
MS&T (Manufacturing Science and Technology) Business Excellence Investigation Lead (all genders)
Zurich, Canton of ZurichVaccines prevent 2 to 3 million deaths each year and have transformed global public health. For the past 70 years, Takeda has supplied vaccines to protect the health of people in Japan. Today, Takeda's global vaccine business is applying innovation to tackle some of the world's most challenging infectious diseases, such as dengue, COVID-19, Zika and norovirus. Takeda’s team brings an outstanding track record and a wealth of knowledge in vaccine development, manufacturing and global access to advance a pipeline of vaccines to address some of the world's most pressing public health needs.
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Job Description
At our heart we are committed colleagues. We offer interested people numerous opportunities and strongly believe in, and promote, diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a company we offer roles based on merit, welcoming candidates of any gender, age, religious belief, sexual orientation, race, color, ethnic or social origin, or disability.
Our team is growing and for this we need bright minds with creativity and flexibility – what talent do you have?
OBJECTIVES
- Provide expert support in troubleshooting to resolve complex manufacturing issues promptly.
- Lead and manage task forces to address critical situations effectively.
- Develop and implement problem-solving methodologies
- Champion the integration of AI and digital tools into manufacturing troubleshooting and decision-making.
- Lead digital transformation initiatives to modernize investigation processes and operational excellence frameworks.
SCOPE
- Lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve high-impact manufacturing problems.
- Manage task forces for urgent and complex issues requiring cross-functional collaboration within VBU and CMOs.
- Establish and deploy problem-solving methodologies to improve decision-making processes.
- Design and implement business and operational excellence strategies to improve processes and optimize productivity.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.
- Leverage AI and advanced data analytics to enhance decision-making, address complex business challenges, and drive productivity improvements.
- Conduct research and analysis to stay current on industry trends and emerging technologies.
- Train employees on troubleshooting techniques, decision excellence, and operational excellence practices
- Drive digital upskilling across MS&T teams to foster a tech-savvy culture.
- Leverage automation tools to increase efficiency and foster innovation within the organization.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Lead troubleshooting efforts to resolve complex manufacturing issues.
- Manage task forces to address urgent and high-impact problems.
- Develop and implement problem-solving methodologies to enhance decision-making processes.
- Drive business and operational excellence initiatives to optimize productivity and efficiency.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement process improvements.
- Leverage AI and advanced data analytics to enhance decision-making, address complex business challenges, and drive productivity improvements.
- Conduct research and analysis to stay updated on industry trends and emerging technologies.
- Train employees on troubleshooting techniques and operational excellence practices
- Utilize automation tools to streamline daily operations, enhance productivity, and improve decision-making processes
CORE ELEMENTS RELATED TO THIS ROLE
- Task Force Leadership: Lead and manage task forces for critical manufacturing situations requiring cross-functional collaboration.
- Operational Excellence: Drive initiatives to implement business and operational excellence strategies.
- Decision Excellence: Enhance decision-making processes through effective problem-solving techniques..
- Problem-solving Methodology: Establish a common problem-solving methodology across MS&T and be trained as an investigational lead.
- Facilitation Support: Provide facilitation support for complex and high-impact process/product investigations.
- Digital and AI dexterity: leverage and maintain AI agents and data visulatization tools to support decision making.
DIMENSIONS AND ASPECTS
Technical/Functional Expertise
- Troubleshooting Capabilities: Proven ability to resolve complex manufacturing issues swiftly and effectively.
- Problem-solvingMethodogolies: Expertise in developing and deploying problem-solving methodologies.
- Operational Excellence: Experience in designing, implementing, and sustaining operational excellence initiatives
- Data Analytics expertise: Hands-on experience with statistical analysis, data analytics and visualization. Not afraid of gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data to provide actionable insights.
- Ability to leverage AI-powered tools to automate routine tasks, generate actionable insights, and improve efficiency.
Leadership
- Demonstrate strong leadership in managing task forces and driving cross-functional collaboration incl. contract manufacturers.
- Influence and Partnership: Ability to lead complex transversal projects and influence others within a matrix organization
- Demonstrate strong leadership in collaborating with cross-functional teams, including quality, engineering, and production, to identify and implement business process improvements.
