At Bayer we’re visionaries, driven to solve the world’s toughest challenges and striving for a world where 'Health for all Hunger for none’ is no longer a dream, but a real possibility. We’re doing it with energy, curiosity and sheer dedication, always learning from unique perspectives of those around us, expanding our thinking, growing our capabilities and redefining ‘impossible’. There are so many reasons to join us. If you’re hungry to build a varied and meaningful career in a community of brilliant and diverse minds to make a real difference, there’s only one choice. 

Operational Excellence Lead  

This role leads all Operational Excellence and Capabilities activities, for the CH PS NA Myerstown site. The role leads a dynamic team and is accountable to spearhead the deployment and integration of the PSS (Product Supply System) program and capabilities built across all functions at the Myerstown site. The role is responsible for creating a functional and business vision and strategies to transform the organization from a PSS phase 0 to phase 4 site leading to top decile operational performance within the industry by fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and sustainable excellence. The role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership capabilities, and a focus on driving innovation, digitalization, and cost efficiency.  

This role must provide strong leadership, coaching, and development for high performing teams with a culture based on the Bayer DSO principles. The role ensures the integration of PSS program with overall Factory of the Future site strategies (including automation, smart manufacturing, digitization, and digitally enabled workforce) and associated capabilities built for employees. The incumbent acts as a change agent, collaborating across all site functions to ensure that PSS principles, tools, and methodologies are effectively implemented and embedded into daily operations. The role is accountable for creating measurable value by accelerating the plant’s journey to world-class performance, ensuring that plant performance exceeds benchmark standards in product supply and operational outcomes.  

The role embraces Dynamic Shared Ownership (DSO) principles and practices and follows the VACC approach to leadership (being a visionary, architect, catalyst, and coach). The role actively evolves the site operating model and fosters successful adoption of DSO. 

YOUR TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Team Leadership: Act as VACC (Visionary, Architect, Coach and Catalyst) to build, lead, and mentor a highperforming team of professionals, promoting a collaborative and innovative work environment. Establish target outcomes, priorities and coordinate talent flow to maximize organizational impact. The incumbent demonstrates, credibly embodies and showcases VACC leadership.  

• People Development: 

• Shape employee development, evaluation, and career path based on skills; build a diverse, inclusive talent pool where members share and support each other to build their expertise; recruit, hire, and onboard new employees, based on team requirements.  

• Establish, coach, and provide vision for site's Operational Excellence and Training functions team fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and professional development. Leverage agile work practices supporting the teams to align and adapt resources to highest enterprise priorities. Foster culture of transparency of priorities and metrics empowering every team and employee to take accountability to operate as high performing teams.  

• Lead, mentor, and coach the teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvements, learning and acceleration of PSS initiatives including being proactive in providing development experience to talents. Foster a collaborative and positive work environment where employees feel valued and engaged. 

• Identify capabilities and upskilling training needs and develop or source training programs to enhance the skills and knowledge of the team. Develop and maintain high performing teams with higher level of self-organization and proactive culture that accentuates continuous improvement principles.  

• Team Capability:  

• Support teams to learn in rapid cycles and build capabilities needed to create value for customers and other stakeholders 

• Strategy Development:  

• Collaborate with cross functional team leads and develop a comprehensive site strategy (aka SSR) related to space utilization, new innovative manufacturing technologies, facility layout and expansion, integration with site and global/regional innovation programs, and building resiliency into the plant operating modules leading to a 5+ year site strategy. This strategy will align with the organization's overall business objectives, ensuring scalability, sustainability, and competitive advantage. 

• Lead the cross-functional collaboration in development of site KPIs, tools to monitor the site performance and monthly reporting.  

• Operational Excellence / PSS Program: 

• Ensure the development and execution of robust Operational Excellence, Efficiencies and Continuous Improvement strategies for all functions in alignment with global PSS (Product Supply Systems) program.  

• Develop site PSS Phase progression plan with site Pillar Leaders, and site Function Leads, with support from Global OE team including a gap analysis of current capability across the pillars, compare to the next phase pillar requirements, and drive phase progress approach for site.  

• Develop and deploy continues improvement programs and processes towards zero loss mindset using LEAN methodologies and coach PSS Pillar leaders to deliver requirements to achieve next phase progression journey step.  

• Identify the needs of digital tools usage in day-to-day operation, and follow-up on development of associated digital applications for the site in alignment with global digital data infrastructure standards.  

