Director, Operational Excellence (OpEx) - Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Job Description: As a privately-owned, biopharmaceutical company, Ferring pioneers and delivers life-changing therapies that help people build families and live better lives. Our independence helps us cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and long-term perspective that enables us to achieve growth and scale, while remaining agile and true to our ‘people first’ philosophy. Built on a 70-year plus commitment to science and research, Ferring is relentless in its pursuit of science that drives powerful discoveries and therapies to help people build families, stay healthy, and stand up to the world’s oldest enemy: disease. As Director, Operational Excellence (OpEx) you will partner with site leadership team, and global operational excellence network to create and implement operational excellence programs in support of company’s objectives. This role will build OpEx capabilities and provide coaching and expertise increasing overall organization competencies. The role will also be responsible for driving right first time at the site and implementing a Lean Culture at the site. With Ferring, you will be joining a recognized leader, identified as one of “The World’s Most Innovative Companies” by Fast Company, and honored by Fortune with inclusion on its “Change the World List,” for addressing society’s unmet needs. Ferring US is also Great Places to Work® Certified, distinguishing it as one of the best companies to work for in the country. Responsibilities: Design and execute on OpEx strategy to support company objectives Act as change agent and promote continuous improvement culture into daily work through standard work, meeting effectiveness, root cause analysis, and process mapping. Drive Lean, OpEx strategies a cross-functional initiatives to drive continuous improvement. Coach, mentor and support employees in achievement of initiatives. Diagnose and solve recurring issues with process equipment setup, changeover, and reliability. Develop internal change leaders to enhance continuous improvement competencies and skills sets Partner with operations to identify areas of process improvement and execute projects and best practices Identify and capture business needs through communication with stakeholders Set direction and provide frameworks through which operational objectives can be delivered. Requirements: BS in Engineering or related discipline. 10+ years of progressive leadership experience working in manufacturing operations/OpEx role. Hands-on, technical aptitude with highly automated processing equipment. Pharma experience preferred, but not required. Experience in a mature lean or six sigma culture preferred (ie. Toyota, P&G, Pfizer, etc). Proven track record of deploying a range of tools/approaches to improve operational performance Experience with operational excellence tools such as Value Stream Mapping, SMED, Maintenance Excellence and Root Cause Analysis. Strong analytical skills and demonstrated problem-solving skills Strong teamwork, and interpersonal skills Green/Black Belt Six Sigma or Lean expert certification preferred Comfortable working in matrix environment Physical Requirements: Must be able to move freely throughout the manufacturing plant, including navigating stairs, confined spaces, and elevated platforms. Ability to stand or walk for extended periods while conducting process evaluations, leading inspections, or overseeing operational improvements. Willingness to work in manufacturing environments with exposure to varying temperatures, noise levels, and occasional industrial elements such as dust or fumes. Compliance with PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) requirements, including hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and steel-toed footwear. Ability to occasionally use tools, equipment, or other physical resources during process demonstrations or quality assurance evaluations. Capability to occasionally lift and carry materials or equipment up to 20–30 pounds, such as documentation, laptops, or small tools. Availability to respond to urgent onsite operational needs, including during non-standard hours if necessary. Demonstrated willingness to be physically present on the manufacturing floor, engaging with teams to observe processes, identify challenges, and implement solutions. Regularly interacting with plant employees to build trust, foster collaboration, and reinforce a culture of operational excellence. Role will be in Parsippany, NJ. Ferring + you At Ferring, we offer competitive total compensation along with an exceptional range of flexible benefits, personal support and tailored learning and development opportunities all designed to help you realize your full potential both in life and at work. From working hours that respect your lifestyle, a culture that is welcoming and equitable, and the chance to work with the industry’s most impressive people, these are just some of the ways we live our "People First" philosophy. Our Compensation and Benefits At Ferring, base salary is one part of our competitive total compensation and benefits package and is determined using a salary range. The base salary range for this role is $174,000 to $254,000, which is the reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount paid may differ based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, education and primary work location. Additional compensation for this role will be provided based on competitive annual incentive compensation targets in the form of an annual bonus - payouts are based on individual and company performance. Benefits for this role include: comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, and vision) with a premium differential, inverse to base salary, to be paid by employees; a 401k plan and company match; short and long-term disability coverage; basic life insurance; wellness benefits; reimbursement for certain tuition expenses; sick time frontloaded yearly of 40 hours, or higher if state or local law requires; vacation time for full time employees to accrue between 112.5 and 150 hours yearly in the first four (4) years of employment, and additional accruals starting in the fifth (5th) year of employment; and 12 to 13 paid holidays per year. We are proud to offer 26 weeks of paid parental leave, learn more about the parental leave offering in our benefits package here. For roles that are not field-based, Ferring has a policy that allows employees to work up to two days from home and three at a Ferring site, weekly. Ferring is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local laws. Join our team and your voice will be heard, and your contributions will be valued. If you love to come up with new ways to make a positive difference and see them through, you will fit right in. We are proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer (including Disability/Protected Veterans). We maintain a drug-free workplace. Location: Parsippany, New Jersey Ferring Pharmaceuticals is a privately owned, research-driven, specialty biopharmaceutical group committed to building families and helping people live better lives. We are leaders in reproductive medicine and maternal health, and in areas of gastroenterology and urology. We are at the forefront of innovation in microbiome-based therapeutics and uro-oncology intravesical gene therapy. Ferring was founded in 1950 and employs more than 7,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Saint-Prex, Switzerland, and has operating subsidiaries in more than 50 countries which markets its medicines in over 100 countries. Learn more at www.ferring.com, or connect with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter). At Ferring, we'll give you the tools to shape a career build on purpose. Join us and help People around the world to build families and live better lives. Click HERE to enlarge the picture. Click HERE to learn more about this award. At Ferring, our focus on Patient Advocacy drives our commitment to create more equitable health outcomes for all, at every stage of their healthcare journey. We believe in everyone’s right to access the best treatment, pioneering into new therapeutic areas, and developing innovative ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases. Don't see the dream job you are looking for? Drop off your contact information and resume and we will reach out to you if we find the perfect fit!