Job Details

Associate Director, Lean Deployment

Location: Novato, California, United States

Work Style: Hybrid (2-3 days onsite per week, flexible work-from-home days)

Employment Type: Full-time

Travel: Up to 20% (Domestic and International)

Ideal Candidate:

• A humble, self-starting leader who's both strategic and hands-on
• Strong change management and communication skills
• Comfortable operating with ambiguity and influencing at all levels
• Collaborative, flexible, and open to learning
• Extroverted, yet able to balance assertiveness with empathy

Client is seeking an Associate Director, Lean Deployment to support the continued implementation of Lean methodologies across the US Technical Operations teams. This leadership role will partner cross-functionally across Supply Chain, Quality, and Technical Development & Services to embed a strong culture of operational excellence, grounded in the Lean model. This is a highly visible role, reporting directly to the Head of Global Operational Excellence, and is ideal for a hands-on, change-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced, matrixed environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment of the Lean Management System (LMS) across Novato-based operations.
• Partner closely with EU Lean counterparts on cross-regional initiatives including Lean Labs, Value Stream Management, and multi-week diagnostic engagements.
• Drive daily management system adoption across teams to improve visibility, performance, and culture.
• Lead at least one major strategic initiative per year aligned to enterprise-wide objectives, delivering measurable business value.
• Serve as a change agent across the organization, influencing cultural and behavioral transformation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to assess improvement opportunities and implement structured problem-solving approaches.
• Support leadership training, coaching, and capability building in Lean tools and methods.
• Maintain a flexible approach to support shifting business priorities, both regionally and globally.

Key Competencies

• High levels of curiosity with a growth mindset.
• Strong interpersonal skills; able to listen, influence, and collaborate at all levels.
• Passionate, hands-on leader who turns strategy into meaningful action.
• Humble and adaptable, with the ability to work independently and cross-functionally.
• Proven ability to shift mindsets and culture in large, complex organizations.
• Excellent facilitation, workshop delivery, and senior stakeholder engagement skills.

Education: Bachelor's degree required (discipline flexible). Advanced degrees a plus.

Experience:

• 10+ years in biopharma, life sciences, or similarly highly regulated industries.
• Demonstrated experience deploying and sustaining Lean or Operational Excellence systems at a functional or site level.
• Solid understanding of cGMPs and regulatory compliance in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient in Lean Six Sigma methodologies (Black Belt or Lean Leader certification strongly preferred).
• Data-driven mindset with ability to link process improvement to business impact.