Continuous Improvement Specialist
Bellevue, WA

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

Sea-Bird Scientific is looking for a Continuous Improvement Specialist - Service, who will work with Service and Technical Support business partners throughout the organization to achieve breakthroughs in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and service revenue growth. This individual will use the tools and methods of DBS to solve problems and implement process improvements to achieve key business objectives in global Service and Technical Support.

The Danaher Business System (DBS) is our proven system for achieving success. DBS is a philosophy, set of values, and series of management processes that collectively define who we are and how we do what we do at Danaher. Our DBS tools are designed to help us excel in the areas of Growth, Lean, and Leadership building on a strong foundation of DBS fundamentals (Voice of Customer, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Transactional Process Improvement, Kaizen, 5S, Problem Solving, and Visual & Daily Management).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

* Partner with Service and Support leaders to develop a robust kaizen funnel to address most pressing impediments to KPI execution and revenue growth.


* Schedule, charter, and facilitate kaizens. Ensure effective sustainment of results and support problem solving as needed to close gaps to targets.


* Work with all service sites to drive effective daily management (DM), iterating as needed


* Drive DBS culture through consulting and change management.


* Support Service and Support leaders in deploying, improving, and sustaining standard work for key processes


* Benchmark and incorporate best practices into Service and Support.


* Directly provide formal and informal DBS training and coaching. Augment with other sources of training and coaching (Hach DBS team, DHR DBSO, outside sources).



CRITICAL COMPETENCIES / LEADERSHIP ANCHORS:

* Teamwork - must be able to lead a team(s) of Sea-Bird Scientific employees from multiple disciplines and/or company sites


* Ability to influence others - must be able to inform, convince, and persuade others to action on key initiatives


* Results orientation - must deliver results


* Technical excellence- must possess the skills necessary to be credible with peers and managers


* Communication-must be able to effectively communicate in both written and verbal forms



Must be hands-on and detail-oriented but also able to see the big picture. Need to be able to think strategically and view the business from a general management standpoint. Must be very customer focused and have strong interpersonal and communications skills. Will need to be a quick study who can rapidly adapt to Danaher's culture and gain the confidence of the Danaher organization. This person will be high energy and able to handle conflict. Will be an independent worker, capable of operating in a fast-moving, ever changing environment and able to effectively deal with difficult situations.

Qualifications Required:

* BS or BA Degree with at least 5 years of Customer Service experience
* Ability to analyze R&D processes efficiency gaps and define appropriate DBS growth tool deployment.
* Proven ability to deliver results
* Ability to accurately assess key metrics and situations from a "general manager's" point of view; effective at structured problem solving and critical thinking
* Ability to work with functions in the implementation of the DBS roadmap and implement key growth initiatives; successfully drives change, handles conflict / ambiguity
* Mastery of fundamental DBS or continuous improvement tools
* Superior skills in communications, facilitation, training / adult learning, consulting / influencing; teamwork across disciplines, regions, and cultures
* Demonstrated proficiency in time management and action plan development and execution
* Computer skills (word processing, graphics, spreadsheet, etc.)
* Willingness to travel

Preferred Capabilities:

* Knowledge of key growth tools: DM, VSM, TPI, PSP
* Hands-on experience implementing improvements in a continuous improvement (DBS, Lean Six Sigma, TPS, etc.) line management or consulting role
* Experience managing people and/or projects
* Fluency in a variety of different languages (e.g., German, Spanish, French, etc.)
* Exposure to and participation in a wide variety of training and facilitation environments

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is constantly required to sit. The employee may occasionally squat, turn/twist, or reach. The employee is constantly using hands to: finger, handle, feel or operate objects, and computer keyboards. The employee is occasionally required to walk, stand, climb, balance, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch or crawl, and talk, hear, and smell.

The employee must occasionally lift, carry, push or pull up to 20 pounds.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment consists of an indoor, work or home office environment with good ventilation, adequate lighting, and low noise levels.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING: (US only)

External hiring into this position is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and background check and possible credit history review.

The duties listed in job descriptions are not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties, responsibilities and requirements of the job described. Rather, they are intended to describe the general nature of the job. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.