Senior Operational Excellence Champion - Lean Black Belt
Neuchâtel, Canton of NeuchâtelOn 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.
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Job Description
About the role
Join us as our Senior Operational Excellence Champion and be a key factor in our site transformation to shape the future of Biomanufacturing. You will lead our efforts in enhancing manufacturing and business processes across one of our most strategic manufacturing sites. This role is pivotal in fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation aligned with Takeda's Agile Operating System (AOS) both on site and across the Biologics unit.
How you will contribute
Reporting to the Head of Business Excellence, you will be at the forefront of driving efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring we meet our operational performance and value creation targets.
You will:
- Lead and implement Lean and Six Sigma projects for Operations and Support functions (Lean Office) leveraging Agile Operating System and Digital Innovation.
- Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and complex problem solving.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams for process improvements.
- Embrace digital technology and data analysis for process optimization.
- Support the design of the Business Process and Factory of the Future.
- Apply Organizational Change Management in Lean & Six Sigma projects.
- Build a culture of continuous improvement through training and coaching and acting as a proactive Business Partner with operational leaders and their teams to identify and deliver value creation.
- Lead the strategy deployment process and work with stakeholders to align operational excellence goals.
- Ensure safety, compliance, and risk management in all initiatives.
- Track key performance indicators, identify performance gaps, and recommend solutions.
What you bring to Takeda
- Master’s degree in technical fields.
- Minimum of 8 years of experience in manufacturing or operations management with a focus on Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement.
- Initial background in operational or technical domain (e.g. quality, engineering, manufacturing)
- Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Lean Management, Hoshin Kanri and problem-solving methodologies (Lean or Lean Six Sigma certification – Black Belt level)
- Expertise in Business Process Management (BPR, BPM)
- Experience in Organizational Change Management
- Demonstrated success in process improvement for key performance indicators.
- Strong leadership capabilities and ability to engage stakeholders at all levels of the organization
- Proven ability to manage cross-functional teams and lead projects from start to finish.
- Knowledge of business operations and financial management.
- Previous experience with highly regulated environment, regulatory compliance, and quality systems.
- Ideally previous experience within the pharmaceutical industry.
- Proficiency with manufacturing software (e.g., SAP, MES, Minitab).
- Proficiency in MS Office, AI and digital innovation tools
- Fluency in English and French.
What Takeda can offer you
We want our employees to succeed in everything they do – at work, at home, and in the community. This is why we offer world-class benefits and access to resources that can support people.
Our sector and the needs of our patients are constantly changing, which is why we emphasize continuous training. We actively support and invest in the development of our employees through a 50/40/10 training model.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package, prioritizing wellbeing, career growth, and work-life balance:
- Generous Time Off: 28 days of paid.
- Health & Wellbeing: Sport/Fitness abonnement contribution, on site cafeteria, medical annual check-ups starting at age 50, financial support and preventive health care insurancesupport for preventive healthcare.
- Family Support: Paid leave for maternity, paternity, and adoption, along with dedicated spaces for nursing mothers.
- Career Development: Access to a Learning Catalog, language courses, and opportunities for internal and international mobility.
- Transportation & Eco-Benefits: Contributions for public transport, incentives for e-biking, and on-site charging stations for electric vehicles. Regular on-site gardening and massages activities.
Important Considerations
At Takeda, our patients rely on us to create quality products, and we aim to create a safe environment for our team members. As a result, we must follow strict rules in our manufacturing facilities to ensure we are not endangering the quality of the product or putting anyone at the site in harm's way. 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, jewellery, contact lenses, nail polish and/or artificial fingernails while in the manufacturing environment.
- Work in a cold, hot environment and load manual handling.
- Work multiple shifts, including weekends, or be asked to work supplemental hours, as necessary.
- Work around chemicals and biologicals products that may require specific protection (respiratory, skin, etc.).
More About Us:
With over 650 employees, Takeda Neuchâtel is one of the ten largest employers in the Canton of Neuchâtel, and one of the leading biopharmaceutical production sites in Switzerland. Operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the site employs a wide range of professionals trained in biotechnologies and their application to industrial production. With over twenty nationalities, Takeda Neuchâtel offers an international, diverse and innovative working environment within a company that is firmly rooted in and committed to its local ecosystem.
Takeda Neuchâtel is certified as a Training Company by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs. We train young apprentices in a variety of fields, including laboratory quality control, logistics, IT and biopharmaceutical production.
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.
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Locations
CHE - NeuchatelWorker Type
EmployeeWorker Sub-Type
RegularTime Type
Full timeWorking at Takeda
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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.
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