Process Excellence Engineer

Process Excellence Engineer

Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) is seeking an Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement Engineer for its HPAPI research and manufacturing facility in Riverview, Michigan, legally Ash Stevens, LLC. PPS is a CDMO serving multiple clients in a high-mix, campaign-based, and technology-transfer-heavy environment. This role owns and runs the site's Daily Management System (DMS) across all tiers, and owns and drives continuous improvement, savings, and strategic project work across the site alongside the OE team. The DMS is the site operating system that integrates strategy deployment, daily management, tiered accountability, visual performance management, and KPI ownership. This is a driver role with a hands-on streak, intended for an energetic, self-directed engineer with strong communication, facilitation, problem-solving, and people skills. The successful candidate will be expected to work autonomously, make sound decisions, follow through on commitments, and help build a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. The role uses Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP) as the outcome lens for daily management and improvement work. We measure success by sustained business outcomes, not by how many tools we deploy.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the design, rollout, daily cadence, and sustainment of the full Riverview DMS across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.
• Build and sustain practical visual management boards, KPI ownership, escalation paths, and standard meeting routines across site functions.
• Own and run Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3. Facilitate key meetings, including Tier 3 with site leadership, coach team leaders, and help teams build the discipline to run effective daily meetings.
• Connect the tiers so issues move to the right level quickly and decisions return to the teams that need them.
• Establish Leader Standard Work, Gemba walks, process confirmation, and action closure routines that make accountability visible and repeatable.
• Coach teams to use SQDCP measures to identify gaps, escalate risk, confirm countermeasures, and sustain gains.
• Expect to spend a meaningful share of the week on the floor, at the boards, and in Gemba.

• Own assigned savings and improvement projects end to end, and partner with site OE leadership to advance the site savings pipeline.
• Lead assigned improvement projects from charter through implementation, benefit tracking, sustainment, and closure.
• Drive focused work such as value stream mapping in Quality Control and efficiency projects across manufacturing, quality, and support functions.
• Facilitate cross-functional problem solving using methods such as PDCA, A3, 5 Why, value stream mapping, process mapping, and appropriate Six Sigma tools.
• Own monthly KPI reporting across leadership forums: prepare and present structured, systematic KPI updates for site and senior leadership reviews, and keep the underlying data and dashboards accurate and current.
• Translate operational issues into clear updates that state the impact, recommendation, owner, due date, risk, and expected outcome.
• Adapt improvements to a high-mix CDMO environment where products, campaigns, client needs, and technology transfers change over time.
• Track results against SQDCP outcomes and help process owners sustain verified gains.

• As part of a small and versatile Operational Excellence and Strategic Projects team, take on and own broader department priorities and site strategic projects as they arise, with the DMS as the role's home base.
• Own workstreams within initiatives such as the SAP S4HANA migration as needs allow, with opportunities to grow knowledge and capability across the department.
• Bring practical OE thinking and hands-on execution to broader work by building a board, cleaning and analyzing data, mapping a process, facilitating a Gemba walk, or following actions to closure.
• Support structured root cause work when teams need a neutral facilitator to separate symptoms from causes and agree on practical countermeasures.
• Provide independent production and operational support during off-hours as business needs require.
• Ability to travel as needed. Other duties as assigned.

Key Interactions

• Operations and Manufacturing leadership
• Site Leadership and Senior Leadership
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control
• Engineering, Facilities, and Maintenance
• Process Development and Technology Transfer
• Finance, Training, and Environmental Health and Safety

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering (minimum requirement).
• 3+ years of relevant experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement, manufacturing, or a regulated operating environment.
• Prior hands-on experience running Tier meetings or a Daily Management System is strongly preferred.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt preferred. Black Belt is a plus.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, chemical, GMP, or another regulated manufacturing environment is preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead initiatives, influence across functions, and drive work to closure.
• Strong presentation skills, including clear updates for site and senior leadership.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Teams. Experience with data visualization or dashboard tools is a plus.
• Working proficiency with AI tools for analysis, drafting, and problem solving is strongly preferred. At minimum, a genuine willingness to learn is required.

Job Conditions

Physical demands: Frequent walking of manufacturing, maintenance, facilities, and warehouse areas. Occasional lifting up to 40 lbs, bending, and stooping. Extended periods of standing, walking, or computer work.

Work environment: Pharmaceutical research and contract manufacturing setting with potential limited exposure to hazardous chemicals. The site handles highly potent compounds, and work follows the site's containment and occupational exposure control practices, with PPE required in designated areas. Flexible hours or occasional off-shift support may be required based on manufacturing or project needs.