Operational Excellence Program Manager
- United States - Kansas - McPherson
What You Will Achieve
At Pfizer, our mission is to inspire a best-in-class culture of continuous improvement and project management that empowers colleagues and enables simple, effective processes. Whether you are managing projects or liaising with others, your contribution in this team will help in making our work easier and faster so that we can deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives.
As a member of Pfizer’s Operational Excellence (OpEx) program team, you will define, design and implement problem-solving and continuous improvement programs to ensure vertical and horizontal integration across the organization. Your work will analyze improvement opportunities; own the Integrated Manufacturing Excellence (IMEx) program; build Lean and Six Sigma capabilities at site; facilitate and coach improvement teams; establish and maintain performance metrics to measure program success.
Your breadth of knowledge on internal and external business challenges will help us improve our products, processes and services. Your operational excellence experience will guide us to execute projects and meet objectives. Your ability to take appropriate risks will help us advance new concepts and methodologies. You will provide technical guidance and oversight to team members and advance problem solving.
How You Will Achieve It
- Organize and manage projects/ongoing work activities of moderate complexity within T3 CI loop(s) typically involving cross-functional representatives.
- Provide day-to-day coaching on continuous improvement projects via Lean and Six Sigma projects, with a focus on production and business process improvement.
- Lead deployment and sustainment of IMEx principles and management system standards (visual management, standard work, TPM) across functions.
- Assess OpEx maturity and drive continuous improvement of management systems to enable predictable, high-performing operations.
- Ensure standardization and consistency of OpEx practices across value streams and functions.
- Lead change management for major initiatives, including stakeholder alignment, communication strategies, and adoption tracking.
- Partner with Lean Six Sigma Program Lead to Coach leaders (frontline to senior level) on Lean, Six Sigma, problem solving, and performance management practices.
- Develop internal OpEx capability by mentoring practitioners and strengthening organizational problem-solving effectiveness.
Here Is What You Need (Basic Qualifications)
- Applicant must have a bachelor's degree with at least 4 years of experience; OR a master's degree with at least 2 years of experience; OR a PhD with 0+ years of experience; OR an associate's degree with 8 years of experience; OR a high school diploma (or equivalent) and 10 years of relevant experience.
Bonus Points If You Have (Preferred Requirements)
- Proven track record of leading enterprise- or site-level Operational Excellence programs with measurable business impact.
- Advanced expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and IMEx (or equivalent operating systems).
- Strong experience in program governance, portfolio management, and benefits realization.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and drive change without direct authority.
- Strong financial acumen, including experience linking CI initiatives to cost improvement, productivity, and business outcomes.
- Proven leadership and change management abilities.
- Ability to effectively coach and mentor colleagues.
- Strong oral and written communication, as well as stakeholder management skills
- Relevant pharmaceutical experience.
- Experience leading large projects.
- Effective team building skills and negotiation skills.
- Project management and continuous improvement certifications (e.g. Agile, PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or, or Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, or equivalent program/project leadership credential).
PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
- Individual will be required to perform the task of walking through and understanding processes and understanding the areas in which incidents may of occurred which may require periods of standing.
- Individual will be required to organize and prioritize in a dynamic operation
- Individual will be required to perform complex data analysis
NON-STANDARD WORK SCHEDULE, TRAVEL OR ENVIRONMENT REQUIREMENTS
- Position may require non-standard work schedule to conduct interviews with individuals involved in the investigation and/or to complete investigations per required timeline.
- Onsite or hybrid
- Limited travel
Work Location Assignment: Hybrid
Last Date To Apply: October 6, 2026
The annual base salary for this position ranges from $99,200.00 to $165,400.00. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in Pfizer’s Global Performance Plan with a bonus target of 12.5% of the base salary and eligibility to participate in our share based long term incentive program. We offer comprehensive and generous benefits and programs to help our colleagues lead healthy lives and to support each of life’s moments. Benefits offered include a 401(k) plan with Pfizer Matching Contributions and an additional Pfizer Retirement Savings Contribution, paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage. Learn more at Pfizer Candidate Site – U.S. Benefits | (uscandidates.mypfizerbenefits.com). Pfizer compensation structures and benefit packages are aligned based on the location of hire. The United States salary range provided does not apply to Tampa, FL or any location outside of the United States.
Relocation assistance may be available based on business needs and/or eligibility.
