Associate Director - GPS Operational Excellence

This is where your work makes a difference.

At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride. 

Your Role at Baxter

• As an Associate Director, GPS Operational Excellence, you’ll have the opportunity to lead complex, high-impact improvement initiatives across Baxter’s business units and corporate functions.
• You will play an important role in embedding Baxter Growth & Performance System (GPS) into how we operate, using Kaizen methodology, Lean principles, and Six Sigma tools to simplify end-to-end value streams, eliminate waste and unnecessary complexity, solve high-impact business challenges, accelerate growth, strengthen customer outcomes, and deliver measurable operational and financial results.
• Working across functions and organizational boundaries, you’ll partner with business and functional leaders to align stakeholders, turn opportunities into practical solutions, accelerate implementation, and sustain improvements across the organization.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead high-impact projects and Kaizen events across business units and functions, from problem definition through rapid implementation and sustained performance, using Kaizen, DMAIC, and other fit-for-purpose improvement methods.
• Map, simplify, and improve end-to-end value streams spanning Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, Commercial, Quality, Engineering, and other enabling functions by removing handoffs, duplication, delays, rework, and non-value-added steps.
• Analyze operational, financial, customer, and commercial data to identify root causes, variation, waste, growth opportunities, and performance gaps.
• Plan and facilitate Kaizen events, value-stream mapping, process-simplification workshops, and structured problem-solving sessions with senior leaders, functional experts, and frontline teams across organizational boundaries.
• Develop business cases, project charters, implementation plans, performance measures, and control plans, partnering with Finance and process owners to validate operational and financial results.
• Align sponsors and stakeholders across business units and functions, navigate competing priorities, and drive the decisions needed to advance enterprise initiatives.
• Train and coach business leaders, Lean leaders, and project teams in Kaizen, Lean Six Sigma, change leadership, and practical problem-solving. Mentor teams in applying continuous improvement methods, leading effective improvement events, and sustaining results.
• Exemplify Baxter GPS leadership and partner with business-unit and functional leaders to embed GPS principles, behaviors, improvement methods, management routines, and standard work into how Baxter operates.
• Communicate project progress, interdependencies, risks, decisions, and results to executive sponsors and senior leaders.
• Ensure improvements support applicable quality, safety, financial-control, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

What You’ll Bring

• Minimum 15 years of relevant experience.
• Current Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, supply chain, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading Kaizen events and end-to-end value-stream simplification projects with measurable outcomes.
• Strong proficiency in statistical analysis, root cause analysis, process mapping, and change management.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and lead teams without direct authority.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Flexibility to travel based on business needs, potentially up to 50%.

What Will Help You Stand Out

• Experience leading enterprise or multi-business-unit transformation initiatives in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Broad business experience across several functions, such as Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, Commercial, Quality, Engineering, or shared services.
• Experience in medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or another regulated industry.
• Experience coaching Green Belts and building continuous improvement capability.
• Familiarity with operational, financial, commercial, and customer performance measures, including quality, yield, cycle time, productivity, inventory, cost, revenue, and service.

What Success Looks Like

• Success in this role will include delivering sustained improvements across business units and functions, simplifying end-to-end value streams, shortening lead times, reducing handoffs and non-value-added steps, and delivering verified financial and operational benefits.
• You’ll also contribute to stronger customer and commercial outcomes, effective adoption of new ways of working, and increased Kaizen and problem-solving capability across the organization. 

What do we offer?

• Fixed-term contract for 3 months and then for an indefinite period.
• Competitive salary, annual bonuses, recognition award program.
• Possibilities for development on a personal and professional level in one of the leading global MedTech companies.
• Package of benefits including Private medical care (Lux Med), Life Insurance, Multisport card.
• Bax4U - cafeteria/lunch cards (300 PLN).
• PPE program with very attractive conditions available for each employee after 3 months.
• Educational support: fully covered language courses (English or other languages according to business needs), financial certifications (ACCA, CIMA).
• Co-financing of holidays and an additional 2 days off from work annually.
• Day off for birthday!
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Bax Flex - hybrid model (3 days from the office).
• Extraordinary Warsaw office location - Powiśle!

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The minimum salary for this position is 376 000,00 PLN annually. Your initial pay could be at the minimum or higher based on skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors, all of which are subject to change. This position may also be eligible for competitive benefits, discretionary bonuses, and/or long-term incentive. For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Reasonable Accommodations

Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

Recruitment Fraud Notice

Baxter has discovered incidents of employment scams, where fraudulent parties pose as Baxter employees, recruiters, or other agents, and engage with online job seekers in an attempt to steal personal and/or financial information. To learn how you can protect yourself, review our Recruitment Fraud Notice.