Senior Director, North America Operations

Azenta Life Sciences; Plainfield (IN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Azenta Inc. seeks a Senior Director of North America Operations to lead specimen management, processing, facilities, logistics, lab services, and data management.

You will shape the operational strategy to drive revenue growth and margin improvement while fostering a culture of quality and collaboration. The role requires 8+ years of progressive operational leadership in regulated environments, proven Lean/6 Sigma expertise, and strong cross-functional partnering across HR, Sales, Finance and

Qualifications

• Four-year degree and 8+ years of increasing operational management experience.
• Experience leading operations that handle, process, or manufacture regulated materials (e.g., CLIA GMP, GTP, GLP, GCP, NABP, GMP).
• Demonstrated experience managing domestic and international operations sites.
• Experience in customer service-oriented positions.
• Demonstrated Lean leadership — deploying and sustaining Lean methodologies across operations.
• Ability to understand P&Ls and optimize revenue and margin.
• Strong business acumen and analytical skills.
• Excellent leadership skills and ability to establish a positive employee culture.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to think creatively and build domain expertise in the sample management space.
• Demonstrated experience in team building, negotiation, facilitation, and conflict resolution.

Responsibilities

• Oversee North America operations including facilities, logistics, lab services and data management.
• Lead Lean deployment and KPI measurement across sites and functions.
• Develop talent and collaborate with HR, Sales, Project Management, Finance, and Program Management.
• Manage facilities, equipment, and capital planning with safety considerations.
• Own P&L for operational sites and drive margin improvements.
• Support audits and regulatory readiness and drive a quality culture.

Skills

Lean leadership

P&L understanding

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strong communication

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Travel readiness

Education

Four-year degree

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt

Job description

Azenta Inc.

At Azenta, new ideas, new technologies and new ways of thinking are driving our future. Our customer focused culture encourages employees to embrace innovation and challenge the status quo with novel thinking and collaborative work relationships.

All we accomplish is grounded in our core values of Customer Focus, Achievement, Accountability, Teamwork, Employee Value and Integrity

Senior Director, North America Operations

Job Description

The Senior Director of North America Operations provides strategic leadership for all specimen management and specimen processing personnel and processes, including North America facility operations, logistics, lab services, and data management. This role serves as a key executive on the SRS leadership team, responsible for developing and executing the operational strategy that delivers both revenue growth and margin improvement.

What You’ll Do

Customer Quality & Service Excellence

• Ensure all service failures are identified, investigated, and resolved appropriately. Enforce adherence to Nonconformance (NC) and CAPA processes to enable fast resolution of service or quality issues and removal of recurrences. Implement and monitor processes that ensure appropriate escalation and continuous communication of issues across the organization.

Continuous Improvement, Lean & Performance Excellence

• Drive a Lean and continuous improvement culture throughout the operational organization.


• Serve as the operational Lean leader — own the deployment and sustainment of Lean methodologies (value stream mapping, kaizen events, standard work, visual management) and 6 Sigma tools across all sites. Set and measure meaningful KPIs tied to Lean outcomes, client satisfaction, and leading indicators.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Establish the overall functional operational vision; Support talent acquisition across the business. Identify, monitor, and maintain appropriate resources to successfully achieve milestones and high levels of client satisfaction.


• Be a role model leader with a focus on collaboration with HR, Sales, Project Management, Finance, and Program Management.

Supply Chain, Facilities & Fiscal Management

• Ensure required oversight associated with all Facilities and Equipment management and expansion across Transport, BioBanking, and Lab Services, including employee and site safety. Provide direction to the Resource Management team regarding priorities for facility maintenance and capital planning.


• P&L ownership for operational sites in SRS


• Ownership of captial planning needs for operational sites

Contracts, Reporting & Strategic Planning

• Execute to customer aligned KPIs in operational space


• Support standard business cadence (MBR, QBR, weekly management)


• Drive a strong quality culture that ensures policies, procedures, and work instructions align with regulatory requirements and industry best practices.


• Support the QA function in preparing for, hosting, and providing follow-up for client and regulatory audits.

What You Will Bring

• Four-year degree and 8+ years of increasing operational management experience.


• Experience leading operations that handle, process, or manufacture regulated materials (e.g., CLIA GMP, GTP, GLT, GCP, NABP, GMP).


• Demonstrated experience managing domestic and international operations sites


• Experience in customer service-oriented positions.


• Demonstrated Lean leadership — responsible for deploying and sustaining Lean methodologies (value stream mapping, 5S, standard work, kaizen, visual management) across operations.


• Ability to understand P&Ls and optimize revenue and margin.


• Effective collaborator in a matrixed, multi-business-line environment.


• Strong business acumen and analytical skills.


• Excellent leadership skills and ability to establish a positive employee culture.


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.


• Ability to think creatively and build domain expertise in the sample management space.


• Demonstrated experience in team building, negotiation, facilitation, and conflict resolution.

Preferred

• Active participant in continuous improvement and Lean transformation initiatives.


• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification.


• Exposure to biological specimen management and processing.


• Supply chain management and procurement experience.

Your Working Conditions

• Employee will be working in an area with potentially infectious materials.


• Employee will be responsible for maintaining a clean work environment and enforce and follow Universal Precautions for bloodborne pathogens when working in an area considered to be potentially contaminated.


• Domestic and international travel is required

Azenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company considers candidates regardless of race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

United States Base Compensation: $0.00 - $0.00

The posted pay range for this position is an estimate based on current market data and internal pay structure. Final compensation may vary above or below this range depending on factors such as experience, education (including licensure and certifications), qualifications, performance, and geographic location, among other relevant business or organizational needs.