Candidates must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. by any employer.
U.S. work visa sponsorship (such as TN, O-1, H-1B, etc.) is not available for this role now or in the future.
Sunshine Act
Pfizer reports payments and other transfers of value to health care providers as required by federal and state transparency laws and implementing regulations. These laws and regulations require Pfizer to provide government agencies with information such as a health care provider’s name, address and the type of payments or other value received, generally for public disclosure. Subject to further legal review and statutory or regulatory clarification, which Pfizer intends to pursue, reimbursement of recruiting expenses for licensed physicians may constitute a reportable transfer of value under the federal transparency law commonly known as the Sunshine Act. Therefore, if you are a licensed physician who incurs recruiting expenses as a result of interviewing with Pfizer that we pay or reimburse, your name, address and the amount of payments made currently will be reported to the government. If you have questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to contact your Talent Acquisition representative.
EEO & Employment Eligibility
Pfizer is committed to equal opportunity in the terms and conditions of employment for all employees and job applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability or veteran status. Pfizer also complies with all applicable national, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration and Nationality Act and IRCA. Pfizer is an E-Verify employer. This position requires permanent work authorization in the United States.
Pfizer endeavors to make www.pfizer.com/careers accessible to all users. If you would like to contact us regarding the accessibility of our website or need assistance completing the application process and/or interviewing, please email disabilityrecruitment@pfizer.com. This is to be used solely for accommodation requests with respect to the accessibility of our website, online application process and/or interviewing. Requests for any other reason will not be returned.
To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.
Continuous Imprv and Proj Mgmt
Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives
Research confirms what intuition tells us: that purpose-driven companies perform better, are more innovative, attract and retain the best people, and know how to unleash the power of those people. Pfizer’s purpose—Breakthroughs that change patients' lives—fuels everything we do and reflects our passion for building on our legacy as one of the greatest contributors of good to the world.
Each word in our purpose has meaning and reflects the value we strive to bring to patients and society:
“Breakthroughs” - These are the innovations, scientific and commercial, that we seek to deliver every day. All colleagues, regardless of role, level or location, strive for breakthroughs every day.
“Change” - We want to do more than simply improve patients’ medical conditions; we want to dramatically change their lives for the better.
“Patients’ lives” - We consider not only patients, but everyone they touch—including their families, caregivers, and friends—and everything they love to do. It’s an intentionally holistic view.
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Every decision we make and every action we take is done with the patient in mind—and to nurture an environment where breakthroughs can thrive.
Pfizer Global Supply
Pfizer Global Supply proudly shoulders the responsibility of manufacturing and distributing our wide-ranging pharmaceutical products.
With an unwavering commitment to ensuring the availability and accessibility of these life-saving medications, we play a pivotal role in reaching patients, healthcare professionals, and markets across the globe.
Our network of state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, strategically located distribution centers, and streamlined logistics systems enables us to deliver Pfizer's medicines with utmost efficiency and reliability, making a tangible difference in patients' lives worldwide.
Benefits at Pfizer
Pfizer offers competitive compensation and benefits programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our colleagues. Our Pay for Performance Philosophy and Practices reward colleagues based on the contributions they make to our business.
Our Competitive Benefits Programs help our colleagues by:
- Promoting Health and Wellness to help colleagues maintain and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Pfizer offerings include health and disability insurance, preventative health programs, medical screenings, free or reduced-cost vaccinations, discounts on Pfizer products, mental health support, nutrition and fitness counseling and more.
- Strengthening Colleagues’ Financial Security by providing company contributions to retirement plans, life insurance and financial planning education to help colleagues achieve their financial goals.
- Providing Benefits and Time off for the Moments that Matter to ensure Pfizer colleagues have the time away from the office to recharge, recover and return to work as the best version of themselves. Vacation, Holiday time and Sick time are just the beginning, with a 12 week parental leave policy for both parents of a new born, 10 day of caregiver leave for those times when your family needs you whether it’s a child, spouse or parent, bereavement leave, and additional country-specific programs.
- And so much more, depending on your country and site, Pfizer offers childcare facilities or discount programs, on-site health and/or fitness centers, movement and mindfulness solutions, “Log in for your Day” work flexibility and so much more.
For U.S. based jobs, view an overview of Pfizer’s U.S. benefits program (opens in a new window)