Associate Director - IDM Operational Excellence Continuous Improvement (CI OpEx) Champion/Coach
Eli Lilly and Company
10 hours ago
On-site
Indianapolis, IN
Operations
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Development & Influence
- Lead the development and deployment of the site’s Operational Excellence strategy, roadmap, and transformational initiatives, aligned with global and site-level objectives.
- Serve as the key interface between the Global OpEx team, Site OpEx Resources, and Site Leadership Team; facilitate shared learning and best practice replication.
- Champion Organizational Change Management (OCM), communications, and branding for Lean and Operational Excellence initiatives.
- Influence site uptake and execution of OpEx practices, tools, behaviors, and culture.
- Assist in preparation of the Site Business and Strategic Plan; lead strategy deployment and participate in relevant leadership topics.
Operational Execution, Delivery & Transformation
- Support and execute OPEX projects aligned with the site agenda; partner with business area leaders and flow teams.
- Facilitate and lead the Site CI OpEx Lead Team; provide Operational Excellence support for central functions and business areas.
- Lead and coach cross-functional teams on Continuous Improvement, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Modes Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Human Performance Reliability (HPR).
- Facilitate Operational Excellence training/education for all employee levels to sustain Lean ways of working.
- Empower individuals and teams to apply Lean behaviors and mindsets for execution excellence.
- Lead improvement events; support deployment of OpEx tools (e.g., daily management, standard work, A3 thinking, value stream management, RCA, HPR).
- Assemble/manage Operational Excellence project plans and teamwork assignments; monitor work efforts daily.
- Ensure lean principles/tools are integrated into project execution and solution design.
Continuous Improvement & Shared Learning
- Track/respond to OpEx performance trends; integrate local priorities, gating, and reporting.
- Facilitate shared learning and host education/communication sessions; apply PDCA cycles to improve business processes.
- Participate in Operational Excellence Assessments (site and globally driven) to sustain/evolve Lean maturity and MSOE alignment.
- Establish and leverage external connections to grow and sustain the OpEx culture.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 3+ years documented experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or CI/OpEx role.
Additional Preferences
- Strong written/oral communication and interpersonal skills; team-based effectiveness.
- Strong self-management and organizational skills.
- Ability to coach from shop floor to site leadership; lead project teams.
- Ability to influence without authority.
- Relevant GMP facility experience.
- Strong leadership, analytical, project management, and strategic thinking.
- Strong problem-solving and coaching.
- Effective educator/presenter; enthusiastic, flexible, positive.
- Results-oriented.
- Previous Lean Six Sigma or Operational Excellence experience.
- Day shift with possible after-hour support; occasional travel (<10%) for training/conferences/project facilitation.
Application Instructions / Eligibility
- Must be authorized to work in the United States full-time. Lilly will not support/sponsor visas including F1, OPT, F1 STEM OPT, J1, H1B, TN, O1, E3, H1B1, or L1.
Strategic Development & Influence
- Lead the development and deployment of the site’s Operational Excellence strategy, roadmap, and transformational initiatives, aligned with global and site-level objectives.
- Serve as the key interface between the Global OpEx team, Site OpEx Resources, and Site Leadership Team; facilitate shared learning and best practice replication.
- Champion Organizational Change Management (OCM), communications, and branding for Lean and Operational Excellence initiatives.
- Influence site uptake and execution of OpEx practices, tools, behaviors, and culture.
- Assist in preparation of the Site Business and Strategic Plan; lead strategy deployment and participate in relevant leadership topics.
Operational Execution, Delivery & Transformation
- Support and execute OPEX projects aligned with the site agenda; partner with business area leaders and flow teams.
- Facilitate and lead the Site CI OpEx Lead Team; provide Operational Excellence support for central functions and business areas.
- Lead and coach cross-functional teams on Continuous Improvement, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Failure Modes Effect Analysis (FMEA), and Human Performance Reliability (HPR).
- Facilitate Operational Excellence training/education for all employee levels to sustain Lean ways of working.
- Empower individuals and teams to apply Lean behaviors and mindsets for execution excellence.
- Lead improvement events; support deployment of OpEx tools (e.g., daily management, standard work, A3 thinking, value stream management, RCA, HPR).
- Assemble/manage Operational Excellence project plans and teamwork assignments; monitor work efforts daily.
- Ensure lean principles/tools are integrated into project execution and solution design.
Continuous Improvement & Shared Learning
- Track/respond to OpEx performance trends; integrate local priorities, gating, and reporting.
- Facilitate shared learning and host education/communication sessions; apply PDCA cycles to improve business processes.
- Participate in Operational Excellence Assessments (site and globally driven) to sustain/evolve Lean maturity and MSOE alignment.
- Establish and leverage external connections to grow and sustain the OpEx culture.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 3+ years documented experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or CI/OpEx role.
Additional Preferences
- Strong written/oral communication and interpersonal skills; team-based effectiveness.
- Strong self-management and organizational skills.
- Ability to coach from shop floor to site leadership; lead project teams.
- Ability to influence without authority.
- Relevant GMP facility experience.
- Strong leadership, analytical, project management, and strategic thinking.
- Strong problem-solving and coaching.
- Effective educator/presenter; enthusiastic, flexible, positive.
- Results-oriented.
- Previous Lean Six Sigma or Operational Excellence experience.
- Day shift with possible after-hour support; occasional travel (<10%) for training/conferences/project facilitation.
Application Instructions / Eligibility
- Must be authorized to work in the United States full-time. Lilly will not support/sponsor visas including F1, OPT, F1 STEM OPT, J1, H1B, TN, O1, E3, H1B1, or L1.