Job Description

Eurofins National Service Center is searching for a Lean Program Leader to support our U.S, Canadian, and Latin America businesses.

The Lean Program Leader will manage the Lean programme by driving, supporting and coaching local Lean teams to optimize their labs and support the further development and implementation of the “Eurofins Lean Academy”. The focus of Eurofins lean projects is on sustainable change and optimization of entire labs over a 2 to 3 year period, and not on short term cost reduction or operational fire-fighting only. While Lean Program Leaders use a clearly defined methodology that is adapted to the service industry, the focus is on systematic problem solving and coaching, and not on dogmatic implementation of all classical Lean tools or on just optimizing specific pain points. Strong project and change management skills are required for successful Lean implementation in a decentralized organization such as Eurofins. 

Lean Program Leader responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following :

• Coach and drive Operational Excellence/Lean pilots/ projects. Based on the defined methodology, a Lean Programme Leader structures and launches, and for more complex projects also co-runs, the Lean projects jointly with the local Lean Project Manager. To ensure impact, the Lean Programme Leader actively participates in the structuring, the diagnostic, the generation of the project plan, and in most cases, the implementation of the pilot phase that ensures that a part of the lab is optimised while the local team is trained in Lean so they can continue optimising the remaining lab operations autonomously and the Program Leader can move to the next lab.

• At start of the project, the Lean Programme Leader will, together with the lab Lean project manager, run the day-to-day project management of a pilot, including team management, creation and tracking/ monitoring of project plans, escalation of challenges, managing interfaces with local teams, identifying and testing solutions to identified operational issues, documenting overall impact, etc.

• Over time, when the local resources are more mature and grow in autonomy, the corporate Lean Programme Leader ensures all elements are in place to ensure sustainable results (including standardization, 5S, performance management, problem solving, a proper governance) and progressively reduces their active involvement, typically leading to ongoing distant support on a regular but infrequent basis.

• Support mature lean projects and coach experienced Local Lean Project Managers. Some labs have experienced Lean Project Managers, which do not need intensive support to run their projects. They still benefit from periodic coaching on the issues they might encounter or just on having a problem solving partner. The Lean Programme Leader supports and coaches these local managers, and ensures systematic interaction and sharing of experiences and best practices. This link to local operations also supports the further development of the common Lean methodology and best practice documentation of the Lean Academy.

• Support the further development of the “Eurofins Lean Academy”. This methodology and training program is a practical and pragmatic collection of methods and tools specifically adapted to the testing laboratory world. It covers all relevant topics, from how to analyse a lab, identify and quantify improvement opportunities to finally define and implement appropriate solutions to increase quality, reduce turn-around-time and save cost.

• The Lean Programme Leader will, with support of the Permanent Improvement Programmes team and other Eurofins experts, own and develop parts of the methodology, create new training modules, review and challenge proposals from colleagues and lead/ participate in workshops to challenge and further complete the methodology.

• Support the dissemination of the “Eurofins Lean Academy” through coaching in projects, delivering of training, organization of onboarding events to visit sites, organizing knowledge sharing calls with a wider Lean expert network and contributing to specific Lean communications as newsletters.

• Participate in the selection of local Lean project managers, by supporting local HR departments in assessing the Lean knowledge and experience of candidates and participating in the recruitment decision process.

• Define best practices. The programme leader will ensure that all identified and successfully tested practices are documented so they can be shared with other labs, using standardised templates.

• Support or lead other Permanent Improvement Programmes initiatives. Depending on the workload and team composition, a Lean Programme Leader might also support or lead other initiatives of the Permanent Improvement Programmes group. They are expected to be a flexible team member of the “consulting pool” that can be assigned to different projects or initiatives, depending on the overall situation.

  The ideal candidate would possess :

• C++ and/or Visual Basic programing a plus

• Fluency in Spanish a plus

• Strong computer, scientific, and organizational skills

• Excellent communication (oral and written) and attention to detail

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude

• Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, keep accurate records, follow instructions, and comply with company policies

• Strong leadership, initiative, and teambuilding skills

Qualifications

Basic Minimum Qualifications :

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Economy, or other related degree concentration, or equivalent directly-related experience (two years of directly related industry experience is equivalent to one full-time year of college in related major)

• 75% Travel required nationally with minor international travel

• Valid U.S Passport for international travel

• 2 year of program leadership experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a Lean setting

• Authorization to work in the United States indefinitely without restriction or sponsorship

Additional Information

Position is full-time, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., with overtime as needed.  Candidates currently living in the Continental United States with the ability to meet stated travel requirements are encouraged to apply.