Project Manager (Continuous Improvement)

Quest Diagnostics; San Juan Capistrano (CA); On-site; USD 87,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Prescription Drugs

Dental

Vision

401(k) Plan with Company match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Educational Assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

Quest Diagnostics is seeking a Project Lead to apply Business Transformation/Lean principles in San Juan Capistrano. This hybrid role involves 4 days onsite and focuses on improving services and processes.

Key responsibilities include leading projects, coaching staff on Lean principles, and ensuring quality in laboratory departments. Candidates should have an Associates Degree with project management experience.

Compensation ranges from $87,000 to $115,000 per year, with additional benefits including healthcare and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 1 to 3 years of leading projects from initiation to completion.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating discussions or workshops.
• Some experience in leading change.

Responsibilities

• Support key laboratory departments to ensure quality and cost savings.
• Lead projects to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close.
• Apply Lean principles to solve issues and design solutions.
• Facilitate workshops and provide ongoing guidance.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Effective written and verbal communication

Data analysis skills

Interpersonal skills

Project management

Planning and organization

Education

Associates Degree (Required)

Bachelor’s Degree (Preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

SunQuest

Cognos

Atlas

QLS

Job description

Job Description

This position will lead a variety of projects and teams to apply Business Transformation/Lean principles and tools to ensure Quest Diagnostics is efficient and effective in the delivery of its services, solutions, and processes while improving customer and employee satisfaction. The role also involves coaching others to learn and apply Lean principles and tools to their daily work.

This is a hybrid position at SJC Lab: 4 days onsite and 1 day work from home.

Pay Range: $87,000 - $115,000 per year. Salary offers consider relevant skills, training, experience, education, certifications, and market factors. Successful candidates may be eligible for annual performance bonus compensation.

Benefits Information

• Medical/Prescription Drugs
• Dental
• Vision
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Supplemental Health Plans
• 401(k) Plan – Company match dollar‑for‑dollar up to 5%
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Dependent Life Insurance
• Short‑ and Long‑Term Disability buy‑up
• Blueprint for Wellness
• Emotional Well‑Being Resources
• Educational Assistance
• Paid time off / Health Time

Responsibilities

• Provide support to key laboratory departments to ensure quality, service delivery, and cost savings targets are met.
  • Spend significant time in the lab to learn processes, build relationships, and understand pain points.
  • Collaborate with department leadership to review turnaround time, productivity, and quality metrics to drive improvements.
  • Establish a pipeline of continuous improvement projects that includes a mix of self‑led and mentored initiatives.
• Lead projects and working teams to initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects.
  • Lead projects through issues, roadblocks, and problems.
  • Act as a change agent to drive teams toward success.
  • Guide team members to perform through issues and constraints.
  • Own the timeline, budget, resource constraints, and deliverables/results.
  • Shift between the big picture and the small‑but‑crucial details.
  • Roll up sleeves to work through detailed issues when needed.
  • Ensure all appropriate tools are completed and used effectively (e.g., charter, Gantt chart, status updates).
  • Actively communicate with project sponsors and stakeholders, establish regular communication points, and manage expectations.
  • Perform root cause analysis on project shortfalls and take corrective action as necessary.
• Apply Business Transformation/Lean principles and tools to a variety of small to medium projects and other necessary activities:
• Identify root causes of issues and design solutions that address them.
• Define, monitor, and control processes.
• Understand internal and external customer needs and design solutions around them.
• Identify the impacts from change and develop proactive change plans.
• Support various teams by facilitating on‑site workshops, rapid continuous improvement events, and providing ongoing guidance or consultation.
• Coach employees on the use of various tools, concepts, and practices foundational to Business Transformation/Lean to build self‑sufficiency, sustainability, and scalability.
• Participate in Communities of Practice.
• Lead Business Transformation/Lean training classes.
• Document business processes.
• Complete required continued learning.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience (1 to 3 years) of leading projects from initiation to completion.

Physical And Mental Requirements

• The normal performance of duties may require lifting and carrying objects.
• Frequent walking and/or standing.

Knowledge

• Working knowledge of SJC lab systems (SunQuest, Cognos, Atlas, QLS, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience facilitating discussions or workshops.
• Some experience leading changes.

Skills

• Problem‑solving skills.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills across multiple formats: formal presentations, meetings, conference calls, e‑mails, and memos.
• Demonstrated data analysis skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with others.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Decision‑making skills.
• Planning and organization skills.
• Results‑oriented.
• Creative.
• Persistent.
• Composed.
• Able to learn new concepts rapidly.

EDUCATION

Associates Degree (Required). Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS

Formal training in project management or continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Lean, Theory of constraints).

Equal Opportunity Employer

Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets or any other legally protected status.