Operational Excellence Manager

Operational Excellence Manager (m/f/d) 80%-100%

Location: Visp, Switzerland

The actual location of this job is in Visp, Switzerland. Relocation assistance is available for eligible candidates and their families, if needed.

Join our Mid-Scale Microbial Operations team in Visp and help shape the future of biopharmaceutical manufacturing through Operational Excellence. In this role, you will drive strategic improvement initiatives, lead Lean Six Sigma projects, and enable sustainable business performance through innovation, coaching, and continuous improvement.

This role is based on site. Working together in person supports close, real-time collaboration and the technical precision needed to manufacture medicines to the highest quality and safety standards.

What you will get:

• An agile career and dynamic working culture.
• An inclusive and ethical workplace.
• Compensation programs that recognize high performance.
• Opportunities to lead high-impact transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Professional growth through coaching, mentoring, and leadership exposure across the organization.
• A variety of benefits dependent on role and location.

The full list of our global benefits can be found here: https://www.lonza.com/careers/benefits

What you will do:

• Lead and coordinate innovation and Operational Excellence projects using Lean Six Sigma methodologies to improve manufacturing performance and operational efficiency.
• Own the end-to-end asset improvement roadmap, accelerating operational gains, enhancing process robustness, and supporting reliable long-term drug substance supply.
• Partner with functional leaders across Operations, Quality, Engineering, and Technical Services to identify opportunities and establish continuous improvement objectives.
• Coach and support employees pursuing White Belt, Yellow Belt, and Green Belt certifications while fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Monitor, review, and improve operational performance metrics, ensuring data-driven decisions and sustainable business outcomes.
• Align and prioritize improvement initiatives to maximize synergies between local asset objectives and broader site and organizational transformation programs.
• Act as a change agent by promoting innovation, problem-solving, and Lean thinking across the Mid-Scale Microbial asset.

What we are looking for:

• Master's degree in Pharmaceutical Technology, Chemistry, Process Engineering, or a related scientific or engineering discipline. A PhD in one of these fields is considered an advantage.
• 5-10 years of experience in biopharmaceutical manufacturing, process development, operational excellence, or continuous improvement within a GMP-regulated environment.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification with demonstrated success in delivering measurable business improvements through structured problem-solving and process optimization. Master Black Belt or Lean Master certification is highly desirable.
• Strong experience leading cross-functional projects and driving operational excellence initiatives from concept through implementation.
• Proven ability to coach, train, and mentor employees across different Lean Six Sigma certification levels and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Business-fluent English is required; German language skills are considered a strong advantage.
• Strong analytical, communication, stakeholder management, and change management skills, with the ability to translate strategic objectives into sustainable operational results.

About Lonza
At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you're ready to help turn our customers' breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.
Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.