Senior Manager, External Manufacturing Operations

Work Schedule Standard (Mon-Fri) Environmental Conditions Office Job Description Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering About Thermo Fisher Scientific At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you'll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner, and safer. We empower our teams with the resources, development opportunities, and support needed to achieve individual career goals while advancing scientific innovation to solve some of the world's most complex challenges—from protecting the environment and ensuring food safety to accelerating the search for life-saving therapies. Position Summary The Senior Manager, Manufacturing Engineering will provide strategic and technical leadership to drive operational excellence, value engineering, and cost optimization across Thermo Fisher Scientific's external manufacturing network. This role is responsible for leading engineering-driven cost reduction initiatives, implementing a scalable Contract Manufacturer (CM) engagement framework, and developing a sustainable savings pipeline that supports business growth and profitability. Working closely with Procurement, R&D, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, and Contract Manufacturing partners, the successful candidate will identify and implement value creation opportunities, improve manufacturing efficiency, optimize product and process design, and ensure consistent execution of engineering best practices across the external manufacturing footprint. Key Responsibilities Contract Manufacturer Engagement & Continuous Improvement Lead the deployment and execution of the Contract Manufacturer engagement framework, driving sustainable improvements in cost, quality, and operational performance. Facilitate improvement workshops with Contract Manufacturers and cross-functional Thermo Fisher teams to identify and implement value engineering opportunities. Evaluate cost-saving opportunities using established decision-making processes and contribute to performance tracking and reporting. Monitor framework effectiveness, gather stakeholder feedback, and recommend enhancements to improve engagement outcomes. Participate in and co-lead quarterly business reviews to assess performance, identify lessons learned, and drive continuous improvement. Value Engineering & Cost Reduction Lead and execute engineering-led cost reduction initiatives that contribute directly to company profitability and long-term competitiveness. Manage and prioritize the value engineering opportunity pipeline, including: Design optimization and design control improvements Make-versus-buy assessments Manufacturing footprint optimization Value chain and sourcing opportunities Collaborate with internal and external partners to implement approved initiatives and ensure successful realization of savings. Savings Pipeline Management Develop, maintain, and manage a robust engineering savings pipeline aligned with business objectives. Track project progress, quantify value creation, and communicate results to leadership and key stakeholders. Ensure timely execution and realization of identified opportunities. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with Procurement, R&D, Product Management, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to implement strategic engineering and manufacturing improvements. Collaborate with Finance to validate cost-saving opportunities, assess project feasibility, and ensure accurate savings reporting. Support technology transfer, process optimization, and operational excellence initiatives across the external manufacturing network. Performance Monitoring & Reporting Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators, including: Cost savings achieved Project milestone completion Return on investment (ROI) Framework adoption and effectiveness Present project outcomes, key achievements, and improvement opportunities to senior leadership and stakeholders. Training & Capability Development Develop and deliver training programs to ensure consistent application of the engagement framework and cost reduction methodologies. Promote the adoption of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Practical Process Improvement (PPI) principles across teams and external partners. Share best practices and lessons learned to drive continuous capability development. Minimum Qualifications Advanced degree with 6+ years of experience, or Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of experience in regulated manufacturing environments such as medical device, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, or related industries. Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Manufacturing, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline. Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing technical teams and leading organizational change initiatives. Demonstrated success leading value engineering, cost reduction, continuous improvement, or operational excellence programs. Strong understanding of cGMP, ISO standards, quality systems, and regulatory compliance requirements. Experience with new product introductions, technology transfers, and process validation activities. Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, and Practical Process Improvement (PPI). Strong project management capabilities with experience leading complex cross-functional initiatives. Proven ability to develop and execute strategic plans aligned with business objectives. Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making skills. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all organizational levels. Experience working with Contract Manufacturers and external suppliers is highly preferred. Proficiency with manufacturing systems, quality tools, and engineering performance metrics. Preferred Qualifications Six Sigma Black Belt, PMP, or equivalent professional certification. Experience in supplier development, contract manufacturing management, or external operations. Knowledge of automation, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Experience managing capital projects, budgets, and resource planning. Travel Travel required approximately 20–30%, including visits to Contract Manufacturing sites and key business partners.