Sr Manager, Operational Excellence- Manufacturing Process Improvement

Overview

Sr Manager, Operational Excellence
- Manufacturing Process Improvement at Kite Pharma. Everyone at Kite is grounded by a common goal — curing cancer. We seek to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work, with a focus on advancing cancer therapies and continuous improvement across Technical Operations.

This onsite role leads the development and implementation of Operational Excellence programs at the Oceanside, CA (MVP
01) viral vector manufacturing site and participates in the company-wide OE Network to drive improvements across the network.

• Lead the development and execution of OE strategies to meet site goals, track progress, and escalate risks or barriers to success.
• Coach teams in Lean methodologies including PDCA, DMAIC, root cause analysis, FMEA, Kaizen, and mistake-proofing.
• Develop strategic and tactical plans, KPIs, and dashboards to measure and advance MVP
  01’s OE program.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of improvement initiatives through cross-functional partnerships across Manufacturing, F&E, Quality, Supply Chain, and MSAT.
• Translate operational requirements into actionable improvement plans aligned with site and network goals.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities by evaluating processes for waste, cost savings, benefit realization, complexity, and inefficiency.
• Apply Lean/Six Sigma tools, track benefits, and sustain continuous improvement initiatives and site processes.
• Facilitate Lean leadership behaviors and daily management routines, including visual management and tiered accountability structures.
• Own and improve the site’s Tiered Meeting Structure and use of SQDEP metrics to drive performance and accountability.
• Go to the Gemba to observe, engage, and assess challenges, guiding teams in practical, OE-aligned solutions (5S/6S, visual management, standard work).
• Conduct Lean Maturity assessments and develop roadmaps for measurable improvement.
• Mentor leaders and teams, foster servant leadership, and drive OE adoption across the network.
• Build trust across the organization with emotional intelligence and collaborative problem-solving.
• Thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, managing multiple priorities and driving results under pressure.
• Ensure sustainability of OE initiatives by embedding problem-solving capabilities and Lean thinking into daily operations.
• Promote knowledge sharing and adoption of best practices across the site and broader network.

• Doctorate OR Master’s degree with 0+ years of OE/Strategy/Operations experience OR
• Master’s degree with 6+ years of OE/Strategy/Operations experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of OE/Strategy/Operations experience OR
• Associate degree with 10+ years of OE/Strategy/Operations experience OR
• High School Diploma / GED with 12+ years of OE/Strategy/Operations experience

• 6+ years of OE process improvement experience in GMP-regulated biotech/pharma manufacturing, ideally viral vector production or cell therapy operations.
• Proven track record of leading OE initiatives with measurable impact on throughput, yield, and compliance.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Black Belt or Kaizen Leader) with demonstrated DMAIC, PDCA, FMEA, and root cause analysis.
• Experience implementing and sustaining Lean Daily Management systems with tiered accountability, visual management, and standard work.
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills to train teams and leaders in OE methodologies and drive cultural transformation.
• Ability to navigate between strategic planning and hands-on problem solving.
• Proven success leading cross-functional improvement projects across Manufacturing, F&E, Quality, Supply Chain, and Technical Operations.
• Proficiency in data analysis and performance tracking using Excel, Power BI, Smartsheet, and other OE platforms.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills to influence at all levels.
• Proactive, self-directed leadership with initiative to implement impactful solutions.

Salary and Benefits: The salary range for this position is $ - $. This role may be…