Job Description
THE COMPANY
At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. One of the world’s first global biotechnology companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 and today has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis, has introduced the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy, and is focused on advancing neuroscience research programs in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, MS and neuroimmunology, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, acute neurology, neurocognitive disorders, pain, and ophthalmology. Biogen also manufactures and commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics.
Global Business Services and Business Optimization
The Global Business Services (GBS) and Business Optimization team is a newly formed organization established to transform Biogen’s business processes with a vision of “Lean and Simple” operations to fuel commercial growth and the innovation pipeline. Further, GBS will provide further value by developing and delivering a suite of business solutions and support services that are valued by internal customers. GBS will deliver services by leveraging a global delivery model, operational transparency and metrics, leveraging global best practices, and a service-oriented process improvement culture. All solutions will be supported by strong business cases and ultimately monitored for the effectiveness and efficiency against benchmarks and service level agreements.
The vision of GBS at Biogen is to be recognized as a world-class Global Business Services organization driven by the desire for excellence in its people, business solutions, execution and partnerships with internal customers to develop “Lean and Simple” business solutions.
The GBS Business Optimization team will champion building a continuous improvement culture that other parts of the organization will recognize and seek out for business support. We are developing a performance-based culture supported by tools, training, and well-defined accountability, where people can build their career or prepare for a role in the wider business or elsewhere within GBS. We seek individuals who can enhance our team with their knowledge, skills, innovation, collaboration and “can do” attitude.
THE POSITION
The role of CI Consultant (Continuous Improvement Coach/Partner) is responsible for partnering with a functional group(s) to develop and mature a CI program and therefore enable a culture of CI across the organization of Biogen. The CI Coach will report into the CI COE, which is responsible for establishing best practices; a CI roadmap, tools/ methodologies, training & certification, governance as well as measurement system & reward and recognition for CI across the company. This CI Consultant will partner with the CI Champion, CI Practitioners, Finance Lead as well as the Functional Leadership team (as needed) in their assigned functional group(s) to mature the CI program.
Role accountabilities • Partner with the CI Champion(s) in the functional group(s) to develop and implement a plan to enable their CI program from Initiate action through Drive and Sustain High Performance • Partner with the CI Champion and the functional leadership team to enable the CI strategy; including program goals, measurable deliverables (training, targeted project numbers as well as financial goals), program governance as well as success measures and reward and recognition processes • Partner with the CI Champion and the functional leadership team to develop a project portfolio, a project prioritization framework and resource plans that will enable the team to deliver on their CI strategy • Partner and mentor/coach the CI Practitioners in the execution of projects, leveraging the DMAIC framework and the CI toolkit • Support the delivery of training across all levels of the organization on Continuous Improvement methods • Prepare program and project materials as needed in collaboration with the CI roles in the functional area • Create/ensure creation of compelling and clear recommendations (including process and technology changes and requirements), business cases and synthesis/key messages to articulate the value proposition of each project • Document and present project conclusions and deliverables to business, functions, and management with recommendations. Demonstrate proficiency via effectively presenting complex topics in an easy-to-understand manner and via facilitation of meetings with representatives from all levels of the business
Qualifications
SKILLS REQUIRED The CI Consultant, should possess the following characteristics: • CI Program office expertise; program governance, methodologies and tools, success measures, rewards and recognition processes • Ability to lead and manage large and small projects across diverse suite of business process areas and operational topics • Ability to structure large-scale transformational projects for success by ensuring goals are clear, work streams are integrated, resourced, measured and governed for success • Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively at all levels of the organization • Strong problem solving, analytical, verbal and written communication skills • Strong process and solution design skills – must be able to develop solutions to complex problems • Proven ability to lead, manage, and influence others to deliver projects on-time and within budget to achieve specified goals and objectives • Experience in facilitation of issue resolution and escalation via coordinating solution development across the project team, steering committee, and business stakeholders • Ability to influence key executive stakeholders both within and outside of GBS at all levels of the organization • Ability to handle conflict situations effectively
BACKGROUND / EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The ideal candidate for the CI Consultant role will have the following experience: • 7-10 years of experience, with a strong preference in the biotech/pharma/life sciences industry; management consulting a plus • Life sciences/bio pharma and/or prior GBS work experience strongly preferred • Full life-cycle Business improvement methodology, including Lean Six Sigma. Experience with facilitation of Kaizen events. Lean Green belt or Black belt preferred • Outstanding ability to diagnose problems that may be related to process, technology, strategy, or people and to put in place a clear plan to overcome the problem • Applied experience in key business processes (HCP engagement, Congresses and Meetings, Ad-boards, Sponsorships etc.); demonstrated business acumen to learn other business disciplines (R&D, Supply Chain, Manufacturing) • Solid financial acumen and ability to develop business cases that support new or improved project proposals • Consultative style: Ability to formulate and articulate a perspective and present it in a manner that generates understanding and alignment • Demonstrated ability to envision and influence operational strategies • Self-motivated and capable of operating independently with limited oversight. Strong sense of personal accountability for work tasks and generating that sense of accountability within their team • Comfort dealing with ambiguity and a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment • Proven ability to create solid project plans and to manage full lifecycle of project execution with rigor and disciple around deliverable creation and deliverable quality (lean initiatives, transitions, acquisitions/divestitures and/or technology projects)
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND / REQUIREMENTS A Bachelor’s degree in Business (or Management), Operations or related discipline, or equivalent work experience is required; a Master’s degree (or equivalent) is highly desired
Additional Information
The role of CI Consultant (Continuous Improvement Coach/Partner) is responsible for partnering with a functional group(s) to develop and mature a CI program and therefore enable a culture of CI across the organization of Biogen. The CI Coach will report into the CI COE, which is responsible for establishing best practices; a CI roadmap, tools/ methodologies, training & certification, governance as well as measurement system & reward and recognition for CI across the company.