About Us:

How many companies can say they’ve been in business for over 177 years?!

Here at ZEISS, we certainly can! As the pioneers of science, ZEISS handles the everchanging environments in a fast-paced world, meeting it with cutting edge technologies and continuous advancements. ZEISS believes that innovation and technology are the key to a sustainable future and solutions for global change. We have a diverse range of portfolios throughout the ZEISS family in segments like Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets, and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology. We are a global company with over 42,000 employees and have over 4,000 in the US and Canada alone! Make a difference, come join the team!

What’s the role?

The Head of Operational & Process Excellence, North America plays a pivotal role in driving operational efficiency and excellence within ZEISS North America. This position leads a high-performing team focused on bridging strategic business units with business services and overseeing large-scale transformation programs. The mission is to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement and execution excellence, resulting in enhanced productivity and efficiency across all ZEISS North America activities, while ensuring compliance with regulations.

Sound Interesting?

Here’s what you’ll do:

Implementation of Project eNAble:

• Lead the successful implementation of project eNAble, an Executive Board sponsored transformation program.

• Drive the transition to continuous improvement and quality management post-project closure within ZEISS Business Services.

Process Excellence Management:

• Organize, moderate, and run end-to-end process design workshops in collaboration with businesses and Business Services.

• Develop comprehensive documentation of inputs/outputs, process steps, roles, responsibilities, and improvement opportunities.

• Manage PMO activities to track milestones and provide structured status reporting to the ZEISS Executive Board.

• Direct the Process Excellence team in determining implementation items/content and developing implementation plans.

• Support the development of tracking logic/tools for joint KPIs (End-to-End Performance Management).

• Partner closely with eNAble project lead and PMO to deliver on agreed milestones.

Enabling Harmonized Processes and SBU Fit4 Roll-In:

• Enable the introduction of harmonized processes across the organization.

• Support SBUs for Fit4 roll-in (S4Hana – ERP implementation) to align all businesses onto a common ERP and associated end-to-end processes.

Process Organization and Continuous Improvement:

• Conduct end-to-end process modeling and identify improvements, hand-offs, KPIs, and synergies.

• Define the interaction model between customers/business services and educate the organization on best practice continuous improvement methodologies, tools, discipline, and culture.

• Ensure appropriate training for the Process Excellence team and enable teams from both SBUs and Business Services towards continuous improvement thinking and methodologies.

• Act as a continuous improvement "challenger" on senior levels within ZEISS North America following the implementation of process improvements.

• Act as an interface to a wide range of senior stakeholders both within North America and on Corporate/global levels.

Quality Management:

• Develop capabilities across North America for operational quality management.

• Establish a governance framework leveraging existing standards from the global Operational Excellence team.

• Implement regular audit schedules and partner with the business to identify improvement opportunities.

• Support the business with accreditation as required.

• Stay abreast of and share industry best practices.

• Provide steering, education, and advisory support to the business.

Team Structure:

• This role manages a team of 5 direct reports:

  • 2 FTE Operational Excellence Managers

  • PMO Lead/Business Transformation

  • 1 Process Excellence Manager

  • 1 Quality Manager

Do you qualify?

Education and Certification:

• Master's degree preferred, with additional Supply Chain or Process Management certifications highly desirable.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive responsibility in a fast-paced environment.
• Track record in identifying, selecting, motivating, and developing staff.
• Proven experience managing a shared service function, ideally in Supply Chain or Operations Management, in a global company or high-profile environment.
• Some public accounting experience is favored.

Skills and Expertise:

• Aptitude for analyzing existing operations and implementing new policies, procedures, and systems.
• In-depth experience in setting up, implementing, steering, and improving end-to-end processes.
• Strong financial management skills with business development and corporate strategy acumen.
• Ability to plan, direct, and control financial operations.
• Proficiency in financial systems and tools.
• Knowledge and experience in the capital equipment industry is desirable.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to represent ZEISS to the financial world effectively.

Working Conditions:

• Some travel required (approximately 30%) to OBK, Dublin, satellite locations (Maple Grove, Wixom).
• Willingness to work on defined global projects as directed by CZI President / CZI Board in addition to financial manager function.

The annual pay range for this position is $165,000  – $180,000

The pay offered for this role may be influenced by factors such as job location, scope of role, qualifications, education, experience, & complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent.

This position is also eligible for a performance bonus or sales commissions.  ZEISS also offers robust benefits, including medical plans, retirement savings plan and paid time off.

Your ZEISS Recruiting Team:

Zeiss provides Equal Employment Opportunity without unlawful regard to an Applicants race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender, marital status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, citizen status, sexual orientation, pregnancy (includes childbirth, breastfeeding or related medical condition), genetic predisposition, carrier status, gender expression or identity, including transgender identity, or any other class or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law of the employee (or the people with whom the employee associates, including relatives and friends). 

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