Description

Be part of shaping the future of Operations here at AstraZeneca 

We are driven by our commitment to deliver accelerated growth for AstraZeneca and to make people’s lives better. It pushes us to keep building on our foundations and progressing as we turn our ever-growing and increasingly complex pipeline from molecule to medicine. Be part of evolving how we work with Lean, cutting-edge science, digitalization and sustainable practices. 

Global Supply Chain and Strategy (GSC&S) leads the design, development, planning and governance of AstraZeneca’s supply chains to ensure we have the most efficient and effective ways of getting life-changing medicines to patients. GSC&S works closely with our manufacturing sites, our Global External Sourcing organization, and many other areas of the business to ensure we use our manufacturing sites in the best way and have a joined-up approach across our global supply chain. 

Lean is how we deliver for our people and our patients and the GSC&S Lean team is responsible for developing and deploying the behaviors, principles, standards and tools of the AstraZeneca Supply System across our network to drive and maximize tangible business value.  

As an Operational Excellence – Senior Manager Lean Coach, you will be responsible for driving operational excellence end-to-end in our highly integrated, interdependent supply chains to enable transformational change in the operating systems, management systems, attitudes and behaviors of our people. This to help us deliver our mission “Every medicine, Every Patient, Every Time” at the highest quality, the lowest cost, and in the shortest lead time. 

Due to the nature of the work, supporting a global function, expected travel will be up to ~5%.   

What you’ll do:  

• In close collaboration with the wider GSC&S Lean team and leaders in the function, you will develop plans and execute performance improvement activities at the process and systems level through application of the AstraZeneca Supply System (AZSS) principles. 

• Utilizing various Lean and Six Sigma tools and techniques you will diagnose, analyze and improve business processes. 
• Train, coach and mentor others on all aspects of business process management, techniques, and tools. Lead deep process analysis through value stream mapping to identify obstacles due to ineffective business processes and can lead Kaizen to improve flow and performance 
• Develop visual controls & management to make problems visible and responds with urgency to effectively break down sophisticated problems, lead root cause analysis, and develop effective countermeasures. 
• Apply Practical Problem-Solving methodology to solve complex problems and collaborates and partner with all levels of the organization to systematically share knowledge as one of the means to develop others and accelerate business results 
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and challenging the status quo, while driving departmental/regional strategies that align with AstraZeneca’s long-term strategy. Support teams to mitigate risk, align resources, and drive on-time completion of initiatives 

• Mentor others on effective communication and active listening techniques to a fuller understanding of client/customer needs and expectations 
• Build trust and develop new relationships with internal and external clients to effectively collaborate and achieve successful outcomes at a functional/global level.  

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Operations Management (or equivalent)

• Minimum of 5 years with process improvement

• Significant hands-on, practitioner-level experience in Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management, and Sourcing (or related function)

• Experience in working with functional teams (or applying to manufacture lean principles) in a transactional environment.

• Experience in analyzing complex end-to-end supply chains and driving process improvement

• Extensive hands-on experience in the application of Lean tools and techniques (Business Process Management, Standardised Work, practical problem solving, kaizen, value stream mapping, mistake proofing, level loading demand, and pull systems)

• Ability to interact and influence at all levels of the business with exceptional listening skills

• Coaching, guiding, and driving a high-performance organization through lean methodology

• Demonstrated application of behavior, cultural, and business change methodologies when driving cross-functional process improvement initiatives

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certified Lean Leader or equivalent

• Six Sigma Black Belt