Sr. Manager, Operational Excellence

Moderna Therapeutics; Norwood (MA); Hybrid; USD 131,000 - 209,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive healthcare

Well-being programs

Family planning benefits

Generous paid time off

Equity/incentive opportunities

Job summary

Moderna seeks a Senior Manager, Operational Excellence to lead cross-functional improvement efforts across CMC, solving business problems and unlocking value. You will use structured problem solving, digital tools, AI, and emerging tech to rethink how work gets done, experiment, and apply new approaches with practical impact.

Based in our hybrid in-office model, you will partner with teams across the organization, set improvement strategies, coach teams, and drive measurable benefits while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, science, or equivalent.
• Minimum 6 years of experience driving process improvement and change adoption.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement, structured problem solving, performance management.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and drive sustained value.
• English proficiency in written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional improvement initiatives delivering measurable outcomes.
• Define problems, test hypotheses, identify root causes, translate insights into action.
• Set improvement approach for multiple portfolios, select methods accordingly.
• Facilitate cross-functional sessions to align and decide on actions.
• Design future states with standard work, measures, ownership, and change adoption.
• Coach teams in problem framing, root-cause analysis, and benefit assumptions.
• Address cross-process constraints to prevent local optimization.
• Drive benefit realization and ensure sustained results.
• Clarify ownership, approvals, and escalation across processes.
• Share and scale effective improvement approaches across teams.
• Explore and adopt digital tools and AI to improve work and value.

Skills

Structured problem solving

Change management

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication skills

English proficiency

Ambiguity navigation

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/operations/engineering/science or equivalent

Tools

Digital tools & AI

Automation

Low-code/no-code

Job description

The Role

The Senior Manager, Operational Excellence will lead complex, cross-functional improvement efforts across CMC, helping teams solve important business problems, simplify how work gets done, and unlock measurable value. As part of a central Operational Excellence team, this role is for an intellectually curious, highly adaptable problem solver who is energized by ambiguity. You will partner closely with teams and leaders across organizational boundaries to understand complex systems, identify root causes and opportunities, and translate insights into both near-term improvements and longer-term, scalable solutions. The role requires someone who can combine structured problem solving with digital tools, automation, AI, and emerging technologies to rethink how work gets done. You will be expected to experiment, learn quickly, and apply new approaches thoughtfully, while keeping the focus on practical solutions and business impact.

Here’s What You’ll Do

• Lead complex, cross-functional improvement initiatives that address important business problems and deliver measurable outcomes.
• Bring structure to ambiguous problems by defining the problem, testing hypotheses, identifying root causes, and translating insights into action.
• Set the improvement approach for multiple complex portfolios, selecting methods based on the problem.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams and working sessions to create alignment, surface tradeoffs, make decisions, and move from analysis to action.
• Design practical future states and integrate standard work, measures, ownership, and change adoption across connected processes.
• Coach teams in rigorous problem framing, root-cause analysis, method selection, and benefit assumptions.
• Resolve cross-process or portfolio constraints and intervene when local optimization would weaken the broader system.
• Drive benefit realization and intervene when results are not sustained.
• Clarify process ownership, decision rights, approvals, and escalation across connected processes.
• Share and scale effective improvement approaches across teams without adding unnecessary complexity.
• Continuously explore, experiment with and adopt digital tools and emerging technologies, including AI, to improve how you work and deliver value.
• From time to time, you may be asked to perform other reasonable duties related to your role and consistent with your skills, training, and experience.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Basic Qualifications)

• Relevant bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, science, or an approved equivalent.
• A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience driving process improvement, process capability, performance management, and change adoption.
• Demonstrated knowledge of continuous improvement, structured problem solving, performance management, and change adoption.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, and help ensure improvements are adopted, sustained, and deliver expected value.
• Demonstrated learning agility and ability to quickly grasp new concepts, processes and technologies.
• Ability to communicate clearly, manage priorities, and collaborate effectively across disciplines.
• Full professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma problem solving, Kata coaching, Agile ways of working, or other structured approaches to problem solving and delivery.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience applying digital tools, analytics, automation, low-code/no-code solutions, generative AI, or emerging technologies to improve business processes.
• Experience coaching others in problem solving, continuous improvement, or change adoption.

Our Working Model

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship.

Pay & Benefits

• Competitive healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

The salary range for this role is $130,800.00 - $209,400.00. This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. An individual’s position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, specific competencies, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, performance, and business or organizational needs. The successful candidate may be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus, other incentive compensation, or equity award, subject to company plan eligibility criteria and individual performance.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world. By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

Equal Opportunities

Moderna is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. Moderna is a place where everyone can grow.

Moderna is an E-Verify Employer in the United States

We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Accommodations We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations team at [e-mail].

Export Control Notice

This position may involve access to technology or data that is subject to U.S. export control laws, including the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). As such, employment is contingent upon the applicant’s ability to access export-controlled information in accordance with U.S. law. Due to the nature of the work and regulatory requirements, only individuals who qualify as U.S. persons (citizens, permanent residents, asylees, or refugees) are eligible for this position. For this role Moderna is unable to sponsor non-U.S. persons to apply for an export control license.

Our Mission and Vision

At Moderna we are pioneering the development of a new class of drugs made of messenger RNA (mRNA). This novel drug platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the body’s cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest, from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs that can have therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells. We have a clear mission to propel the field of mRNA science forward and deliver new medicines to patients and a unique vision for how to achieve this mission. Our Mission: To deliver on the promise of transformative messenger RNA (mRNA) science to bring new medicines to patients. Our Vision: To unlock the potential of mRNA by establishing an ecosystem of teams and partners that will work together to develop the broadest possible array of drugs, across diverse therapeutic areas and routes of administration, for serious diseases that are not treatable today.

Third Party Staffing Agencies

Moderna does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates. For the protection of all parties involved in the recruiting process, resumes will only be accepted from recruiters/agencies if a signed agreement is in place at the inception of the recruiting effort and authorized for a specified position. Unsolicited resumes sent to Moderna from recruiters/agencies do not constitute any type of relationship between the recruiter/agency and Moderna and do not obligate Moderna to pay fees if we hire from those resumes.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Moderna will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. Please inform the company's personnel representative by calling 617-460-9346 or emailing [e-mail] if you need assistance completing any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.