Sr. Manager, Operational Excellence
Moderna
Summary
The Senior Manager, Operational Excellence will lead complex, cross-functional improvement efforts across CMC, helping teams solve important business problems, simplify how work gets done, and unlock measurable value. As part of a central Operational Excellence team, this role is for an intellectually curious, highly adaptable problem solver who is energized by ambiguity. You will partner closely with teams and leaders across organizational boundaries to understand complex systems, identify root causes and opportunities, and translate insights into both near-term improvements and longer-term, scalable solutions. The role requires someone who can combine structured problem solving with digital tools, automation, AI, and emerging technologies to rethink how work gets done.
Job description
The Role
The Senior Manager, Operational Excellence will lead complex, cross-functional improvement efforts across CMC, helping teams solve important business problems, simplify how work gets done, and unlock measurable value. As part of a central Operational Excellence team, this role is for an intellectually curious, highly adaptable problem solver who is energized by ambiguity. You will partner closely with teams and leaders across organizational boundaries to understand complex systems, identify root causes and opportunities, and translate insights into both near-term improvements and longer-term, scalable solutions. The role requires someone who can combine structured problem solving with digital tools, automation, AI, and emerging technologies to rethink how work gets done.
Here's What You'll Do
- Lead complex, cross-functional improvement initiatives that address important business problems and deliver measurable outcomes.
- Bring structure to ambiguous problems by defining the problem, testing hypotheses, identifying root causes, and translating insights into action.
- Set the improvement approach for multiple complex portfolios, selecting methods based on the problem.
- Facilitate cross-functional teams and working sessions to create alignment, surface tradeoffs, make decisions, and move from analysis to action.
- Design practical future states and integrate standard work, measures, ownership, and change adoption across connected processes.
- Coach teams in rigorous problem framing, root-cause analysis, method selection, and benefit assumptions.
- Resolve cross-process or portfolio constraints and intervene when local optimization would weaken the broader system.
- Drive benefit realization and intervene when results are not sustained.
- Clarify process ownership, decision rights, approvals, and escalation across connected processes.
- Share and scale effective improvement approaches across teams without adding unnecessary complexity.
- Continuously explore, experiment with and adopt digital tools and emerging technologies, including AI, to improve how you work and deliver value.
Basic Qualifications
- Relevant bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, science, or an approved equivalent.
- A minimum of 6 years of relevant experience driving process improvement, process capability, performance management, and change adoption.
- Demonstrated knowledge of continuous improvement, structured problem solving, performance management, and change adoption.
- Ability to navigate ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, and help ensure improvements are adopted, sustained, and deliver expected value.
- Demonstrated learning agility and ability to quickly grasp new concepts, processes and technologies.
- Ability to communicate clearly, manage priorities, and collaborate effectively across disciplines.
- Full professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with Lean, Six Sigma problem solving, Kata coaching, Agile ways of working, or other structured approaches to problem solving and delivery.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience applying digital tools, analytics, automation, low-code/no-code solutions, generative AI, or emerging technologies to improve business processes.
- Experience coaching others in problem solving, continuous improvement, or change adoption.
Requirements
- Relevant bachelor's degree in business, operations, engineering, science, or an approved equivalent
- Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience driving process improvement, process capability, performance management, and change adoption
- Demonstrated knowledge of continuous improvement, structured problem solving, performance management, and change adoption
- Ability to navigate ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, and ensure improvements are adopted, sustained, and deliver expected value
- Demonstrated learning agility and ability to quickly grasp new concepts, processes and technologies
- Ability to communicate clearly, manage priorities, and collaborate effectively across disciplines
- Full professional proficiency in English, both written and spoken
- Preferred: Experience with Lean, Six Sigma problem solving, Kata coaching, Agile ways of working, or other structured approaches
- Preferred: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent practical experience
- Preferred: Experience applying digital tools, analytics, automation, low-code/no-code solutions, generative AI, or emerging technologies to improve business processes
- Preferred: Experience coaching others in problem solving, continuous improvement, or change adoption
Benefits
- Competitive healthcare
- Voluntary benefit programs
- Fitness support
- Mindfulness support
- Mental health support
- Fertility support
- Adoption support
- Surrogacy support
- Paid time off
- Volunteer days
- Sabbatical
- Global recharge days
- Year-end shutdown
- Savings and investments
Company overview
Moderna, Inc. is a pioneering American biotechnology and pharmaceutical company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that has revolutionized the field of medicine through its groundbreaking messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. Founded in 2010, the company has established itself as a global leader in RNA therapeutics, primarily focusing on mRNA vaccines and treatments. Moderna's innovative platform uses mRNA to provide cellular instructions for producing proteins that trigger immune responses, creating a new category of medicines with significant potential to improve patient outcomes across various therapeutic areas. The company gained worldwide recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for developing one of the earliest and most effective mRNA vaccines, which demonstrated the transformative potential of its technology platform. Beyond infectious diseases, Moderna is advancing a diverse pipeline of 44 treatment and vaccine candidates across infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune conditions. With approximately 5,800 employees and a strong commitment to scientific innovation, Moderna continues to expand its manufacturing capabilities and research initiatives to deliver the greatest possible impact through mRNA medicines.