Operational Excellence Manager

Elanco; United States; On-site; USD 88,000 - 131,000; Full time

Job summary

Elanco is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager for the Banwol site. You will lead strategic development and execution of OpEx programs, partnering with cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement, reduce waste, and enhance operational performance.

The role reports to the Site Leadership Team and requires strong Lean expertise and bilingual communication. You will build capability, coach project teams, and deliver training while aligning with global OpEx functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business, or a related field.
• Lean Six Sigma belt such as Green Belt, Black Belt, or higher is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving, data analysis, and communication skills in Korean and English.

Responsibilities

• Establish a culture of continuous improvement using Lean Six Sigma and other best practices to drive OpEx initiatives.
• Own the site Lean/OpEx roadmap based on the Elanco OSA maturity assessment.
• Coach teams in problem-solving, data analysis, and Lean methods; deliver Lean training (Yellow/Green Belt where applicable).
• Collaborate with leaders across functions to identify opportunities and drive change.
• Lead Obeya and Lean projects at the site; manage project portfolios and value capture reporting.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Problem solving

Communication (Korean & English)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field

Job description

At Elanco (NYSE: ELAN) – it all starts with animals!

As a global leader in animal health, we are dedicated to innovation and delivering products and services to prevent and treat disease in farm animals and pets. At Elanco, we are driven by our vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life and our purpose – all to Go Beyond for Animals, Customers, Society and Our People.

At Elanco, we pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment. We believe that diversity is the driving force behind innovation, creativity, and overall business success. Here, you’ll be part of a company that values and champions new ways of thinking, work with dynamic individuals, and acquire new skills and experiences that will propel your career to new heights.

Making animals’ lives better makes life better – join our team today!

Your Role: Operational Excellence Manager

The Operational Excellence Manager is responsible for strategic development, leading, and execution of the Operational Excellence program at Banwol manufacturing site. This position will collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategies, processes, and best practices that drive continuous improvement, optimize performance, reduce waste, and enhance overall operational effectiveness. The Operational Excellence Leader is a dynamic role with a diverse set of responsibilities and is a key member of the Site Leadership Team.

Your Responsibilities:

• Operational Excellence

  • Establish a culture of continuous improvement by implementing Lean Six Sigma methodologies and other best practices to drive operational excellence (OpEx) initiatives by optimizing workflows, eliminating waste, and enhancing overall productivity.
  • Creates and owns the site Lean/OpEx roadmap based on Elanco Operational Excellence Maturity Assessment. (OMA)
  • Support Huddle meeting process to ensure daily operations; Tier 1, 2, 3 meeting.
  • Build Lean knowledge and capabilities with site employees with the focus on fostering a continuous improvement mindset.
  • Coaching: Provide coaching and support and guide project teams in problem-solving, data analysis, and the application of Lean methodologies.
  • Design and deliver Lean training programs, such as Yellow belt and Green belt where applicable, to build organizational capabilities.
  • Collaborate with leaders and stakeholders across different functions to identify improvement opportunities during Gemba and drive change.
  • Responsible for value capture reporting to Value Office.
  • Collaborate with global Operational Excellence function to improve the site level Lean program.

• Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

  • Lead Obeya meeting to ensure site projects progress.
  • Lead and facilitate Lean projects within the site.

What You Need to Succeed (minimum qualifications):

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. Engineering, Science, Business, etc) with a Lean Six Sigma belt such as Green belt, Black Belt, or higher.
• Have a deep understanding of Lean methodologies and can apply them effectively to identify and eliminate waste, improve processes, and drive continuous improvement.
• Competent in project management
• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis skill.
• Strong written, oral communication and presentation skill with both Korean and English.

What will give you a competitive edge (preferred qualifications):

• Lean six Sigma Black Belt certification or demonstrated advanced application of Lean Six Sigma methodologies.
• Experience leading Operational Excellence programs within biopharmaceutical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or other GMP-regulated manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of change management frameworks and proven ability to influence organizational transformation across multiple functions and leadership levels.
• Experience implementing digital manufacturing, data analytics, visualization, and performance management tools that improve operational efficiency and decision-making.

Additional Information:

• Travel:Not required
• Location: Banwol, Korea

Elanco is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status

Elanco may use automated tools, including AI, to support parts of our recruitment process, such as reviewing applications against job‑related criteria and/or transferrable skills. These tools help ensure a consistent, structured evaluation, but they do not make hiring decisions. All decisions involve a human reviewer. For more information on how we handle personal data, please see our Elanco Workforce Privacy Notice.