. Employees Are Eligible For

• 401(k) Plan: 100% match on the first 6% of contributions
• Health Benefits: Two medical plan options (including HDHP with HSA), dental, and vision insurance
• Voluntary Plans: Critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity insurance
• Time Off: Paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and 12 weeks of discretionary paid parental leave
• Support Resources: Access to child and adult backup care, family support programs, financial wellness tools, and emotional well‑being support
• Additional Perks: Commuter benefits, tuition reimbursement, and a Lifestyle Spending Account for wellness and personal expenses

Further details on eligibility for compensation and benefits based on role will be provided during the recruitment process

About Genmab

Genmab is an international biotechnology company with a core purpose to improve the lives of patients through innovative and differentiated antibody therapeutics. For 25 years, its hard‑working, innovative and collaborative team has invented next‑generation antibody technology platforms and harnessed translational, quantitative and data sciences, resulting in a proprietary pipeline including bispecific T‑cell engagers, antibody‑drug conjugates, next‑generation immune checkpoint modulators and effector function‑enhanced antibodies. By 2030, Genmab’s vision is to transform the lives of people with cancer and other serious diseases with Knock‑Your‑Socks‑Off (KYSO®) antibody medicines.

Established in 1999, Genmab is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark with international presence across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information, please visit Genmab.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

Genmab is committed to protecting your personal data and privacy. Please see our privacy policy for handling your data in connection with your application on our website Job Applicant Privacy Notice (genmab.com).

Please note that if you are applying for a position in the Netherlands, Genmab’s policy for all permanently budgeted hires in NL is initially to offer a fixed‑term employment contract for a year, if the employee performs well and if the business conditions do not change, renewal for an indefinite term may be considered after the fixed‑term employment contract.