Associate Director, Operational Excellence (Biotech)

Location: On-site full-time in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Work takes place across office, production, and executive settings, with possible extended or flexible hours.

Annual base pay: $146,000–$194,000, plus potential bonus or incentives.

Company

Healthcare company developing next-generation technologies for early cancer detection through sequencing, clinical studies, computer science, and data science.

What you will do

• Design and maintain operational dashboards, data visualizations, and KPI reporting frameworks.
• Analyze trends, anomalies, SPC, QC data, and leading indicators to identify operational risks.
• Establish control limits, early-warning systems, and predictive indicators for proactive performance management.
• Lead Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving initiatives across operational teams.
• Maintain a centralized backlog of operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate with Engineering, Software, Lab, Operations, and senior stakeholders to prioritize and execute improvements.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations, Data Science, or a related field; an advanced degree is preferred.
• 12+ years of experience in operational excellence, process improvement, or analytics, ideally in biotech, diagnostics, or regulated environments.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies; Green Belt or Black Belt certification is preferred.
• Experience with Tableau, Power BI, Looker, SQL, Python, R, or similar data visualization and analysis tools.
• Experience with SPC/QC frameworks, operational performance metrics, and cross-functional leadership.
• Experience in NGS, clinical laboratory operations, or diagnostics workflows; familiarity with CLIA, CAP, or FDA environments is preferred.

Culture & Benefits

• Work in a multidisciplinary environment involving scientists, engineers, and physicians.
• Flexible time off or vacation.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Mindfulness programs and a workplace focused on advancing cancer care.
• Personal protective equipment is required in designated manufacturing areas.