Veralto Enterprise System Leader (VESL), Growth Innovation (R&D / Product Management) (m/f/d) a[...]

Overview

Veralto Enterprise System Leader (VESL) – Growth Innovation (R&D / Product Management) at X‑Rite Pantone in München, Germany. Full‑time, on‑site with remote flexibility, reporting directly to the VP, Global Operational Excellence & VES. The role drives deployment of VES tools and methodologies across global R&D and Product Management to accelerate innovation outcomes and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Support the deployment of VES tools and methodologies – including Accelerated Product Development (APD), Continuous Delivery (CD), Product Planning (PPG), Strategic Innovation Review (SIR), and Rationalized Roadmap (RRM) – within R&D and Product Management teams to accelerate innovation outcomes globally in an agile manner.
• Partner with R&D and Product Management leadership to identify, prioritize, and execute high‑impact improvement across the innovation pipeline.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, rapid improvement workshops, and Value Stream Mapping / Visual Project Management (VSM / VPM) to eliminate waste and reduce New Product Development (NPD) cycle times.
• Coach cross‑functional teams on VES principles and tools, building internal capability and a self‑sustaining culture of continuous improvement across global sites.
• Drive adoption of structured problem‑solving methods (root cause analysis) to resolve R&D and product development bottlenecks.
• Help establish visual management systems and daily management cadence that improve transparency, accountability, and decision velocity across innovation teams.
• Collaborate with the VP, Global Operational Excellence & VES, and senior leadership to define, track, and communicate key performance metrics aligned to innovation strategy.
• Champion cross‑functional alignment by bridging Operational Excellence and R&D/Product Management, ensuring VES initiatives support growth and commercial objectives.
• Own the Innovation Kaizen Funnel, ensuring high‑quality intake, charter, and sustainment, and help grow the CP/CT talent pipeline.
• Monitor funnel health and link efforts to business priorities and customer‑value deliverables (CVDs).
• Drive harmony, collaboration, and alignment across Marketing, IT, Finance, Production, New Product Introduction (NPI), and Supply Chain teams, ensuring transparency, clarity of priorities, and consistent execution and accountability of improvement initiatives.
• Demonstrate managerial courage by constructively challenging assumptions, elevating risks early, and addressing barriers that impede innovation progress or capability development.
• Represent X‑Rite Pantone in global VES and Veralto Enterprise System Office forums.

Leadership Competencies

• Continuous Improvement Mastery – strong capability with VES fundamental tools: Problem Solving Process (PSP), Kaizen, Voice of Customer (VOC), Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Standard Work (SW), Daily Management (DM).
• Influence & Change Leadership – able to work without authority across cultures and seniority levels, building followership and creating momentum for change.
• Facilitation & Coaching Excellence – effective facilitator who creates psychological safety, structure, and momentum within teams.
• Adaptable Communication Style across functions and country contexts.
• Data‑Driven Decision Making – uses insights and business intelligence data to diagnose issues and drive improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement, or business transformation, specifically in R&D, engineering, or product development environments.
• Ability to travel up to 25% across EMEA and the USA.
• Required fluency in English; preferred Swiss German; additional EMEA languages a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in facilitating Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives, specifically in software and firmware.
• Exposure to AI and digital tools applied to innovation.
• Experience with VES, Danaher Business System (DBS), or an equivalent enterprise‑level lean/continuous improvement system.
• Strong communication skills with demonstrated ability to present complex ideas clearly to both technical and executive audiences.