Manufacturing Specialist, Continuous Improvement

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies; Holly Springs (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies in Holly Springs, NC, seeks a Continuous Improvement/5S Leader to drive operational excellence across its manufacturing network. You will guide CI initiatives, deliver hands-on coaching, and champion 5S education across all factories to build a culture focused on safety, quality, and efficiency.

The role requires leading CI and 5S programs, coordinating batch planning, and ensuring accurate documentation and change management.

Qualifications

• Experience leading CI and 5S programs.
• Lean certification preferred.
• Strong cGMP manufacturing operations experience.
• Understanding of operations sequence and cadence of activities.
• Experience updating and creating manufacturing documents per schedule.

Responsibilities

• Lead intake, prioritization, and reporting of CI initiatives with clear KPIs and benefit tracking.
• Deliver targeted training and education for CI and 5S, coaching Manufacturing Associates on sort and straighten, and standardizing/sustaining best practices across all factories.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to embed standard work, visual management, and daily tiered accountability.
• Coordinate batch planning, including process template creation, and manage PM imports and schedules.
• Maintain current and accurate documentation, ensuring timely updates of records (including redlines and process improvements).
• Coordinate non-batch activities such as changeovers, PMs, and column packing.
• Assist in inventory management and support the effective use of SAP for manufacturing operations.
• Support technology transfer activities within the manufacturing domain.
• Ensure compliance with safety procedures and cGMP requirements in the manufacturing environment.
• Manage, perform, initiate, or support change management records, investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and continuous improvement (CI) activities.
• Identify and drive improvement projects in drug substance manufacturing to reduce waste, improve flow, and enhance reliability.
• Assist and support inspections and audits, helping to ensure a state of readiness and compliance.

Skills

Communication skills

Time management

Adaptability

Critical thinking

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in life sciences or engineering

Associate’s degree in life sciences or engineering

High School Diploma/GED

Equivalent military experience/training

Tools

SAP

Job description

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies is building the future of bioproduction in Holly Springs, North Carolina. By end of 2025, we’ll open North America’s largest end-to-end CDMO biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility, offering drug substance production, fill-finish, and packaging under one roof.

We’re looking for passionate, mission-driven people to help us realize this exciting vision and deliver the next vaccine, cure, or therapy. We offer a dynamic work environment and we’re proud to cultivate a culture that will fuel your purpose, energy, and drive—what we call Genki. Ready to shape the future of medicine? Let’s transform healthcare together!

Holly Springs, North Carolina, combines small-town warmth with proximity to Raleigh’s thriving tech scene, making it the perfect blend of community and opportunity.

Fujifilm is globally headquartered in Tokyo with over 70,000 employees across four key business segments of healthcare, electronics, business innovation, and imaging. We are guided and united by our Group Purpose of “giving our world more smiles.” Visit: https://www.fujifilm.com/us/en/about/region/careers

Overview

Drive operational excellence across our manufacturing network. In this role, you’ll lead our Continuous Improvement (CI) and 5S programs—governing intake, review, monitoring, and reporting of CI initiatives while delivering hands‑on training and coaching to manufacturing teams. You will champion 5S education (sort, straighten, standardize, sustain) across all factories to build a culture of safety, quality, and efficiency.

What You’ll Do

During Project Phase

• Support operational readiness initiatives as well as site commissioning and qualification efforts.

In Operations

• Act as a process subject matter expert, supporting troubleshooting in your respective area(s).
• Coordinate batch planning, including process template creation, and manage preventive maintenance (PM) imports and schedules.
• Maintain current and accurate documentation, ensuring timely updates of records (including redlines and process improvements).
• Coordinate non-batch activities such as changeovers, PMs, and column packing.
• Assist in inventory management and support the effective use of SAP for manufacturing operations.
• Support technology transfer activities within the manufacturing domain.
• Ensure compliance with safety procedures and cGMP requirements in the manufacturing environment.
• Manage, perform, initiate, or support change management records, investigations, corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs), and continuous improvement (CI) activities.
• Identify and drive improvement projects in drug substance manufacturing to reduce waste, improve flow, and enhance reliability.
• Assist and support inspections and audits, helping to ensure a state of readiness and compliance.

Continuous Improvement And 5S Governance

• Lead intake, prioritization, and reporting of CI initiatives with clear KPIs and benefit tracking.
• Deliver targeted training and education for CI and 5S, coaching Manufacturing Associates on sort and straighten, and standardizing/sustaining best practices across all factories.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to embed standard work, visual management, and daily tiered accountability.

Minimum Education And Experience Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED and 10 years of related experience OR
• Associate’s degree, preferably in life sciences or engineering, with 8 years of direct experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in life sciences or engineering, with 6 years of direct experience OR
• Equivalent military experience/training

Preferred Education And Experience Requirements

• Previous experience leading CI and 5S programs
• Lean certification
• Strong cGMP manufacturing operations experience
• Understanding of operations sequence and cadence of activities
• Prior experience in updating and creating manufacturing documents per schedule
• Previous experience leading CI and 5S programs; Lean certification preferred

What You Bring

• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Strong time management and prioritization
• Agility in a fast-paced environment with the ability to pivot and adjust plans
• Critical thinking and superior problem-solving abilities
• A team-first mindset and the ability to work effectively in a global, cross-functional environment, building strong relationships

Ready to build a world‑class manufacturing system—and sustain it? Apply now to lead the charge in CI and 5S excellence.

Fujifilm is committed to providing equal opportunities in hiring, promotion and advancement, compensation, benefits, and training regardless of nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, race, ethnicity, religion, political creed, ideology, national, or social origin, disability, veteran status, etc.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to our HR Department ([e-mail]).