- Problem-solving Leadership: Establish and lead a common problem-solving methodology across MS&T, and provide facilitation support for complex and high-impact process/product investigations.
- Innovation Leadership: Lead initiatives to implement new technologies, methodologies, and best practices to enhance manufacturing operations.
Decision-making and Autonomy
- Systematic approach, detailed when needed and with an ability to analyse in a systemic and holistic manner
- Timely decisions making, taking into account stakeholder buy-in and program deliverables
- Responsible for day to day coordination, covering all assigned initiatives for VBU MS&T
Interaction
- Ability to effectively collaborate and drive consensus within MS&T and key stakeholder functions.
- Role requires partnership across local, functional, and global teams, including Quality, Manufacturing, Supply, Engineering, Project Management, IT, and Contract Manufacturers.
Innovation
- Stay up to date with digital and AI trends and leverage/introduce them to ensure the organization stays competitive
Complexity
- Impact across VBU MS&T and MS&T stakeholders
- Change management complexity
- Hands-on, able to implement and execute initiatives
EDUCATION, BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS
Education / Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Life Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field. An advanced degree (MS or PhD) is preferred.
- Minimum 7-10 years experience in manufacturing, troubleshooting methodology, best practices, and creating business processes.
- Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt certification or equivalent process improvement certification
- Experience in contract manufacturing business is a plus
- Strong knowledge of GMP and regulatory compliance standards (FDA, EMA, ICH, etc.).
- Proficiency in root cause analysis tools (e.g., Fishbone Diagram, 5 Whys, etc.).
- Experience with statistical tools and software (e.g., Minitab, JMP) for data analysis.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple investigations simultaneously.
- Proven hands-on experience in Data Analytics is a valuable asset.
- Project management experience.
- Proficiency in visualization (white boards, dashboards, powerpoints etc)
- Excellent command of English (both written and oral); knowledge of German is a plus.
- Experience with AI technologies to drive business excellence and transformation
Business Excellence
- Experience with Operational Excellence models such as Lean Six Sigma or equivalent
- Experience deploying Tools such as Value Stream Mapping, kanban boards
- Proven ability to design, implement, and sustain Business and Operational Excellence processes.
- Demonstrated experience/technical knowledge with business excellence practices in an MS&T environment.
Behaviors
- Customer oriented mindset and thinking
- Experience using design thinking to problem solve (from identifying business challenges to deployment/execution of solution).
- Cultural agility and experience working in fast-paced and cross-functional environments.
- Proven ability to work with efficiency across multiple project teams and business functions in a matrix environment
- Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret data to drive decision-making.
- Creating and coordinates the environment that inspires and enables people
- Focusing on the few priorities and provide superior results
- Support on elevating capabilities for now and the future
- Future-Ready Mindset - demonstrates curiosity and a proactive approach to emerging technologies.
- Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving innovation in complex environments.
Empowering our people to shine
At Takeda, we earn the trust of society and our customers through our values of Takeda-ism: Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, Perseverance. We incorporate these values in everything we do. They represent who we are and how we act. They help us make decisions that we can be proud of today and in the future. We enable our employees to develop their full potential. As a global top employer, we offer exciting career paths, promote innovation, and strive for top performance in everything we do. Takeda fosters an inclusive, collaborative, and international work environment where our teams are united by their relentless commitment to our goal of improving people's health and creating a better future for the world.
Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
Takeda is committed to foster diversity, equality, and inclusion. Hiring decisions are based entirely on qualifications and are made regardless of gender, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
If you are interested in this opportunity, we look forward to receiving your application via our online tool!
Learn more at takedajobs.com
Locations
Zurich, SwitzerlandWorker Type
EmployeeWorker Sub-Type
RegularTime Type
Full timeSuccess profile
What makes a successful team member within Vaccines at Takeda?
- Integrity
- Fairness
- Inventive
- Perseverance
- Honesty
- Collaborative

Our leadership
Vaccines represent a new dimension of global impact — successful leadership at Takeda can be encompassed in these four pillars:
Demonstrating strategic enterprise thinking, finding innovative ways to serve patients and build trust, reputation and business
Creating the environment that inspires and enables people to move the organization forward
Focusing on the few priorities and delivers superior results
Elevating the capabilities of the organization for now and the future
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.
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