Process Optimization Program Manager

OneBlood; Windsong Trails (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

OneBlood is seeking a results-driven Process Improvement Leader in North Carolina to drive operational efficiency in blood collections and reduce product discards and donor deferrals.

The role partners with Collections, Recruitment, Manufacturing, and Quality teams to design, validate, and sustain improvements that enhance donor experience and blood supply alignment. A Lean Six Sigma mindset and strong data analysis are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering or related field and five (5) years relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.
• Lean Six Sigma or Project Management Professional certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads improvement initiatives focused on reducing blood product discards, minimizing donor deferrals, and improving blood type and product collection accuracy.
• Drives operational strategies that align donor collections with inventory demand, utilization trends, and organizational blood supply goals.
• Facilitates cross-functional improvement teams and prioritize high-impact operational initiatives across Collections, Recruitment, Manufacturing, and Quality functions.
• Conducts operational assessments, workflow analysis, and on-site observations to identify process gaps, inefficiencies, workflow variation, and opportunities for improvement.
• Analyzes donor collection processes to improve donor qualification rates, reduce avoidable deferrals, and enhance donor retention and experience.
• Supports initiatives that improve collection mix management, ensuring the right blood products are collected from the right donors at the right time.
• Identifies and implements operational changes that reduce over-collection, expiration risk, and product waste.
• Analyzes operational, donor, and inventory performance data to identify trends, risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Develops performance metrics, dashboards, and operational reporting tools related to discards, donor deferrals, collection productivity, blood type alignment, and product utilization.
• Establishes monitoring and validation processes to ensure improvements are sustainable and operationally effective.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

BPM (End-to-End processes)

Data analysis & KPIs

Stakeholder management

Project/Program management

Executive communication

Change management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Operations/Industrial Engineering or related field

Tools

RPA

ERP

Workflow tools

Job description

Overview

Leads operational process improvement initiatives focused on optimizing blood collections operations, reducing product discards, lowering donor deferrals, and improving collection accuracy by blood type and product demand. Partners with Collections, Recruitment, Manufacturing, Quality, and operational leadership teams to design, implement, validate, and sustain improvements that enhance donor experience, operational efficiency, product utilization, and blood supply alignment across the organization.

This role serves as both an operational improvement leader and hands-on change agent responsible for identifying opportunities, implementing solutions, measuring outcomes, and validating operational and financial impact related to donor collections and blood

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the duties and responsibilities performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

• Leads improvement initiatives focused on reducing blood product discards, minimizing donor deferrals, and improving blood type and product collection accuracy
• Drives operational strategies that align donor collections with inventory demand, utilization trends, and organizational blood supply goals
• Facilitates cross-functional improvement teams and prioritize high-impact operational initiatives across Collections, Recruitment, Manufacturing, and Quality functions
• Conducts operational assessments, workflow analysis, and on-site observations to identify process gaps, inefficiencies, workflow variation, and opportunities for improvement.
• Analyzes donor collection processes to improve donor qualification rates, reduce avoidable deferrals, and enhance donor retention and experience
• Supports initiatives that improve collection mix management, ensuring the right blood products are collected from the right donors at the right time
• Identifies and implements operational changes that reduce over-collection, expiration risk, and product waste
• Analyzes operational, donor, and inventory performance data to identify trends, risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities
• Develops performance metrics, dashboards, and operational reporting tools related to discards, donor deferrals, collection productivity, blood type alignment, and product utilization
• Establishes monitoring and validation processes to ensure improvements are sustainable and operationally effective

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering or related field and five (5) years relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND DESIGNATIONS:

Lean Six Sigma or Project Management Professional certification preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Deep understanding of end-to-end business process management (BPM)
• Strong grasp of data analysis, metrics, and performance measurement (KPIs)
• Knowledge of automation technologies and enterprise systems (RPA, ERP, workflow tools)
• Understanding of financial impact (ROI, cost-benefit analysis) and business operations
• Advanced analytical and root cause problem-solving skills
• Expertise in process mapping, redesign, and workflow optimization
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights and business recommendations
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills (including senior leadership)
• Effective project/program management across complex, cross-functional initiatives
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (executive-level storytelling)
• Ability to think strategically and align improvements to business goals
• Strong systems thinking (understanding cross-functional dependencies)
• Ability to lead change and drive adoption across the organization
• Proven ability to deliver measurable results (efficiency gains, cost savings, quality improvements).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Functions involve the ability to exert light physical effort usually involving some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). May involve some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, walking or standing.

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.

Functions are regularly performed inside without potential for exposure to adverse conditions, such as inclement weather, atmospheric elements and pathogenic substances. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING:

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

OneBlood, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with United States Equal Employment Opportunity guidelines and the Americans with Disabilities Act, OneBlood, Inc. provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.