Site Operational Excellence Lead
Job Summary
Were excited to share this opportunity is part of the Sandoz acquisition of Just-Evotec Biologics in Toulouse. Through this opportunity you will impact the lives of hundreds of millions of people through bold ideas supported by an inclusive agile company culture. Join us to help make healthcare fairer and faster help us to pioneer access to medicine! Click to learn more.
Site Operational Excellence Lead is accountable to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives enhancing manufacturing and business processes efficiency effectiveness and reducing waste. Ensures the achievement of site performance targets while increasing OpEx proficiency across the site. The role acts as a change champion and facilitates particular Site Perfomance & Operational Excellence Lead will support the deployment of the Toulouse Target Operating Model (TOM) and Site Performance System ensuring sustainable performance improvement productivity gains and operational excellence. The role is accountable for implementing SQDCP management routines across all organizational levels delivering the sites VSM/OPEX roadmap and enabling a annual productivity improvement of 5-10% while supporting GMP readiness PPQ execution and commercial manufacturing readiness.
Major Accountabilities
Site Perfomance & Operational Excellence Lead the transformation of site performance by embedding Operational Excellence principles across all functions and organizational levels. Drive execution excellence performance management and continuous improvement to ensure sustainable achievement of business quality compliance HSE and operational objectives.
The role is instrumental in establishing a high-performance culture through the deployment of robust performance management systems including SQDCP governance visual management tiered accountability problem-solving capabilities and disciplined execution routines. The incumbent partners with site leadership and cross-functional teams to translate strategic objectives into measurable operational results.
A key responsibility is the development and execution of the sites long-term Operational Excellence roadmap including implementation of the Target Operating Model (TOM) Value Stream Management (VSM) productivity improvement programs and organizational capability building. The role ensures that Lean Six Sigma and Change Management methodologies are effectively applied to accelerate operational maturity and deliver sustainable performance improvements.
The position leads site-wide initiatives focused on:
Productivity and efficiency improvement
Operational reliability and performance stability
Safety GMP and compliance-by-design practices
End-to-end value stream optimization
Cost competitiveness and waste elimination
Continuous improvement culture and capability development
The incumbent is expected to identify prioritize and execute value creation initiatives that deliver measurable business impact (P&L relevant) supporting annual productivity improvements of approximately 5% to 10% and contributing to the sites long-term competitiveness and growth objectives.
This is a site-specific leadership role with accountability for driving strategic transformation initiatives strengthening operational capabilities and ensuring successful execution of the sites business priorities and future growth ambition.
1. Site Performance Transformation & Operational Excellence
Lead the deployment of the Toulouse Operational Excellence and Performance Transformation roadmap to support GMP readiness commercial operations network integration and long-term site competitiveness.
Design and implement the sites Target Operating Model (TOM) ensuring clear governance accountability decision-making processes and performance routines across all functions.
Deploy and sustain SQDCP performance management at all organizational levels from shopfloor teams to Site Leadership Team.
Drive the implementation of visual management tiered meetings escalation processes problem-solving methodologies and performance review routines.
Lead Value Stream Management initiatives across Manufacturing Quality Control Warehouse MS&T Engineering and supporting functions.
Identify and execute productivity improvement opportunities supporting the sites ambition to deliver sustainable year-on-year efficiency gains.
Support rapid performance recovery initiatives when required including deviation backlog reduction operational stabilization GMP readiness actions inspection preparedness and operational excellence acceleration programs.
Ensure operational excellence principles are embedded in daily management rather than treated as standalone improvement projects.
2. Performance Management & Business Execution
Establish and maintain a robust site performance management system aligned with Safety Quality Delivery Cost People and Sustainability objectives.
Partner with functional leaders to define meaningful standard KPIs targets and performance improvement plans. Analyze operational performance data and identify performance gaps risks trends and opportunities for improvement.
Drive accountability through regular performance reviews and fact-based decision-making.
Support the Site Leadership Team in translating strategic priorities into actionable improvement roadmaps and measurable outcomes.
