Work Schedule

Standard (Mon-Fri)

Environmental Conditions

Office

Job Description

As part of the Thermo Fisher Scientific team, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life every single day to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our global teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while helping to take science a step beyond by developing solutions for some of the world’s toughest challenges, like protecting the environment, making sure our food is safe or helping find cures for cancer.

About the position

The Operational Excellence Manager leads the development of operations and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance customer satisfaction, quality, and productivity at the Vantaa site. The role is responsible for training, deploying, and sustaining common development practices using the Practical Process Improvement (PPI) framework, managing the development project funnel, and leading key improvement projects.

The scope of development covers all business processes. The Operational Excellence Manager works closely with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Sales, R&D, and Product Management, and reports to the Vantaa Operations Director.

This role offers the opportunity to implement meaningful change at an organization dedicated to serving science, working collaboratively with teams to make significant contributions to helping customers make the world healthier, cleaner and safer.

What will you do

• Implement, maintain, and deliver training on the Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System. This core operational framework drives a culture of continuous improvement, quality, and productivity through systematic problem-solving and Lean methodologies.
• Build and develop PPI Business System capability and expertise at all organizational levels.
• Collaborate with site leadership to create, standardize, and drive operating mechanisms that support key performance indicators (KPIs), accountability, and action planning to continuously improve business performance.
• Plan and conduct training events following the learn/do model in areas such as Lean leadership, value stream mapping, problem-solving, Kaizen, waste and variation elimination, material flow, 5S, visual management, Lean sourcing, built-in quality, and 3P.
• Actively contribute to building and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement and high employee engagement.
• Facilitate the sharing of best practices both within the site and across Thermo Fisher Scientific to accelerate adoption of the PPI Business System.
• Develop and manage the development project funnel in collaboration with functional leaders.
• Partner with Finance to evaluate project savings estimates, validate reported PPI benefits, and ensure accurate accounting of productivity improvements.
• Monitor and report progress of the development project funnel and execution of improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate and deliver systematic problem-solving programs to strengthen data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Facilitate Kaizen events to improve flow efficiency, productivity, and support business growth.
• Lead and support key development projects together with cross-functional teams.

How will you get there

• Bachelors or Master Degree in Industrial Management, Engineering, Chemistry or equivalent
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience driving continuous improvement/lean methodologies in a matrix organization
• Demonstrated expertise in lean tools such as Value Stream Mapping, Tiered Daily Management Systems, Gemba Walks and Leader Standard Work, Kaizen Events and Problem-Solving Methods, Visual Management and 5S
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification is counted as merit
• High level of self-direction and initiative, with the ability to take ownership, prioritize work, and proactively drive actions.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence effectively at all organizational levels
• Communication, facilitation and presentation skills
• Project management capabilities and track record of delivering measurable results
• Experience with financial analysis and benefits tracking
• Experience in regulated industries (pharma, medical device) preferred
• Fluent written and spoken English and Finnish

 
Please send in your application, including a cover letter, CV and salary request. Please apply via http://jobs.thermofisher.com/ by 22.2.2026. Reference: R-01340468. Please apply as soon as possible, the position will be filled as soon as suitable candidate is found. The selected candidate will go through health check which includes a drug test. 
 
If you have questions about Thermo Fisher Scientific and/or the position - please contact Vesa Suur-Kujala, Senior Supply Chain Manager, tel. 010 3292134, on Thursday 12.2. between 10-11 or Thursday 19.2. between 10-11, or Petra Norrman, Recruiter Nordics, [email protected].