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

Overview

• Use your passion to create a culture for continuous improvement across innovation and product teams.
• Act as a change agent, shaping innovation strategy by optimizing systems and workflows.
• Empower teams to unlock breakthrough thinking using data, insight, and experimentation.

Position reports directly to the VP, Global Operational Excellence & VES and is structured as a remote role with approximately 25% travel to Regensdorf (Switzerland) and the United States. You will drive the deployment of VES tools and methodologies across global R&D and Product Management to accelerate innovation outcomes and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

How You’ll Make a Difference

• Support the deployment of VES tools and methodologies—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, build internal capability, and foster 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 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.

Key Responsibilities & Behavioral Expectations

• Innovation Excellence & Leadership
  • Help define a winning roadmap for attractive segments utilizing Customer Insight, Problem to Portfolio (P2P), Strategy Partner Grow (SPG), and Technology Development Process (TDP).
  • Implement, improve, and sustain standard work and operating rhythms for Innovation and Product Management teams.
  • Support the effective deployment of NPD Planning and NPD Execution.
• Coaching, Facilitation & Capability Building
  • Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, JDIs, and problem‑solving sessions.
  • Provide ongoing coaching on NPD tools—including FMEA, VSS, VPM, and LEx for NPD Commercialization.
  • Model situational leadership, resilience, and positive change adoption behaviors.
• Kaizen, CP/CT, & PSP Funnel Ownership
  • Own the Innovation Kaizen Funnel and ensure high‑quality intake, charter, and sustainment.
  • Help grow the CP/CT talent pipeline, partnering with the global VES team to strengthen Innovation and Product Management capability.
  • Coach teams to identify, define, and solve high‑impact business problems using structured PSP and DIVE thinking.
  • Monitor funnel health and link efforts to business priorities and CVDs.
• Cross‑Functional Alignment
  • 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 of improvement initiatives.
  • Demonstrate managerial courage by constructively challenging assumptions, elevating risks early, and addressing barriers that impede innovation progress or capability development.
  • Model resilience when navigating regional complexity, shifting priorities, and cultural nuances—maintaining composure, adaptability, and a solutions‑oriented mindset.
  • Represent XRP in global VES and Veralto Enterprise System Office forums.

Leadership Competencies

• Continuous Improvement Mastery
  • Strong capability in VES fundamental tools: Problem Solving Process (PSP), Kaizen, Voice of Customer (VOC), Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Standard Work (SW), Daily Management (DM).
  • Proven ability to improve processes and drive measurable business outcomes.
• Influence & Change Leadership
  • Able to work without authority across cultures and seniority levels.
  • Capable of 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 required.
• 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 are a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in facilitating Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives, specifically in software or 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 and demonstrated ability to present complex ideas clearly to both technical and executive audiences.