Hybrid Associate Director – Operations Excellence

at BD

• Job title: Associate Director – Operations Excellence
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: $137,100 - $226,300 per year
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Sparks, United States

About the role

• Associate Director overseeing ISC Continuous Improvement across BD's global manufacturing network. Promoting operational excellence and collaborating with operational leaders to drive improvements.

Responsibilities

• Develop, deploy, and continuously refine the DS ISC OpEx strategy, roadmap, and annual objectives in alignment with ISC priorities
• Establish CI standards, methodologies, and best practices (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, Problem-Solving, Value Stream Management)
• Govern plant CI maturity, ensuring consistent application of tools, frameworks, and performance expectations across the network
• Oversee and challenge CI project selection to ensure alignment with business priorities and financial benefit targets
• Provide dotted-line leadership, coaching, and performance guidance to CI Managers/Leaders at each manufacturing site
• Facilitate a strong CI community of practice, driving alignment, knowledge sharing, and cross-site collaboration
• Conduct site assessments (Gemba evaluations, maturity assessments) and provide actionable feedback to improve performance
• Lead enterprise-wide CI initiatives that impact multiple plants, including productivity programs, waste elimination, flow optimization, and digital enablement
• Serve as the primary CI subject matter expert to functional leaders in Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR (training), and EHS
• Partner with Finance to validate project results, savings, and productivity impacts
• Establish and maintain enterprise CI dashboards and KPIs (productivity, OEE, labor efficiency, scrap, service/delivery, etc.)
• Track and report progress of major CI initiatives, ensuring transparency to the VP ISC and executive leadership

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field required
• Master’s degree or MBA preferred
• 8+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, or supply chain roles
• Proven track record leading CI/Lean transformations in a multi-site environment
• Experience influencing without authority and leading dotted-line teams
• Strong experience with Lean, Six Sigma, TPM, and structured problem-solving (A3, DMAIC)
• Experience in regulated manufacturing (medical device, pharma, food, industrial) preferred
• Lean/CI certification required
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt preferred

Benefits

• Competitive package of compensation and benefits programs to promote a performance-based culture
• Opportunities for professional development and learning
• On-site collaboration to foster creativity and innovation