Director, Operational Excellence

Overview

The Role

As a Director of Operational Excellence, you will play a key role in advancing Moderna's Lean Six Sigma (LSS) capabilities and delivering impactful transformation initiatives across CMC, with an eventual path toward enterprise-level scope. You will collaborate closely with other senior leaders to execute the global OpEx strategy. This Director role is positioned to operate with independence and lead highly visible cost and performance improvement initiatives while collaborating cross-functionally.

This position is ideal for someone who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, is confident working in ambiguity, and is effective at flexing communication across all levels. The role is an individual contributor position and will focus on influencing, enabling, and coaching others. This role will also play an important part in Moderna's AI journey. Candidates with experience applying AI, automation, or agent-based technologies to operational or process improvement work are highly desired.

• Serve as a key contributor to the Operational Excellence strategy within CMC and support expansion across the enterprise
• Lead global, cross-functional transformation initiatives aimed at significant cost reduction, performance improvement, and value stream optimization
• Operate with high independence and dynamic range—quickly assessing situations, communicating at the right altitude, and influencing across levels and functions
• Design, deploy, and evolve Lean Six Sigma capability programs, including hands-on coaching for all belt levels
• Act as a thought partner to senior stakeholders and functional leaders to address complex operational challenges
• Translate ambiguous or incomplete inputs into actionable work streams and frameworks
• Facilitate high-impact workshops, kaizens, and value stream analysis sessions
• Develop KPIs, reporting mechanisms, and operating rhythms to ensure sustainability of improvements
• Collaborate with HR, L&D, and other functional teams to shape the culture and infrastructure needed to scale continuous improvement
• Engage actively with Moderna's AI transformation efforts, including identifying opportunities to integrate AI into operational processes
• Act as a visible coach and champion for excellence, modeling adaptability, resilience, and a bias for action

• EDUCATION:
  
  University degree in an appropriate discipline (e.g. sciences, engineering, business); advanced degree a plus
• EXPERIENCE:
  
  10+ years of experience in Operational Excellence, Operations, or related roles within regulated industries (Pharma/Biotech preferred)
• Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt

• Demonstrated ability to work in fluid, fast-paced environments and make progress in ambiguity
• Strong executive communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging to diverse audiences
• Track record of influencing senior stakeholders and driving alignment across complex, matrixed organizations
• Experience designing and delivering scalable LSS capability programs
• Skilled in facilitation, workshop design, and change leadership
• Strong project management and digital literacy (e.g., Microsoft Project, Smartsheet)
• Familiarity with AI concepts, tools, and applications in an operational setting (e.g., AI agents, automation tools, digital workflows)
• Strategic mindset with hands-on execution ability
• Passion for continuous learning, coaching others, and making an enterprise-wide impact
• A desire to make an impact as part of a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our US benefits and global well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off,…