Sr Manager, Operational Excellence- Manufacturing Process Improvement

We’re here for one reason and one reason only – to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. We’ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

Everyone at Kite is grounded by one common goal - curing cancer. Every single day, we seek to establish a direct line between that purpose and our day-to-day work. Would you like to join us in this mission?

Seeking a motivated leader with an Operational Excellence (OE) mindset to drive OE initiatives at our cancer immunotherapy viral vector manufacturing site in Oceanside, CA (MVP01). This role is part of the company-wide OE Network and will lead the development and implementation of OE programs across Technical Operations locally and throughout the network.

The OE Senior Manager plays a critical role in driving meaningful change by working directly with stakeholders, employees, and processes to embed a culture of excellence through hands on engagement and continuous improvement.

The Senior Manager demonstrates experience in applying continuous improvement techniques and producing results for functions, while assessing current business performance against Kite Pharma’s business plan for a specific site and/or function.  The Senior Manager partners with cross-functional teams to analyze findings, recommend improvements, and lead strategic continuous improvement initiatives. This role also trains staff and leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and reports to the Associate Director of Business Strategy & Operations. Please note: This an onsite role

Responsibilities of the Senior Manager of Operational Excellence include:

• Lead the development and execution of OE strategies to meet site goals, track progress, and escalate risks or barriers to success.
• Lead and coach teams in Lean methodologies including PDCA, DMAIC, root cause analysis, FMEA, Kaizen, and mistake-proofing.
• Develop strategic and tactical plans, KPIs, and dashboards to measure and advance MVP01’s OE program.
• Build and maintain a pipeline of improvement initiatives through strong cross-functional partnerships across Manufacturing, F&E, Quality, Supply Chain, and MSAT.
• Translate operational requirements into actionable improvement plans, ensuring alignment with site and network goals.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities by evaluating processes for waste, cost savings, benefit realization, complexity, and inefficiency.
• Ensure continuous improvement initiatives and site processes apply appropriate Lean/Six Sigma tools, track benefits, and celebrate success to reinforce a culture of excellence.
• Facilitate Lean leadership behaviors and daily management routines, including visual management and tiered accountability structures.
• Own and continuously improve the site’s Tiered Meeting Structure, ensuring effective use of SQDEP metrics to drive performance, escalate issues, and foster accountability. Assess when changes are needed to enhance clarity, flow, and impact of tier meetings.
• Go to the work (Gemba) to observe, engage, and assess operational challenges firsthand, applying Lean principles to identify opportunities for efficiency, flow, and problem-solving. Guide teams in implementing practical solutions that align with OE best practices such as 5S/6S, visual management, and standard work.
• Conduct Lean Maturity assessments and develop roadmaps for measurable improvement.
• Serve as a change agent by mentoring leaders and teams, fostering servant leadership, representing the site within the network, and driving adoption of OE principles.
• Build trust and credibility across all levels of the organization by demonstrating emotional intelligence, active listening, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment by managing multiple priorities, navigating ambiguity, and driving results under pressure.
• Ensure sustainability of OE initiatives by embedding problem-solving capabilities and Lean thinking into daily operations and team behaviors.
• Promote knowledge sharing and adoption of best practices across the site and broader manufacturing network.

Basic Qualifications:

• Doctorate OR Master’s degree with 0+ years of Operational Excellence and/or Strategy and/or Operations experience OR
• Master’s degree with 6+ years of Operational Excellence and/or Strategy and/or Operations experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of Operational Excellence and/or Strategy and/or Operations experience OR
• Associate degree with 10+ years of Operational Excellence and/or Strategy and/or Operations experience OR
• High School Diploma / GED with 12+ years of Operational Excellence and/or Strategy and/or Operations experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• 6+ years of Operational Excellence process improvement experience in a GMP regulated biotech or pharmaceutical manufacturing environment, ideally involving viral vector production or cell therapy operations.
• Proven track record of leading Operational Excellence initiatives in a complex manufacturing setting, with measurable impact on throughput, yield, and compliance.
• Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, quality systems, and regulatory requirements.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Black Belt or Kaizen Leader) with demonstrated application of tools such as DMAIC, PDCA, FMEA, and root cause analysis in a manufacturing context.
• Experience implementing and sustaining Lean Daily Management systems, including tiered accountability, visual management, and standard work in a production environment.
• Strong facilitation and coaching skills with the ability to train manufacturing teams and leaders in OE methodologies and drive cultural transformation.
• Ability to navigate between strategic planning and hands-on problem solving.
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional improvement projects involving Manufacturing, F&E, Quality, Supply Chain, and Technical Operations.
• Proficiency in data analysis and performance tracking using tools such as Excel, Power BI, Smartsheet, and other digital OE platforms.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Proactive and self-directed leader who consistently seeks out improvement opportunities and takes initiative without waiting for direction to implement impactful solutions.

 

The salary range for this position is: $153,935.00 - $199,210.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stock-based long-term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, long-term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.
 

For jobs in the United States:

Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other non-job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT
YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

PAY TRANSPARENCY NONDISCRIMINATION PROVISION

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

For Current Kite Pharma Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.