Lean Business Excellence Specialist

Job description: Our state-of-the-art site in Sassenheim (built approximately 2 years ago) produces lentivirus products that are supplied internally to our sister sites in Belgium (Ghent) and the US for the final production of innovative CAR-T cell therapies. With a team of around 300 employees, production operates 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. The site is currently in a dynamic scaling phase toward commercial production. As a Lean Business Excellence Specialist, you will play a crucial role in managing growth pains, streamlining processes, and increasing process maturity.

Due to the need to work closely with the shop floor, coach teams, and lead programs, you will primarily be physically present on-site.

Roles & Responsibilities: Strategy Execution: Executing Lean projects, continuous improvement programs, and innovative initiatives to support the Manufacturing Process Improvement strategy at the location.

Process Optimization & Mapping: Perform end-to-end analyses of manufacturing and transactional processes through gemba walks, direct observations, and value stream mapping.

Lean Capacity Building: Develop standard work execution plans, work combination charts, visual management systems, and skills matrices together with the site teams.

Process Optimization & Maturity: Streamline business processes, execute Kaizens and Lean improvements, and further develop the Tier management system to drive site performance.

Build CI Pipeline: Establish and manage a structured Continuous Improvement (CI) project pipeline (focused on 2027).

Coaching & Guidance: Guide shop floor employees and teams (such as downstream manufacturing) in applying practical Lean tools (including spaghetti diagrams, week-in-the-life-of analyses, workplace organization, and automation).

Trend Analyses & Bottlenecks: Perform end-to-end analyses through gemba walks and value stream mapping to identify bottlenecks and non-value-added activities.

Data-Driven Analysis & Governance: Conduct root-cause analyses, monitor KPI systems, and ensure governance rhythms to sustainably secure improvements.

Quality & Compliance: Guide change controls and quality investigations (GMP) to support process adjustments.

Credo Alignment: Understand and apply the Johnson & Johnson Credo and leadership imperatives in daily decisions and team interactions.

Job requirements: Education & Experience: A relevant Higher Professional Education (HBO) / Bachelor's degree combined with a minimum of 3 years of practical experience leading continuous improvement initiatives.

Certification: A Lean Black Belt certification (or a demonstrably equivalent track record in leading complex Lean interventions).

Background / Industry: Pharmaceutical experience is not a strict requirement. Candidates from other regulated/quality-conscious industries (such as aerospace or food processing/Food) are a great fit, provided you have experience with strict documentation and regulations (GMP).

Competencies: Problem-Solving Ability: Strong analytical thinking; capable of navigating operational complexity, asking critical questions, uncovering root causes, and designing practical solutions.

Change Leadership: Experience in leading or intensively supporting change controls and quality investigations.

Soft Skills & Ownership: High sense of responsibility, a proactive attitude, and the resilience to remain calm and decisive amidst shifting priorities.

Communication & Collaboration: Excellent feedback skills, an inclusive mindset, and the ability to build strong connections across all organizational levels.

Mindset: A no-nonsense, hands-on 'can-do' mentality. You can switch gears quickly in the daily reality of production ('produce today, ship tomorrow') and excel at influencing stakeholders within a matrix organization.

Terms of employment: A contract for a year (with possibility of extention) for 32 to 40 hours per week. A monthly project allowance 4% of your salary. 25 holiday days. 8% Holiday Pay. A travel allowance. A good pension scheme. Extra allowances for a home workplace budget. A training budget, coaching, an onboarding program, and unlimited access to the Randstad Academy with over 3,000 courses and trainings. Networking events and knowledge sessions.

Requires 5 days on-site in Leiden for the first six months, transitioning into the possibility to work 4 days on-site and 1 day working from home thereafter.

Company information: The client in Leiden is a global leader in the development and production of innovative vaccines and biological medicines. Within the Engineering, Validation & Maintenance (EVM) department, you will step into a professional environment where collaboration, quality, and safety are paramount. As a consultant through Randstad Professionals, you will have the opportunity to apply your expertise within this high-tech GMP environment.

You will work closely with driven domain experts and directly contribute to impactful change initiatives.

Good to know: You'll receive a WhatsApp message from us within 15 minutes of applying. We'll ask you a few short questions about your application to help you more quickly. Don't have WhatsApp? No problem! We'll contact you by phone or email.