Operational Excellence Manager

Guerbet; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Guerbet is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to spearhead transformation initiatives at its Raleigh facility. This position involves diagnosing performance gaps and implementing Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to enhance operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate will have a technical degree and over 5 years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing under cGMP standards. A Lean Six Sigma certification is preferred. Join Guerbet in improving medical imaging outcomes.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of pharmaceutical manufacturing experience under cGMP.
• Demonstrated success in delivering operational improvements.
• Ability to teach and influence at all organizational levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead the site’s Operational Excellence strategy.
• Drive Lean and Six Sigma methodologies for improvement.
• Facilitate large-scale improvement projects to reduce waste.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Develop and track performance metrics for improvement.

Skills

Lean methodologies

Problem-solving

Root-cause analysis

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Science

Tools

Six Sigma methodologies

Job description

At Guerbet, we build lasting relationships so that to enable people to live better. This is Our Purpose.

We are a global leader in medical imaging, offering an extensive portfolio of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, digital and AI solutions, for diagnostic and interventional imaging. As a pioneer in the field of contrast products since the last 100 years, we continuously innovate to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and quality of life of patients.

Customer Centricity, Cooperation, Audacity, Focus, and Responsibility are the values that we share and practice on a daily basis.

Working at Guerbet is not only being part of a multicultural team with nearly 3,000 people across more than 20 countries, but it is above all about playing a unique role in the future of medical imaging.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to lead sitewide transformation and continuous improvement initiatives at our Raleigh manufacturing facility. This role diagnoses performance gaps, designs future‑state processes, and drives sustainable improvements aligned with Guerbet’s Transformation Playbook. You will be a key influencer in building a culture of operational excellence across the organization.

YOUR ROLE

• Lead the site’s Operational Excellence (OpEx) strategy, aligning continuous improvement initiatives with business, quality, and supply goals.
• Drive Lean, Six Sigma, and problem‑solving methodologies across manufacturing, QA/QC, engineering, and support functions to improve throughput, yield, and cost efficiency.
• Facilitate large‑scale improvement projects (Kaizens, value stream mapping, SMED, 5S, etc.) to reduce waste and enhance productivity.
• Partner with Quality Assurance to ensure all OpEx activities comply with cGMP, FDA, and global regulatory requirements.
• Build, coach, and mentor cross‑functional teams in Lean principles and structured problem‑solving.
• Lead root cause investigations for complex site issues and implement sustainable corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs).
• Develop and track site performance metrics (OEE, cycle time, right‑first‑time, deviations, etc.) to identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with site leadership to prioritize OpEx projects using data‑driven benefit analysis and resource planning.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and operational discipline across all plant levels.
• Serve as the site SME for OpEx tools, digital transformation initiatives, and process optimization best practices.

YOUR BACKGROUND

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline (Engineering, Science, or related field).
• Minimum 5 years of pharmaceutical manufacturing experience under cGMP.
• Demonstrated success delivering transformational operational improvements.
• Strong capability in Lean, root‑cause analysis, and structured problem solving.
• Ability to teach, coach, and influence at all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to drive change and lead through hands‑on implementation.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION

• Lean Six Sigma Certification (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred).
• Strong business acumen, including business‑case development.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑alignment skills.
• Comfortable influencing within a matrix organization.
• Strong collaboration and coaching skillset; role‑model mindset.