Director, Azenta Business System

At Azenta, new ideas, new technologies and new ways of thinking are driving our future. Our customer focused culture encourages employees to embrace innovation and challenge the status quo with novel thinking and collaborative work relationships.All we accomplish is grounded in our core values of Customer Focus, Achievement, Accountability, Teamwork, Employee Value and Integrity

Job Description

Azenta Life Sciences is dedicated to enabling life sciences organizations around the world to bring impactful breakthroughs and therapies to market – faster. They provide a full suite of reliable cold-chain sample management solutions and genomic services across areas such as drug development, clinical research and advanced cell therapies for the industry's top pharmaceutical, biotech, academic, and healthcare institutions globally. 

Azenta encapsulates their commitment to helping customers reach new heights in their pursuit of scientific progress. By integrating their industry-leading capabilities, Azenta Life Sciences enterprise-wide sample exploration and management solutions will accelerate discovery, development and delivery, with greater speed and precision. At Azenta, they strive to keep elevating each other, their customers’ work and their industry – building a healthier world for people everywhere. 

Position Overview

The Director of the Azenta Business System will play a pivotal role in driving continuous improvement and organizational change as a member of the Corporate ABS group. They will be responsible for Lean deployment and strategy development across the US-based sites for the Multiomics and Sample Management Solutions businesses. 

The ideal candidate will have significant experience driving Lean tools and methodologies while fostering a culture of Continuous Improvement across the organization. As a proven shop floor leader, they will be hands-on in Lean deployment activities including the introduction of foundational Lean tools (5S, Standard Work, TPI, Value Stream Mapping, and Problem Solving). They will balance the strategical elements of the Azenta Business System with tactical deployment. 

Key Responsibilities

• Utilizing the Azenta Business System to improve safety, quality, efficiency, cost, and other KPIs 

• Aligning corporate strategy with site-based goals, needs, and improvement priorities 

• Providing overall support, assistance, and direction to plant leadership teams regarding CI initiatives 

• Utilizing data to identify gaps in performance versus best practices; work with teams to execute improvement plans  

• Leading and coaching CI events and Kaizens through hands-on participation  

• Developing Lean competencies in others to ensure sustainment  

• Assisting with improvement of asset utilization and equipment management 

• Developing training materials and effectively delivering in a team environment 

• Understanding and applying financial drivers and key performance indicators 

• Documenting best practices and sharing improvements to leverage results across Azenta 

• Collaborating with global ABS leaders, plant teams, and executive leadership to ensure alignment on corporate strategy and goals 

Year 1 Objectives 

• Immersion into Azenta including ABS and Lean Focus methodologies. 

• Support ABS launch strategy including democratization, culture building, and setup of ABS as a primary method of developing talent. 

• Implement and sustain foundational Lean tools including Problem Solving and Daily Management in operations, commercial, and innovation spaces.  Success will be measured by impact on SQDIP metrics. 

• Ensure employee engagement and participation to create a culture of Continuous Improvement 

Reporting Structure:

• Reports to Vice President, Azenta Business System 

• Internal relationships: Plant Managers and Business Leaders   

• No direct reports 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, Chemistry, or related  

• 8-10 years relevant work experience across Continuous Improvement and Operations within a manufacturing/industrial environment 

• Experience in Life Sciences, consumables/instrumentation, or regulated industry preferred  

• Background in Industrial automation, genomics, cold chain, and/or GLP is beneficial  

• Training and dedicated experience with Continuous Improvement/Lean methodology; Lean certifications preferred  

• Proven successful application of Lean tools including 80/20, Lean Leadership, including Daily Management, KPI Leadership, Standard Work, Gemba Walks, Value Stream Mapping, 6S, Transactional Process Improvements, Kanban/replenishment systems, Structured Problem Solving, etc. 

• Experience leading manufacturing operations in addition to dedicated Lean roles 

• Strategy / Policy Deployment experience preferred 

• Demonstrated ability to facilitate Kaizen events to produce sustained, measurable improvements. 

• Influential leadership skills to develop, mentor, and train employees at all levels without direct supervisory responsibility  

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to people at all levels of the organization 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and general computer skills.  Power Automate, Power Apps, Tableau experience preferred. 

Working Conditions/Schedule

• This role will be an onsite role 4-5 days per week in one of our major U.S. locations (Burlington or Billerica or Waltham, MA; Indianapolis, IN; South Plainfield, NJ)
• Travel: 50% to U.S. and International sites

EOE M/F/Disabled/VET

If any applicant is unable to complete an application or respond to a job opening because of a disability, please email at Recruiting@azenta.com for assistance. 

Azenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company considers candidates regardless of race, color, age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

The posted pay range for this position is an estimate based on current market data and internal pay structure. Final compensation may vary above or below this range depending on factors such as experience, education (including licensure and certifications),  qualifications, performance, and geographic location, among other relevant business or organizational needs.