• Lead the integration of PSS program with overall Factory of the Future site strategies (including automation, smart manufacturing, digitization, and digitally enabled workforce).  

• Support development of cross-functional KPIs and digital tools to execute the Level (1, 1.5, 2, 3) collaborations.  

• Factory Innovation, New Technologies and Cost Improvement:  

• Drive a culture of innovation, continuous improvement and Factory of the Future (digitalization) initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and increase productivity.  

• Provide leadership for cost savings and key strategic initiatives for new technologies across manufacturing, packaging, warehouse, and quality functions at the Myerstown site.  

• Set priorities consistent with site, regional and global company goals and focus on high priority opportunities.  

• Capabilities Building: 

• Responsible for designing, implementing, and sustaining comprehensive learning initiatives across the site to develop skills and adopt a digitally enabled mindset. 

• Identify current skill gaps and future needs through robust assessment tools, feedback mechanisms, and data analysis, informing targeted development plans. 

• Develop and execute a site-wide training strategy that aligns with organizational goals and prioritizes digital literacy, technology adoption, and future-ready capabilities.  

• Create and deliver engaging learning experiences - both in-person and online, including workshops, e-learning modules, and hands-on training focused on digital skills and tools. 

• Champion the adoption of a growth mindset and digital-first culture by fostering curiosity, adaptability, and openness to technological change among employees. 

• Quality & Compliance:  

• Lead and protect our “License to Operate”. Ensure that OE and Training function processes are always maintained in excellent cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) conditions, cGMP compliance is fully met and required training programs are developed and implemented.  

• Ensure complete compliance with all federal regulatory agencies’ requirements, in conjunction with other departments ensure that training programs are developed and implemented to meet all Bayer Quality and Health, Environment and Safety standards. Assure compliance to Bayer policies and directives.  

• Conduct regular audits and inspections to identify and address any compliance issues. As well as provide the appropriate subject matter experts during FDA and other internal/external agencies audits. with particular emphasis on Operational Excellence and Training processes at the site.  

• Cross-Functional Collaboration:  

• Work closely with core operations, supply chain, quality, controlling, Manufacturing IT, CoE Hubs, procurement, HR, and other departments to ensure seamless collaboration across all functions. 

• Work closely with Global Manufacturing Excellence and Engineering Excellence teams and gain alignment regarding PSS, Operational Excellence and Factory of the Future strategies.  

• Performance Metrics:  

• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the end-to-end performance, capability building, efficiency and productivity enhancement, making data-driven decisions to optimize operations etc. Establish and execute productivity goals through innovative automation and AI technology. 

WHO YOU ARE 

Bayer seeks an incumbent who possesses the following: 

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree or master's degree with multi-functional experience in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Operational Excellence/LEAN. 10 years with bachelor's or 8 years with master's degree with leadership/production/supervisory experience in FDA, pharmaceutical industry is preferred.   

• Multifunctional and deep experience of complex manufacturing management in the consumer and/or pharmaceutical industry  

• Experience in successful organizational transformation and change management initiatives.  

• Excellent project management skills, with deep experience in LEAN methodologies.  

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.  

• Ability to inspire and motivate employees to embrace change and continuous learning, analytical mindset for assessing training impact and identifying opportunities for improvement.  

• Proven experience in training, learning & development, or capability building  

• Strong knowledge of digital technologies, tools, and trends relevant to the workplace. 

• Exceptional people leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.  

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, capable of engaging effectively with all levels of the organization and external partners to concisely influence executive leadership peers.  

• Leading with purpose, driving inclusion, respecting differences, and showing up as authentic best self. 

• Applies VACC leadership behaviors and approach, demonstrates high self-awareness as well as system awareness, and pro-actively asks for and gives feedback  

• Demonstrates strategic thinking as well as good business- and external trends insights 

• Creates impact by realizing authentic self and purpose, and includes others: respects differences, embraces inclusion and shows up as the best self.  

• Dynamically allocates talents with right skill set based on business needs and defined outcomes.  

• Thorough understanding of the regulatory arena involving GMP, OSHA, EPA, and Bayer standards are essential. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Certified Green Belt and/or Black Belt 

Employees can expect to be paid a salary between $144,400.00 - $216,600.00. Additional compensation may include a bonus or incentive compensation (if relevant). Additional benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, PTO, sick leave, etc. This salary range is merely an estimate and may vary based on an applicant's location, market data/ranges, an applicant's skills and prior relevant experience, certain degrees and certifications, and other relevant factors.