Operational Excellence Senior Specialist

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Sub Function

Manufacturing Pharmaceutical Process Operations

All Job Posting Locations

Raritan, New Jersey, United States of America

Job Description

About Innovative Medicine

Our expertise in Innovative Medicine is informed and inspired by patients, whose insights fuel our science-based advancements. Visionaries like you work on teams that save lives by developing the medicines of tomorrow. Join us in developing treatments, finding cures, and pioneering the path from lab to life while championing patients every step of the way.

Learn more at https://www.jnj.com/innovative-medicine

We are searching for the best talent for an Operational Excellence Senior Specialist to join our team in Raritan, NJ.

Are you interested in joining a team that is positively impacting patients' lives by ensuring reliable delivery of our high quality Innovative Medicine products? Apply today for this exciting opportunity to be part of the #CAR-T team!

Summary

The Operational Excellence Senior Specialist will help advance operational performance within an innovative cell therapy manufacturing environment. Working closely with business partners, production leadership, and the Operational Excellence team, this individual will identify improvement opportunities and lead initiatives that enhance reliability, efficiency, quality, cost, and customer value.

This role offers the opportunity to apply Lean, Six Sigma, and process excellence methodologies while supporting a culture of continuous improvement and a “Right the First Time” approach. The Senior Specialist will also contribute to capability building, performance management, and strategic programs supporting the development and manufacture of innovative CAR-T therapies.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement Johnson & Johnson Operating System (JJOS) initiatives and support deployment of a Culture of Excellence across the site.
• Partner with business leaders and cross-functional teams to identify, assess, prioritize, and implement continuous improvement opportunities.
• Lead Value Stream Mapping activities, identify improvement opportunities, and develop action plans that strengthen operational reliability and performance.
• Lead digitalization of the VSM and Crete smart factory principles.
• Facilitate ideation workshops, diagnostics, benchmarking activities, and other improvement forums to build and implement the site’s cost improvement project pipeline.
• Manage continuous improvement projects from opportunity assessment through implementation, applying Lean, Six Sigma, and Design Excellence methodologies.
• Analyze site performance data to identify trends, establish improvement priorities, monitor results, and recommend corrective actions.
• Implement site and global Operational Excellence programs, which may include Overall Equipment Effectiveness, Smart Changeover, Golden Batch, Waste to Excellence, yield improvement, Zero-Based Budgeting, and gross-profit improvement initiatives.
• Develop project schedules and tactical implementation plans to ensure initiatives meet established business, customer, and performance targets.
• Deliver training, coaching, and mentorship to employees pursuing Yellow Belt and other Lean or Six Sigma certifications.
• Participate in site performance-management activities, including tier meetings, root-cause problem solving, corrective-action management, and progress tracking.

Qualifications

Education

• A Bachelor’s degree is required. Focused degree in engineering, science, or a related field is preferred.

Experience and Skills

Required

• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant experience in Operations, Global Engineering & Technology, Manufacturing Science & Technology, Planning, Project Management, Automation, or a related function.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and delivering projects within a complex, cross-functional environment.
• Strong business and financial acumen, with the ability to translate strategic challenges and improvement opportunities into value-creating initiatives and business cases.
• Knowledge of project management principles and experience identifying, developing, and driving the execution of key projects.
• Experience facilitating workshops and applying process excellence tools to evaluate and improve business or manufacturing processes.

Preferred

• Experience applying Value Stream Mapping, root-cause problem solving, Lean, Six Sigma, or Design Excellence methodologies.
• A minimum of one to two years of experience in a continuous improvement or Lean function.
• Lean or continuous improvement certification, such as Lean Six Green Belt.
• Knowledge of JJ0S or another structured production system, along with experience in root-cause problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to influence without authority and collaborate effectively across a matrix organization.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent priorities in a fast-paced environment and responding effectively to urgent business needs.
• Strong data-analysis, organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
• A results-oriented mentality, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a demonstrated commitment to inclusive collaboration and diverse perspectives.

Other

• This position may require up to 10% domestic and/or international travel.
• People-management experience is not required. This is an individual-contributor position that may provide training, coaching, and mentorship to others.
• Additional duties may be assigned based on evolving team and organizational priorities.

For more information on how we support the whole health of our employees throughout their wellness, career and life journey, please visit www.careers.jnj.com.

If you are under 18 years of age you (the candidate) may need to obtain the necessary working papers or other documentation required by state law to start the assignment, as well as get a parent’s consent for the background check

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an interview process that is inclusive of our applicants’ needs. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request an accommodation, external applicants please contact us via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers , internal employees contact AskGS to be directed to your accommodation resource.

Required Skills

Preferred Skills

Agile Manufacturing, Business Behavior, Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Control (CMC), Communication, Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Gap Analysis, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Industry Analysis, Mentorship, Operational Excellence, Pharmaceutical Industry, Plant Operations, Problem Solving, Process Optimization, Program Management, Project Administration

The anticipated base pay range for this position is :

$94,000.00 - $151,800.00

Additional Description for Pay Transparency

Subject to the terms of their respective plans, employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s consolidated retirement plan (pension) and savings plan (401(k)).

Subject to the terms of their respective policies and date of hire, employees are eligible for the following time off benefits:

• Vacation –120 hours per calendar year

• Sick time - 40 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Colorado –48 hours per calendar year; for employees who reside in the State of Washington –56 hours per calendar year

• Holiday pay, including Floating Holidays –13 days per calendar year

• Work, Personal and Family Time - up to 40 hours per calendar year

• Parental Leave – 480 hours within one year of the birth/adoption/foster care of a child

• Bereavement Leave – 240 hours for an immediate family member: 40 hours for an extended family member per calendar year

• Caregiver Leave – 80 hours in a 52-week rolling period10 days

• Volunteer Leave – 32 hours per calendar year

• Military Spouse Time-Off – 80 hours per calendar year

For additional general information on Company benefits, please go to: - https://www.careers.jnj.com/employee-benefits