Job Description
A new role that combines hands-on Lean coaching with team leadership to embed continuous improvement in animal research operations.
For our Animal Health location Boxmeer, we are currently recruiting a Lead Operational Improvement & Team Manager (Animal Research Department)

REQUIRED SKILLS:

5S Lean, Change Management, Lean Fundamentals, Lean Initiatives, Lean Leadership, Lean Management, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Planning, Team Coaching, Team Play, Teamwork

PREFERRED SKILLS:

Continuous Improvement, People Management

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Director of Operations for ARD, you play a pivotal role in developing and executing ARD’s strategy, driving measurable improvements in safety, quality, capex project delivery performance and cost through the application of Lean principles and methods. In this dual role you combine managerial responsibility for the CoE team with hands‑on execution of improvement projects. You develop and coach the team to support ARD processes while simultaneously initiating, leading and participating in improvement activities. You partner with managers to realize improvements in key processes and to elevate the department’s GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) and EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) standards.

TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build and lead a stable, high‑performing CoE whose members are trained and deployed on Lean projects, embedding continuous improvement into daily operations. You develop and coach the CoE team to define, implement and maintain visible, accessible standards across ARD.
• Proactively engage sponsors and stakeholders to obtain commitment and resolve dependencies, ensuring improvement initiatives stay within scope and meet scheduled milestones.
• Design, deploy and maintain visual management systems (boards, KPIs, floor markings, workflow visuals) to make process performance and abnormalities immediately visible.
• Coach managers and operators on daily adherence to standards, 5S and visual controls through on-the-floor coaching and follow-up audits.
• Facilitate Kaizen events and support teams to identify, scope and implement self‑initiated improvement ideas.
• Build capability for continuous improvement by training staff in Lean tools (standardization, 5S, visual management, A3, PDCA) and mentoring Kaizen leaders.
• Remove barriers and secure resources for frontline improvement efforts; escalate unresolved issues to stakeholders and sponsors to ensure timely resolution.
• Integrate GLP and EHS requirements into standards and visual controls to maintain compliance while improving operational performance.
• Promote ownership of continuous improvement at all levels by recognizing and rewarding teams who generate and implement self‑initiated improvements.

A meaningful role where your Lean expertise directly improves animal welfare, safety and product quality, with continuous development opportunities, hands‑on coaching responsibility and visibility with senior stakeholders. Our benefits are very competitive, and the summary below will give you an idea of what you can expect:

• Competitive salary and a 3% year-end allowance.
• 35,5 days of leave.
• Attractive collective health care insurance package with considerable reduction rates.
• Solid Pension Plan.
• Annual bonus based on own and company performance.
• Travel allowance for commuting.
• Numerous training, coaching and e-learning modules for long term job opportunities and development