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Senior Operational Excellence Champion

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
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On the Global Manufacturing and Supply (GMS) team at Takeda, you’ll be part of a rapidly transforming industry that’s applying technology and data in new ways. Within our agile, innovative, people-centric organization, your work will matter every day as you use your skills to help us manufacture therapies for patients on our four platforms:

  • Small Molecules
  • Biologics
  • Plasma
  • Cell and Gene

As part of the GMS team, you'll have the opportunity to pursue unique experiences and build new skills, and you'll know that the work you do every day makes an impact — on our patients, our people, our planet, and on yourself.

Job ID R0166875 Date posted 11/07/2025 Location Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.  I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge.

Job Description

About the Role:

The Senior Operational Excellence (OE) Champion leads, implements and coaches' projects leveraging Yellow/Green/Black Belt (Six Sigma), and lean management. You will collaborate to achieve operational targets and foster a culture of continuous improvement according to Takeda's AGILE Operating System (= AOS: Takeda's defined Operational Excellence Operating System). You will aim to enhance manufacturing and business processes, improve efficiency, reduce waste, and ensure site performance targets.

How you will contribute:

  • You will act as a change champion (e3+) and facilitate transformation.
  • Lead deployment of continuous improvement initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma elements, Organizational Change Management (e3+) and provide related coaching. The role will manage lean and problem-solving certifications.
  • Support initiatives delivering 3% to 5% COP (Core Operating Profit) savings of addressable spend in scope/annum
  • Support strategic goals and objectives within the organization.
  • Implement complex OE Initiatives as outlined in the AOS Roadmap to create value.
  • Lead Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma projects and coach teams to effectively apply Lean and Six Sigma methodology in successful and sustainable deployments.
  • Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping and analysis, root cause analysis, and RAPID response.
  • Embrace existing and emerging digital technology and data analysis and ensure close alignment with DD&T (Digital, Data and Technology) and MSci (Manufacturing Science) to maximize leveraging Digital/Automation for process optimization.
  • Support and actively participate in Business Process of the Future and Factory of the Future Design sprints as per established roadmap and as required.
  • Lead complex cross-functional projects to improve efficiency and reduce waste
  • Apply and integrate Organizational Change Management (OCM) e3+ into Lean & Six Sigma projects
  • Collaborate with Finance to capture project value
  • Build a culture of continuous improvement through training, capability building and coaching.
  • Foster the development of internal SMEs in process improvement and OE tools with special attention on the coaching of Operational Excellence Champions
  • Be an ambassador and coach on AOS deployment and Organizational Change Management (e3+) across the site
  • Collaborate with the Global OE Lead and OE community and participate in Community of Practice activities.
  • Ensure effective communication of OE goals and progress leveraging Organizational Change Management framework
  • Act as a business partner for functions to identify value creation opportunities, establish and drive improvement roadmaps.
  • Use data driven approach to improve compliance profile and to integrate safety into process improvements.
  • Develop, track and report on key operational metrics.
  • Identify performance gaps and recommend solutions.
  • Conduct performance analysis and benchmarking.
  • Provide regular and accurate updates on OE initiatives. Ensure regular and accurate reporting to stakeholders.

What you bring to Takeda:

  • Minimum of 5 years of experience in manufacturing or operations, with a focus on Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, or Lean Manufacturing
  • Excellent knowledge of lean management and problem-solving methodologies (AOS Professional Certification and Green Belt Certification or equivalents), as described in the effective Global SBE Guidance
  • Experience managing cross-functional teams and driving projects from inception to successful completion
  • Excellent project management skills with the ability to lead complex projects, manage timelines.
  • Excellent analytical skills with a data-driven approach to solving problems and driving process improvements
  • Excellent communication, leadership, coaching and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage employees at all levels.
  • Good knowledge of business operations and financial management principles
  • Successful process improvement in key performance indicators, such as cycle time, throughput, or quality and change management implementation
  • Experience working with cGMP, regulatory compliance, and quality systems in a manufacturing environment
  • Capability to build master lean (AOS) skills. Gain AOS Master certification and/or Black Belt certification, as described in the effective Global SBE Guidance.
  • Demonstrate clear understanding of project management principles / Project Lifecycle Management (PLM) & portfolio management
  • Knowledge of manufacturing software preferred (e.g., SAP, MES, Minitab).

Important Considerations:

At Takeda, our patients rely on us to deliver quality products. As a result, we must follow strict rules in our manufacturing facilities to ensure we are not endangering the quality of the product. In this role, you may:

  • Work in a controlled environment requiring special gowning and wear protective clothing over the head, face, hands, feet and body. This may include additional hearing protection for loud areas.
  • Need to remove all make-up, jewelry, contact lenses, nail polish and/or artificial fingernails while in the manufacturing environment.
  • Work in a cold, wet environment.
  • Work multiple shifts, including weekends, or be asked to work supplemental hours, as necessary.
  • Work around chemicals such as alcohol, acids, buffers and Celite that may require respiratory protection.
  • Ability to stand, walk, and climb step ladders / stairs for up to several hours a day.
  • Occasional travel may be required to other sites or company locations.
  • May periodically be asked to work outside of normal business hours.

More about us:

At Takeda, we are transforming patient care through the development of novel specialty pharmaceuticals and best in class patient support programs. Takeda is a patient-focused company that will inspire and empower you to grow through life-changing work.

Certified as a Global Top Employer, Takeda offers stimulating careers, encourages innovation, and strives for excellence in everything we do. We foster an inclusive, collaborative workplace, in which our teams are united by an unwavering commitment to deliver Better Health and a Brighter Future to people around the world.

#GMSGQ #ZR1 #LI-MA1

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location:

Brooklyn Park, MN

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$99,500.00 - $156,420.00


The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location. 

U.S. based employees may be eligible for short-term and/ or long-term incentives. U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others. U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation. 

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

Brooklyn Park, MN

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt

Yes

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Working at Takeda

  • Inclusion

    Here, you will feel welcomed, respected, and valued as a vital contributor to our global team.
  • Collaboration

    A strong, borderless team, we strive together towards our priorities and inspiring mission.
  • Innovation

    Bold initiatives, continuous improvement, and creativity are at the heart of how we bring scientific breakthroughs from the lab to patients.
  • Top Workplace

    Recognized for our culture and way of working, we’re one of only 17 companies to receive Top Global Employer® status for 2025.
  • Work-Life

    Our people-first mission extends beyond patients to include their families, communities, and our own Takeda family.
  • Empowerment

    Through trust and respect, you will have genuine support from leaders, managers, and colleagues to do your best work.

We're Steadfast In Our Commitment to Four Key Imperatives

Patient


Responsibly translate science into highly innovative medicines and accelerate access to improve lives worldwide.

People


Create an exceptional people experience.

Planet


Protect our planet.

Data & Digital


Transform Takeda into the most trusted, data-driven, outcomes-based biopharmaceutical company.

What we believe in

Our values of Takeda-ism are Integrity, Fairness, Honesty and Perseverance, with Integrity as the core. These are brought to life through actions based on Patient, Trust, Reputation and Business, in that order.

Our belief in putting people first extends beyond our patients — it includes their families and communities, as well as our Takeda colleagues and their families.

We are committed to embracing our differences, valuing different perspectives, and fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and empowerment.

Our embedded Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) strategy enables us to attract and retain exceptional talent, drives innovation, and helps address systemic inequalities in our communities.

  • Integrity

  • Fairness

  • Honesty

  • Perseverance

Exterior of Takeda Building

About our location

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota


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