Job Details

Job Title: 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.

Recruiter Submission Template - Associate Director, Lean Deployment
Full Name:
Bachelor/Master's Degree Major with University and Completion Year:
Experience in Biopharma / Life Sciences / Regulated Industries:
Lean Deployment / Lean Management Systems:
Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement Leadership:
Experience in cGMP and Regulatory Compliance:
Experience in Cross-functional Leadership (Quality, Supply Chain, Tech Ops) :
Experience with Daily Management System:
Lean Six Sigma Methodologies (Black Belt / Lean Leader Cert) :
Experience with Value Stream Mapping / Lean Labs / Diagnostics?
Experience Coaching, Training, and Change Management?
Experience in Global / Matrixed Organizations ?
Senior Stakeholder Engagement and Facilitation Skills :
Project / Program Management?
Experience with Data-Driven Process Improvement?
Tools: SharePoint / Confluence?
Tools: JIRA or similar?
Motivation / Reason for Interest in this Position:
Contact Number:
E-mail ID:
LinkedIn ID:
Full Address (Street, City, State, Zip Code):
Notice Period (in weeks):
Current Work Authorization Status (e.g., US Citizen, Green Card, etc.):
Expected Salary:
Are you willing to work onsite (2-3 days/week) in Novato, CA? (Y/N):
Are you willing to travel up to 20% (domestic/international)? (Y/N):