Manager, Operational Excellence

Overview At QIAGEN, we are driven by a simple but powerful vision: making improvements in life possible. We’re dedicated to revolutionizing science and healthcare for the better. From our entrepreneurial roots to our current global presence, we've grown into a force for positive change. With thousands of employees across six continents, collaboration is our greatest strength. We’re always striving to identify talented individuals to join our exceptional teams. We have played a pivotal role in shaping modern science and healthcare, and we're just getting started. If you're someone who thrives on new challenges, values diversity and wants to make a tangible difference in people's lives, then QIAGEN is the place for you. At QIAGEN, every day is an opportunity to make a real-life impact. Join us, grow with us, and together, let's shape the future of biological discovery. ‎ About the opportunity At QIAGEN, our vision is to make improvements in life possible. As Manager, Operational Excellence, you will play a pivotal role in driving the transformation of manufacturing operations across our North American facilities. Acting as a strategic partner to site leadership and reporting directly to the VP Operations NA, you will develop and execute Lean strategies that improve safety, quality, delivery, inventory, productivity, and overall operational performance. We are looking for a hands-on lean practitioner who can influence at all levels of the organization, lead change in a dynamic manufacturing environment, and create sustainable operational excellence through the application of Toyota production system principles, lean methodologies, and continuous improvement tools. You will collaborate with global Operational Excellence leaders across Europe and Asia to align and advance QIAGEN's continuous improvement journey worldwide. Your tasks include Develop and implement lean manufacturing strategies across site operations to achieve business objectives related to safety, quality, profitability, waste reduction, and operational excellence. Lead, mentor, and train employees and leaders at all organizational levels in Lean principles, methodologies, and continuous improvement practices. Plan and facilitate lean transformation initiatives, Kaizen events, value stream improvements, and operational excellence programs focused on SQDIP performance metrics. Establish and sustain a culture of continuous improvement through effective implementation of lean management systems, including 6S, Tier Boards, KPI management, and visual performance tracking. Analyze complex operational and performance data to identify root causes, uncover improvement opportunities, and drive evidence-based decision-making. Partner with cross-functional leaders and process owners to deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery performance, inventory management, and productivity. Act as a key change agent by communicating transformation initiatives, fostering employee engagement, and ensuring successful adoption of new processes and ways of working. Your profile Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Biological Sciences, or a related discipline; Engineering degrees are preferred. Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in manufacturing or production management, including at least 3 years applying Lean methodologies and coaching others. Demonstrated experience leading Lean transformations and driving measurable operational improvements in a manufacturing environment. Lean and/or Six Sigma certification with strong expertise in tools such as Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 6S, Kanban, Pull Systems, Poka-Yoke, PDCA, Root Cause Analysis, Hoshin Kanri, and other continuous improvement methodologies. Proven leadership style with strong influencing, coaching, stakeholder management, and change management capabilities. Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets and translate findings into actionable business improvements. Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications; experience with MS Project, MS Access, and Power BI is advantageous. The estimated base salary range for this position is $110,000-$135,000. Compensation will be based on the candidate’s experience, skills, geographic location, and other job-related factors. In addition to base salary, we offer a total compensation package that includes a commission plan, annual bonus, and generous benefits. What we offer Bonus/Commission Local benefits Referral Program Volunteer Day Internal Academy ( QIALearn ) Employee Assistance Program Hybrid work (conditional to your role) Our people are the heartbeat of everything we do. Passion drives us as we push boundaries to innovate and evolve. We inspire with our leadership and make an impact with our actions. We cultivate a collaborative, supportive environment where each individual and team can flourish. We champion accountability and encourage entrepreneurial thinking. QIAGEN is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, or disability.