Develop site-wide visibility on critical business GMP supply and operational performance indicators.
Embrace existing and emerging digital technology and data analysis
3. Continuous Improvement & Productivity
Lead high-impact cross-functional improvement initiatives focused on productivity capacity flow efficiency reliability and waste reduction.
Facilitate Value Stream Mapping Gemba activities Kaizen events root-cause analysis workshops and operational problem-solving sessions.
Drive end-to-end process improvements across the site rather than isolated functional optimizations.
Collaborate with Finance to quantify track and validate benefits generated through improvement initiatives.
Develop and maintain the sites Productivity Roadmap and Value Creation Portfolio.
4. Leadership Capability & Change Management
Coach leaders at all levels in Operational Excellence principles structured problem solving performance management and continuous improvement.
Support managers in building engaged accountable and high-performing teams.
Lead organizational change management activities associated with site transformation initiatives.
Foster a culture of ownership transparency continuous learning and operational discipline.
Build internal Operational Excellence capabilities and identify future champions within the organization.
5. Strategic Projects & Transformation Programs
Lead or support strategic site transformation initiatives ensuring alignment between business objectives resources risks and implementation plans.
Provide project governance support for major site priorities including technology transfers capacity expansion GMP readiness initiatives and operational transformation programs.
Ensure effective cross-functional coordination and escalation management for critical site programs.
Support leaders in prioritizing resources and improvement initiatives based on business impact and strategic importance.
6. Compliance Quality & Sustainability
Ensure all improvement initiatives fully support GMP Quality HSE and regulatory requirements.
Promote a compliant-by-design and quality-by-design mindset within operational excellence activities.
Use performance data and operational insights to improve compliance inspection readiness and risk management.
Support the integration of sustainability objectives into site operational performance and continuous improvement activities.
7. Stakeholder Management & Network Collaboration
Serve as a strategic partner to the Site Head and Site Leadership Team on performance transformation and operational excellence matters.
Collaborate with global functions Operational Excellence communities and network sites to share best practices and leverage internal expertise.
Provide clear communication on site performance transformation progress risks and achievements.
Represent Toulouse in network Operational Excellence forums and contribute to the development of best practices across the organization.
Key Performance Indicators
Platform Compelling Business Needs
OpEx pipeline
SBS milestones achievement
People capability building plans achievement. On Time Certification.
Delivery of annual site productivity targets (5-10% efficiency improvement)
Measurable improvements in Safety Quality Delivery Cost and People performance
Reduction of operational inefficiencies deviations and performance losses
Number of Associates:
Direct reports: 1
Indirect influence across all site functions (Manufacturing MS&T Quality QC Engineering Supply Chain Warehouse HSE and Support Functions)
Financial responsibility
Works with Finance to validate and track business benefits generated through transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Impact on the organisation
High
Responsible for driving site-wide performance transformation and Operational Excellence deployment to support GMP readiness commercial operations and long-term competitiveness.
Ideal Background
Education:
Required : Bachelors or Masters Degree in Engineering Industrial Engineering Biotechnology Life Sciences Pharmaceutical Sciences Chemical Engineering or a related discipline.
Preferred : Masters Degree in Engineering Chemical Engineering Industrial Engineering Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Manufacturing or Operational Excellence related fields.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification (Black Belt preferred) or equivalent experience
Formal training in Continuous Improvement Operational Excellence Project Management or Change Management methodologies.
Languages:
Fluent English required; French is a strong advantage.
Experience and Skills:
Advanced knowledge and practical application of Lean Manufacturing Operational Excellence Value Stream Management and Continuous Improvement in a regulated GMP environment.
FR : Dans le cadre de sa politique Diversité Evotec étudie à compétences égales toutes les candidatures dont celles des personnes en situation de handicap.
ENG : In the frame of our Diversity policy Evotec considers with equal competences all applications including people with disabilities.
About Company
Evotec is a global biotechnology company committed to advancing drug discovery & development together with our partners for medicines that matter.