Director Lean Transformation

Recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies,” Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that doctors and patients need to make better healthcare decisions. We are pioneers in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care.

With corporate headquarters in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DGX) and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. With 2023 revenues of $9.25 billion and over 2,250 patient locations across the United States, Quest Diagnostics serves half of the physicians and hospitals in the U.S. with their large variety of products and services.

The Role

This position is a key leader of the Lean Business Transformation team, driving an end-to-end analysis of the Business Operations & performance measures, identifying cross-functional system view of opportunities for profitable growth, and driving business transformation leveraging LEAN methodologies specifically focused on Continuous Improvement, system thinking, and big data analytics techniques (adopting AI). Additionally, this role requires operational experience in business financials, functions, and demonstrated ability to collaboratively work across multiple functions to drive change. This role will coach and develop cross-functional teams that are responsible for driving business analytics, use of LEAN toolset with the operating functions, project management of the lean projects and leading / implementing appropriate operating cadence for the business.

Responsibilities

• Implement the Lean Business System including standard work, daily management, problem-solving cadence, and kaizen roadmaps.
• Establish a lean competency program which; ensures the application of globally recognized standards for lean principles and practices, serves as a benchmark for achievements, provides a common roadmap for continuous improvement and workforce development
• Owns the learning, application, and adoption of Lean principles and practices with the goal of building localized self-sufficiency, sustainability, and scalability of improvement efforts.
• Owns a portfolio of strategic lean transformation projects, and the operational execution that results in large-scale improvement across designated functions and businesses.
• Champions and drives the use of big data analytics tools to tackle system level problems.
• Drives cultural change shift from dashboards and analytics towards actions and results.
• Develop capability across the spectrum from the tactical (deployment and application of principles, concepts and methods) to the strategic (a transformation that deeply impacts a key value stream)
• Collaborate with functional leads and other key stakeholders to diagnose the end-to-end value chain, identify opportunities and establish execution roadmaps to improve productivity and margin.
• Act as a coach and guide to laboratory sites, collaborating with site leaders to improve the operations’ safety, quality, delivery, cost and lean maturity
• Contributes toward building a grass-roots culture of continuous improvement, use of big data analytics techniques, system thinking, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Develops and leads Lean transformation training classes as well as coaching and mentoring staff in region.
• Establishes structured operational mechanisms of communication of project timelines, risks, impact and results.
• Presents to executive leadership, sponsors and stakeholders regularly

Qualifications:

Required Work Experience:

• BS or BA Degree; Master’s Degree preferred
• Minimum 10 years in a General Management or lean/operational leadership role
• Minimum of 7 years mastering a variety Lean and Growth-related tools such as: Strategy Deployment, Problem Solving, Daily Management, Standard Work, and VSM/Process Mapping
• Demonstrated understanding of continuous improvement, process management, or system thinking (value stream thinking)
• Proven track record in facilitating cross functional discussions, targeted workshops, and Kaizens to achieve strategic & operational objectives.
• General knowledge of Hoshin and breakthrough planning
• Demonstrates expertise in driving cross functional collaboration and business transformation projects using program management principles and tools, and has a strong track record of success leading and influencing at the senior leadership level without direct authority in driving change,
• Captures, quantifies, and reapplies best-in-class practices between laboratories, businesses, and regions.
• Advanced data analysis skills
• Financial and Operations acumen

Preferred Work Experience:

• Ideally built and/or designed business system for global organization
• Ability to accurately assess key business metrics and situations from a general manager’s perspective
• Ability to diagnose the current condition and articulate a compelling target condition
• Deep knowledge and experience applying with lean methodologies
• Excellent time and project management
• Successfully managed multi-million-dollar budget
• Technical Expertise -Possess the technical skills necessary to be credible; must have significant practitioner experience in Growth & Lean tools and processes
• Proven ability to bring order and structure to function and organization quickly
• Demonstrated successful leadership and proficiency in building and implementing lean business system/practices for global manufacturing organization (in a variety of situations)
• Strategic mindset with hands-on approach
• Strong commercial focus on customer and end user experience

Knowledge:

• Demonstrated understanding of continuous improvement, process management, and systems thinking.
• Poise and leadership presence when facilitating discussions and leading workshops.
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with others.
• Advanced data analysis skills.
• Financial and Business acumen
• Change Agent
• Working knowledge of Hoshin-Kanri (Policy Deployment) principles and practices.

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal skills, results oriented, and collaborative.
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Advanced in Microsoft Excel
• Skilled in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Comfortable with Microsoft Project
• Interpersonal skills
• Decision-making skills
• Planning and organization skills
• Negotiation skills
• Results-oriented

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s Degree (Required)

LICENSE CERTIFICATIONS

Formal training in project management or continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Lean, Total Quality Management, Danaher Business System) LSSBB required.