Lean Manager

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Requisition

Date:
Aug 13, 2026

Location:

Kearney, NE, US, 68845

At West, we’re a dedicated team that is connected by a purpose to improve patient lives that has been at the center of our Company for more than a century. Our story began when Herman O. West solved the problem of supplying penicillin in mass quantities to the US Government during World War 2. Through our work to deliver thousands of life-saving and life-enhancing injectable medicines to millions of patients daily, West’s indelible mark on the healthcare industry has just begun.

A name started our story. How will yours help write our future?

There’s no better place to join an inclusive community of professionals with opportunities for lifelong learning, growth and development. Supported by benefit programs, we empower the physical, mental, emotional and financial health of our team members and their families.

We believe in giving back to help those in need in the communities where we live and work. And are equally committed to creating a healthier environment and planet through our sustainability efforts.

This onsite Lean Manager role is responsible for leading lean transformation for the site and will be a strategic business partner to site leadership. The manager will be accountable for and overseeing the implementation of sustainable improvements and will be responsible for measuring and reporting results to ensure change initiatives deliver expected business results. The Lean Manager will drive successful implementation of improvement projects across the sites enabling growth and drive profitability.

This position requires the handling of formal and informal Lean Manufacturing training and coaching on a day-to-day basis. The Lean Manager in this position is responsible for driving sustainable improvements in quality, delivery/lead time, and operational efficiencies that are tied to leadership goals. This role also includes presenting a professional appearance in line with the following job responsibilities as well as presenting a professional attitude.?

• Lead a group or team of employees in the achievement of organizational goals. Guide, coach, direct, and develop direct reports.
• Drives targeted, sustainable improvement by leveraging consulting skills and change management processes
• Create strategic plans to eliminate waste within the business unit by utilizing lean processes, metrics, cost savings, best demonstrated practices and enterprise resource management. Works with all departments to support utilization of and training in these techniques and programs.
• Guides all lean system initiatives at the site and works with Site leadership and regional peers on Lean implementation using Lean Systems as the principal tool.
• Ensure that workplace process improvements are visible, that savings are tracked, validated and posted.
• Assist in the training and guidance for champions, team leaders and members to develop and implement Lean action plans, and in the transfer of technology and lean initiatives to other West plants.
• Sets up and/or participates in continuous improvement teams related to establishing a process or process improvement.
• Ensures successful kaizen events by installing and ensuring commitment to the kaizen process which includes
  1) planning of kaizen with a dynamic funnel process,
  2) kaizen execution, and
  3) sustainment of kaizen
• Serve as a regional Subject Matter Expert (SME) on various Lean/Process Improvement activities
• Serve as a member of the site leadership team and participate in the decision-making process.
• Performs other duties as assigned based on business needs.
• Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, instruction, and all safety rules.

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or equivalent required

• Minimum 8 years relative experience required
• Minimum 5 years experience in lean manufacturing required

• Prior experience implementing and/or being part of developing and maintaining a Lean Manufacturing production environment, implementing…