Head of Operational Excellence in Pharma Production (m/f/d)

Overview

Grünenthal is a global leader in pain management and related diseases. As a science-based, privately-owned pharmaceutical company, we have a long track record of bringing innovative treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to patients worldwide. Our purpose is to change lives for the better – and innovation is our passion. We are focussing all of our activities and efforts on working towards our vision of a world free of pain.

Grünenthal is headquartered in Aachen, Germany, and has affiliates in 28 countries across Europe, Latin America and the US. Our products are available in more than 100 countries. In 2024, Grünenthal employed around 4,300 people and achieved sales of € 1.8 billion.

Responsibilities

• Be the strategic owner of our Global Operations Business System (GOBS), guiding how we define and evolve its core elements across the organization.
• Lead with empathy and clarity, foster collaboration, and drive impactful initiatives that improve cost efficiency, quality, and reliability.
• Champion continuous improvement, helping teams across manufacturing and global functions share best practices and build capabilities through coaching and training.
• Develop meaningful metrics to track progress and maturity in operational excellence and inspire curiosity, ownership, and lifelong learning across the organization.
• Define and evolve core elements of GOBS in areas such as People & Culture, Tools & Methodologies for Operational Excellence, Digital & Analytics Enablement and Integration Excellence.

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership positions with P&L responsibility, with demonstrated experience in leading Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Experience in consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, or life sciences is ideal.
• Strong background in global transformation initiatives and an advanced degree in business, life sciences, or engineering.
• Advanced Lean Six Sigma certification is essential.
• Expertise in change management, digital transformation, and agile practices.

Notes

This role calls for someone who can build a culture of excellence and empower teams across sites to deliver results as part of the Global Operations Business System.

Quote

"This is more than a leadersthip role. It is the chance to leave a lasting impact on how we work, grow, and innovate together."
Philipp Schaffrath , the Hiring Manager

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