Lean Manufacturing Consultant

Senior Consultant - Lean / Operational Excellence (Life Sciences)

Location: North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (Rhine-Ruhr region)

Salary: €110,000 - €135,000 + Benefits

Travel: Regional and occasional European travel

• Supportive, collaborative consulting environment with a strong team ethos, ongoing training and development, and a highly credible, professional reputation in Lean and Operational Excellence delivery

• Prior consulting experience is advantageous but not essential; strong industry‑based Lean practitioners with the ability to deliver, influence, and drive continuous improvement are actively encouraged to apply

We are recruiting for a growing, specialist consulting organisation with a strong reputation in Lean and Operational Excellence, currently delivering a major transformation programme within a global life sciences client.

This is a permanent opportunity for a hands‑on Lean professional to play a key role in a high‑visibility, site‑based programme within pharmaceutical / medical device / highly regulated manufacturing .

The Opportunity

You will be embedded within a large‑scale manufacturing operation in North Rhine‑Westphalia , working directly with site leadership and operational teams to drive meaningful, measurable improvement.

This is a delivery‑focused role, leading from the front across:

• Kaizen activity and structured improvement workshops
• Tiered Management and performance systems
• OEE, flow and process optimisation
• Capability building and coaching across multiple levels

You will be part of a broader European programme, with scope to contribute across additional sites over time, offering strong exposure and long‑term career development within an expanding consulting environment.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience in Lean / Operational Excellence , including driving continuous improvement initiatives within life sciences (pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or any other highly regulated environment)
• Minimum Six Sigma Green Belt (Black Belt advantageous)
• Demonstrated experience leading Kaizen, delivering measurable improvements, and embedding sustainable change within manufacturing or operations
• Strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills , with the ability to work effectively with both senior leadership and shopfloor teams
• Fluent German and English (French is advantageous but not essential)

Previous consulting experience is advantageous, but by no means essential. We are equally interested in strong industry‑based practitioners who can demonstrate the ability to influence, coach, and deliver in complex environments.

Additional Considerations

• This role requires a degree of flexibility for travel across Germany and, at times, wider Europe
• Due to the nature and timeline of the programme, candidates should ideally be available to start at short notice, with immediate availability or a notice period of up to one month preferred

Why This Role

• High‑impact role within a major transformation programme
• Strong visibility with senior stakeholders
• Opportunity to transition into, or further develop within, a consulting environment
• Exposure to multi‑site and international delivery over time

This recruitment process will move rapidly. If you are ready to take on a pivotal and exciting role within a dynamic and forward‑thinking organisation, we invite you to apply in complete confidence.

OPEX Selection is a specialist in recruiting ’Improvement Champions’; Lean, Six Sigma and Operational Excellence leaders and professionals on a permanent and interim basis worldwide.