Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Trans Ova Genetics is a leader in reproductive technologies for cattle breeders, seeking a Senior Vice President of Operational Excellence to enhance their operational capabilities. This role involves designing and implementing a global operating model for IVF production, driving process improvements, and ensuring operational excellence across the organization.
Responsibilities
- Define and lead the enterprise operational excellence strategy aligned with Trans Ova’s long-term growth and industrialization objectives
- Design and implement the global operating model for bovine IVF production across all laboratories and field operations
- Establish governance structures that ensure clear decision rights, accountability, and cross-functional alignment between Operations, Scientific leadership, R&D, and Commercial teams
- Lead enterprise initiatives focused on scalability, throughput improvement, and reduction of operational variability
- Establish end-to-end ownership of critical production processes, including ovum pickup, IVF laboratory procedures, embryo development, embryo transfer, cryopreservation, and logistics
- Define and enforce global standard operating procedures with measurable tolerance bands and process capability targets
- Eliminate unnecessary variation across sites by replacing localized practices with standardized, enterprise processes
- Ensure that improvements and best practices are systematically deployed across all Trans Ova locations
- Implement enterprise-wide statistical process control systems to monitor performance, detect process drift, and prevent variability before it impacts production outcomes
- Develop leading indicators and early-warning dashboards that allow leadership to identify and correct deviations in real time
- Define and track key operational performance metrics such as process capability, yield, throughput, cycle time, and first-pass success rates
- Lead structured root-cause analysis and corrective action programs that eliminate recurring process failures
- Partner with Operations, R&D, and Digital teams to design, test, and implement automation technologies that improve consistency, reduce labor intensity, and increase production capacity
- Lead the evaluation and integration of robotics, imaging systems, and digital workflows into IVF laboratory operations
- Ensure automation initiatives are tightly integrated with process architecture and operational performance metrics
- Translate biological processes into scalable, technology-enabled production systems
- Drive the application of artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to improve process control, anomaly detection, predictive monitoring, and production optimization
- Partner with digital and data science teams to develop machine learning tools that enhance embryo grading consistency, production forecasting, and operational decision-making
- Establish the data infrastructure required to enable real-time monitoring of production performance across all sites
- Ensure that data and analytics become a core capability supporting Trans Ova’s operational leadership
- Embed Lean and Six Sigma methodologies throughout the organization to systematically improve productivity, reduce cost, and eliminate waste
- Lead enterprise continuous improvement programs focused on reducing variability and increasing throughput
- Develop and mentor Green Belt and Black Belt leaders across the organization to support operational improvement initiatives
- Prioritize improvement initiatives based on measurable business impact and strategic importance
- Ensure quality discipline and process compliance are built directly into production workflows rather than treated as separate control functions
- Maintain enterprise standards for deviation management, corrective and preventive actions, and performance monitoring
- Align quality systems with operational performance goals to ensure consistent outcomes for clients and partners
- Protect Trans Ova’s reputation for reliability, performance, and scientific excellence
- Provide strategic leadership and direction for the Technical and Quality Control teams, ensuring alignment with Trans Ova’s operational excellence strategy and global operating model for IVF production
- Ensure that technical expertise, laboratory standards, and quality control disciplines are translated into scalable systems, processes, and training that support consistent outcomes across all locations
- Establish clear accountability for technical standards, method validation, quality monitoring, and continuous improvement initiatives across laboratories and field operations
- Foster strong collaboration between Technical, Operations, R&D, and Digital teams to ensure that scientific knowledge is effectively integrated into industrialized production systems and ongoing process improvement
- Build and lead a high-performing operational excellence organization capable of driving enterprise transformation
- Develop internal talent in process engineering, statistical analysis, automation, and continuous improvement disciplines
- Promote a culture where operational discipline, process ownership, and data-driven decision-making are core expectations
- Reinforce the principle that excellence is achieved through systems and processes rather than individual heroics
Skills
- Bachelor's degree required in Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations Management, or related discipline; advanced degree preferred
- 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or other highly regulated production environments
- Demonstrated success designing and scaling complex production systems across multiple sites
- Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, statistical process control, process capability analysis, and structured problem-solving methodologies
- Proven ability to lead large-scale operational transformation initiatives that significantly improve productivity, reliability, and throughput
- Experience implementing automation technologies and digital production systems in laboratory or manufacturing environments
- Experience leveraging artificial intelligence or advanced analytics to improve operational performance and decision-making
- Strong executive leadership capabilities with demonstrated success influencing cross-functional teams and driving organizational change
- Advanced degree preferred
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification preferred
Company Overview