Director, DBS Leader - Lean
Danaher Corporation
Summary
The Director, DBS Leader - Lean is responsible for promoting and leading the successful implementation of Lean Danaher Business System (DBS) in Leica Biosystems' Richmond, Illinois site. They will be a key business partner and sit on the local leadership team, who is results driven with a strong ability to drive effective use of DBS.
Job description
This position reports to the Global Director of DBS Lean and is part of the global DBS Lean team; the associate will be located in Richmond, IL and will be an on-site role.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to:
- Serve as Lean Danaher Business System (DBS) Subject Matter Expert to our Richmond, Illinois manufacturing site; drive sustained operational improvements and Kaizen results that impact Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through facilitation of DBS activities and mentorship of Leaders, Associates, and Kaizen teams.
- Drive results across the dimensions of Safety, Quality, Delivery and or Cost with the DBS Fundamentals and the DBS Tools within the Lean Segment. Leverage a solid understanding of DBS Fundamentals combined with Lean tools from four (4) different areas: Reliability, Operations, Supply Chain, and Materials.
- Develop and continuously improve processes within Operations at the Richmond, Illinois site as a member of the site leadership team.
- Create and lead prioritized Kaizen Funnel and Certified Practitioner plan to close KPI gaps with appropriate Visual & Daily Management and Leadership engagement. Improve DBS training and facilitation by pursuing certification in DBS tools for yourself and others.
- Facilitate and Lead PSP (Problem Solving Process) Teams in everyday Problem Solving. Install and facilitate Visual & Daily Management at Gemba across the Richmond, Illinois site.
The essential requirements of the job include:
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 7+ years of experience in Operations, Engineering, Lean, or combined experience in a related continuous improvement role.
- Proven hands-on experience implementing improvements within a structured continuous improvement environment (e.g., DBS, Lean Six Sigma, TPS) in line management or consulting settings.
- Practitioner-level mastery of DBS Fundamentals with strong proficiency in Lean tools across operations and transactional processes; certification preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to partner strategically with business leaders, influence without authority, and deliver measurable, time-bound improvements tied to business metrics.
It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:
- Master's Degree in Business, Engineering, or Science
- Knowledge of key DBS Lean Tools: Operations, Danaher Reliability System, Supply Chain, and the Danaher Materials System.
- Certified Practitioner in a minimum of one appropriate Lean DBS Tool.
- Experience managing people and/or projects
Travel (approximated by overnight stays per week)
- Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time; predominantly domestic with some international travel as needed
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- 7+ years of experience in Operations, Engineering, Lean, or combined experience in a related continuous improvement role.
- Proven hands-on experience implementing improvements within a structured continuous improvement environment (e.g., DBS, Lean Six Sigma, TPS) in line management or consulting settings.
- Practitioner-level mastery of DBS Fundamentals with strong proficiency in Lean tools across operations and transactional processes; certification preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to partner strategically with business leaders, influence without authority, and deliver measurable, time-bound improvements tied to business metrics.
- Willingness to travel approximately 25% of the time; predominantly domestic with some international travel as needed
Benefits
- Health care program
- Paid time off
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- 401(k)
Company overview
Danaher Corporation is a leading global science and technology innovator headquartered in Washington, D.C., specializing in biotechnology, life sciences, and diagnostics. Founded in 1984 by brothers Steven and Mitchell Rales, the company has evolved from its origins as a manufacturing conglomerate into a premier healthcare technology organization with approximately 63,000 employees worldwide. Danaher operates through three core divisions: biotechnology (28% of revenues), which develops products for therapeutic development; life sciences (31% of revenues), focused on disease identification, new therapies, and drug testing/manufacturing; and diagnostics (41% of revenues), providing instruments, consumables, and software for disease diagnosis. The company's portfolio includes renowned brands such as Beckman Coulter, Cytiva, Pall Corporation, Cepheid, Leica Microsystems, and Abcam, serving pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, healthcare providers, and research institutions globally. Danaher is distinguished by its Danaher Business System (DBS), a continuous improvement methodology that drives innovation and operational excellence. With 2024 revenues of $23.9 billion, the company ranks 180th on the Fortune 500 and plays a critical role in advancing scientific research, improving diagnostic capabilities, and accelerating the development of life-saving therapies.