Senior Vice President Operations

Data Sciences International (DSI); Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Harvard Bioscience is seeking a Vice President of Operations to lead global manufacturing operations, supply chain, procurement, quality and regulatory. The role focuses on cost reduction, quality, service, and durable processes across multiple sites.

The ideal candidate will drive Lean/Six Sigma initiatives, establish S&OP, and partner with the executive team to deliver sustained improvements while maintaining regulatory compliance and a strong safety culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in operations/manufacturing or engineering.
• 20+ years of manufacturing/operations leadership experience, multi-site.
• Experience in life science tools or highly regulated manufacturing.
• Demonstrated success delivering cost, quality, and service improvements.
• Experience establishing manufacturing operating systems with Lean, S&OP, vendor optimization.
• Experience with manufacturing automation and production scale-up.

Responsibilities

• Lead global manufacturing operations with accountability for SQDC.
• Drive transformation of manufacturing, supply chain and procurement; implement robust S&OP.
• Champion Lean and Six Sigma to reduce waste and improve performance.
• Lead executive functions: manufacturing, supply chain and procurement.
• Collaborate with CEO/CFO on operating plans, budgets and cost control.
• Ensure compliance with ISO13485 and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Global leadership

Lean Six Sigma

P&L management

Cross-functional leadership

S&OP process

Cost reduction

Quality and regulatory focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in operations/manufacturing or engineering

Job description

About Harvard Bioscience

Harvard Bioscience is a leading Life Sciences Tools company with ~$100M of revenue that develops, manufactures, and sells products and services for drug discovery and preclinical testing. Our primary customers are pharmaceutical and biotech companies, contract research organizations, and leading academic institutions. Manufacturing and supply chain operations are located in Minnesota, Massachusetts, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, and China. We sell direct and through distribution channels to customers around the world. We are a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: HBIO). We are passionate about helping our customers bring life changing pharmaceuticals and technologies to market. We live our values all the time, all around the world.

Role and requirements

The Vice President of Operations has responsibility for global manufacturing operations, supply chain, procurement, quality, and regulatory. This role reports directly to the CEO and is a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The primary metrics of success are driving cost reduction, increasing product quality, improving service, and implementing durable processes, such as a rigorous S&OP process, throughout a multi-site global organization. Must be execution focused, action oriented and possess extreme ownership mentality.

Essential Job Functions

skills and abilities required

• Lead our global manufacturing operations organization and establish high-performing manufacturing leadership team accountable for Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost (SQDC).
• Drive the continued transformation of our existing manufacturing operations, supply chain and procurement organizations by optimizing the processes, systems, capabilities and operating discipline required to support significant growth. It will include driving a robust S&OP process throughout the organization.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma and continuous improvement methodologies to reduce variability, eliminate waste and bottlenecks, and improve operational performance.
• Demonstrated pattern of success managing operations elements of the P&L and strategic initiatives.
  • Lead executive for several global functions; manufacturing, supply chain and procurement.
  • Establish metrics, formulating and administering key policies, managing organizational structure and process.
  • Set monthly, quarterly, and annual operating plans for operations with CEO and CFO, including managing and controlling expenses and cash flow with areas of functional ownership.
  • Collaborate with other executive team members for key strategic initiatives (e.g., major RFP's and new market expansion).

Quality and Regulatory Experience

• Ensure our manufacturing operations comply with applicable standards ISO13485 Quality Management systems and other global regulatory requirements.
• Champion a quality-first culture in which product quality, customer impact, risk management and regulatory compliance are embedded in our manufacturing operations and decision-making.
• Ensure our manufacturing processes, documentation and training systems and controls remain capable and compliant as production volumes and organization complexities increase.

skills and experience

Prior experience integrating acquired businesses, with demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage a global team in driving operational synergies through site-consolidations, vendor management, end-to-end business process optimization and disciplined expense management.

Experience in life science tools, instrumentation, or medical device is preferred.

Drive extreme ownership throughout the organization. Enable individual and team effectiveness; organizes and manages individuals and teams for the sustained accomplishment of results, superior relationship building, communication aligned to Harvard Bioscience values.

Education and Experience and/or equivalent

• Bachelor's degree in operations/manufacturing, engineering, or related discipline.
• 20+ years of manufacturing and operations leadership experience, including multi-site and multinational responsibility.
• Experience within life science tools or another highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success in delivering significant and sustainable improvements in cost, quality, and service.
• Experience establishing manufacturing operating systems incorporating Lean, continuous improvement, S&OP, vendor selection and optimization.
• Experience with manufacturing automation, advanced manufacturing technologies, and the transition from manual toward increasing automated production environments.
• Strong understanding of new product introduction, design transfer, process validation, manufacturing readiness, and production scale-up.
• Working knowledge of ISO1385, Quality Management Systems and applicable requirements for regulated manufacturing.
• Strong strategic and financial acumen including manufacturing capacity and footprint planning, capital investments, operating budgets, productivity and cost management.
• Demonstrated ability to build and develop high performing manufacturing organizations and leadership teams through significant growth and change.
• Exceptional leadership, communication and change management skills with the ability to operate effectively from the executive level to the manufacturing floor.

travel

20-40% of the time. Must be able to travel to Harvard Bioscience sites in the US, UK, Germany, Sweden, Spain, and China.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/VETERAN/DISABILITY

FLSA

Exempt

ADA Disclaimer

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.