Sr. Lean Specialist

Description

At West, we’re a dedicated team that is connected by a purpose to improve patient lives that has been at the center of our Company for more than a century. Our story began when Herman O. West solved the problem of supplying penicillin in mass quantities to the US Government during World War 2. Through our work to deliver thousands of life-saving and life-enhancing injectable medicines to millions of patients daily, West’s indelible mark on the healthcare industry has just begun. A name started our story. How will yours help write our future?

There’s no better place to join an inclusive community of professionals with opportunities for lifelong learning, growth and development. Supported by benefit programs, we empower the physical, mental, emotional and financial health of our team members and their families.

We believe in giving back to help those in need in the communities where we live and work. And are equally committed to creating a healthier environment and planet through our sustainability efforts.

Job Summary

This position is a fixed term maternity backfill position

In this onsite role, you will be responsible for driving the implementation and sustainability of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives across the plant. This role leads the deployment of the West Business System (WBS) and partners with cross functional teams to improve operational performance, productivity, quality, cost, and delivery. This position serves as the site’s subject matter expert in Lean and Continuous Improvement, aligning plant level execution with West’s global strategy.

The role focuses on cultural transformation, capability development, and the structured application of Lean tools to achieve strategic and operational goals.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead deployment and sustainability of the West Business System (Lean & Continuous Improvement) at the West Israel site.
• Conduct maturity model assessments in alignment with Global Operational Excellence standards.
• Develop and execute action plans to close maturity gaps, ensuring accountability across departments.
• Ensure consistent application of Lean tools and methodologies to drive measurable business outcomes
• Lead and support improvement initiatives including: Value Stream Optimization, Bottleneck elimination, OEE improvement programs, Kaizen events, Cost, quality, and delivery improvement projects
• Support data driven decision making through structured problem solving and analytical methods.
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.
• Coordinate and facilitate Operational Excellence Gemba Walks.
• Strengthen leadership presence and communication at the shop floor level.
• Maintain and improve structured idea generation systems: Suggestion system, Idea box, Ticket system
• Benchmark external best practices through periodic visits to other manufacturing sites.
• Partner with HR to manage and deploy the OpEx Lean Six Sigma training matrix.
• Support closing skill matrix gaps through structured development plans.
• Provide internal Lean training and coaching including: Lean Basics, White Belt, Yellow Belt, Kaizen Leader
• Collaborate with global providers for advanced certifications (Green Belt, Black Belt, Champion).
  
  

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field required

Preferred Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• 5+ years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Lean tools (VSM, SMED, 5S, OEE, Root Cause Analysis, Standard Work, etc.).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities.
• Preferred Qualifications:
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or above preferred).
• Experience working within a global manufacturing organization.
• Knowledge of regulated manufacturing environments (medical device or pharmaceutical preferred).
  

Travel Requirements

5%: Up to 13 business days per year

Additional Requirements

• Strategic alignment and business acumen
• Change leadership
• Data-driven decision-making
• Coaching and mentoring
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Results orientation
  
  

West embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We foster an environment where all individuals are safe, treated fairly, valued and respected. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or other applicable legally protected characteristics. Where permitted by law, employment with West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. or any of its subsidiary or affiliate companies, is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of post-offer background screening.