Firmenich

Operational Excellence Deployment Director/Associate Director

Location: Princeton, NJ

Place of work: Hybrid

Is Op Ex something that ignites your passion? Looking for a new challenge? Want to be part of an organization that brings progress to life? Read on!

We’re #hiring for Operational Excellence Deployment leader in our Princeton, NJ site. As a key member of the Global manufacturing excellence team, you will contribute to the development and anchoring a best-in class scalable and modular manufacturing excellence and continuous improvement framework for dsm-firmenich. The position is responsible for the development and deployment of tools, trainings and practices across the Business Units (BU) with an aim to generate year-over-year (YOY) productivity & efficiency while ensuring top service performance, a safe work environment, quality and inventory turns improvement all in the most environmentally friendly and sustainable way.

Sound intriguing? There’s more. Come contribute to reshaping and redesigning the blended and updated Manufacturing Excellence Framework of a leading €14 B company with 150 plants globally. This is an opportunity to fuel the Value Creation pipeline to generate 55 to 75Mio savings YOY through active participation in revamping the Continuous Improvement (CI) framework and roadmap for the company.

At dsm-firmenich, being a force for good is not optional. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is a shared responsibility woven into our daily work, benefiting to our People, Customers & Communities and driving business value. Equal access to opportunities is a given, belonging is a shared feeling, authenticity is celebrated.

Your key responsibilities

• Ensure all plants (>40 sites) in the Americas region (U.S. and Latin America) have a deployment plan and are executing accordingly by deploying the CI framework, ensuring the What, the Why and the How is fully understood and followed by the local site teams
• Support deployment by coaching and guiding local/regional teams utilizing Best Practices defined by the CI framework
• Coach and train teams on the new CI journey ways of working and drive towards BU autonomy
• Execute and drive CI Diagnostics, improvements and health assessments as outlined in our new revamped CI roadmap
• Serve as an ambassador for the overall Lean Six Sigma training deployment program, actively coaching Regional CI facilitators & local CI leads
• Execute benchmarking exercises and orchestrate best practice and knowledge sharing forums
• Participate in overall Global Operational Excellence (GOE) communication strategy and deployment by being active in news publications

This position is eligible for the dsm-firmenich Hybrid Working model, spending 3 days per week in the Princeton, NJ office and the balance of the work week in a home office. Other locations geographically located near another dsm-firmenich site would be considered. Travel is expected to be up to 50% for this role.

The position will be filled at a level commensurate with the experience level of the successful candidate.

We bring:

• A unique chance to codesign the updated continuous improvement framework and be instrumental in creating value across a diverse and large manufacturing plant base
• A chance to join functional Group Operational Excellence and Manufacturing Excellence teams, where lean six sigma expertise and leading and managing change is at the heart of performance culture
• Work in a multidisciplinary environment with a firm belief that working together with our Business Units is the key for value generation
• An eagerness and opportunity to be one team and learn from each other to bring progress to life and be a force for good

You bring:

• Minimum 10 years of extensive working experience and high expertise in both manufacturing/operations positions and a continuous improvement related role required
  • Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with minimum 5 years of experience in the Lean Six Sigma space required: Master Black Belt a plus
  • Profound knowledge of Lean and Six Sigma in the field of operations, consulting in & outside dsm-firmenich.
  • Ability to influence without authority and experience deploying CI programs
  • Knowledge of the external benchmark for “world class” manufacturing organizations
  • Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree a plus

The salary scale provided reflects the pay range dsm-firmenich expects to pay the successful candidate for the position. Individual pay offered will be based on the applicant’s job-related skills, experience, relevant education, or training, and primary work location. Salary $176,300-210,000.

In addition to base salary, we also offer a comprehensive total rewards package, inclusive of annual incentive pay, a retirement savings plan, health care coverage, paid time off, recognition programs and a broad range of other benefits. All benefits and incentives are subject to eligibility requirements.

Our recruitment process

Interested in this position? Please apply online by uploading your resume in English via our career portal by July 11, 2025.

Equal Opportunities Commitment

dsm-firmenich is fully dedicated to inclusion because when people feel engaged and empowered, their creativity and innovation drives unprecedented progress. We aim to build a workplace where opportunity really is equal, so everyone can thrive. We do not discriminate: there’s a place for everyone at dsm-firmenich.

dsm-firmenich is fully dedicated to inclusion because when people feel engaged and empowered, their creativity and is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. dsm-firmenich is fully dedicated to inclusion because when people feel engaged and empowered, their creativity and people are as diverse as our customers. For us that includes a commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job-related reasons regardless of an applicant's race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

We are committed to providing reasonable support for disabled applicants in our recruiting process. Should you need assistance, and are comfortable to share this, please let us know.

About dsm-firmenich

As innovators in nutrition, health, and beauty, dsm-firmenich reinvents, manufactures, and combines vital nutrients, flavors, and fragrances for the world’s growing population to thrive. With our comprehensive range of solutions, with natural and renewable ingredients and renowned science and technology capabilities, we work to create what is essential for life, desirable for consumers, and more sustainable for the planet. dsm-firmenich is a Swiss-Dutch company, listed on the Euronext Amsterdam, with operations in almost 60 countries and revenues of more than €12 billion. With a diverse, worldwide team of nearly 30,000 employees, we bring progress to life™ every day, everywhere, for billions of people.

www.dsm-firmenich.com

Agency Note

Please note this is a direct search led by dsm-firmenich. We only accept applications from candidates, not from agencies nor subject to agency’s fees, percentages or similar.