Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren't words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You'll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams. Take your career farther than you thought possible.
Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us .
Position Summary:
The Associate Director, Operational Excellence will be responsible for driving the adoption and execution of the BMS operating system vision and strategy in line with business expectations. Oversees and collaborates with sites, functions and the greater Operational Excellence (OpEx) network on developing and implementing strategies that drive a continuous Improvement culture. This position is a key contributor to development and execution of continuous improvement initiatives, strategic scorecards and dashboards, best practices in business processes, operational excellence principles and systems development and deployment. To achieve this, it will be critical that this position work with leaders across PDS to meet business objectives and build the foundations to drive continuous, sustainable, flawless execution and performance improvement
Key Responsibilities:
Lead and support Diagnostics and Focused Improvement initiatives
Coach sites and site leaders in the development and execution of COMPASS Roadmaps leveraging the BMS operating system to deliver results and mature Operational Excellence culture
Apply Continuous Improvement and Lean tools to consistently improve performance, reduce waste and drive productivity across GPS sites and functions
Facilitate Monthly Bowling Card reviews
Support and influence changes to operations and processes; support movement to an organizational 'Lead with Data' mindset and fact-based decision-making culture
Contextualize critical business issues and value levers, work to embed an objective and unbiased point of view into the business conversation with stakeholders, using the ability to communicate complex quantitative analysis in a clear, concise, and actionable manner
Establish and maintain clear and ambitious SMART KPIs to ensure that organization objectives in the areas of safety, quality, service, cost and efficiency are met
Business Process Improvement - Define, optimize and maintain end to end business processes
Lead workshops, Kaizen, DMAIC, PDCA and Lean Six Sigma Projects
Partner with leadership to identify high impact opportunities, execute process improvements and drive initiatives across the organization
Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and waste to enhance productivity and reduce costs
Root cause problem solving
Optimization of Labor, Facility, and Space Utilization
Identification of meaningful Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Continuous Improvement Education, Training, Project Intake, and Prioritization
Build organizational capability and provide training/coaching
Building, maintaining and leveraging relationships across the matrix to identify opportunities for process improvement and facilitate the implementation of measurement and management systems
Ensure compliance with organizational policies and procedures related to resource management
Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies related to Compass and process improvement
Implement innovative solutions to drive process improvements and enhance business performance
Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the organization
Travel up to 50%
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Management, Project Management, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred
Minimum of 5 years of experience in operations, project management or a related field
Minimum of 2 years in OpEx with heavy emphasis on driving focused improvements
Financial acumen to develop business cases
Proven track record of successfully managing complex projects and driving operational excellence
Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire others
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels
Proficiency in project management tools and methodologies, such as Agile, Scrum, or PMP
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities
Experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry or similar
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Master Black Belt preferred
Strong leadership capability to make decisions while balancing speed, quality & risk with patient focus
Why you should apply
You will help patients in their fight against serious diseases
You will be part of a company that encourages excellence and innovation, respects diversity, develops leaders and values its employees.
You'll get a competitive salary and a great benefits package including an annual bonus, pension contribution, family medical allowance, 27 days of annual leave, life assurance and on-site gym
LI-Hybrid
If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn't perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.
Compensation Overview:
Devens - MA - US: $179,910 - $218,010
Madison - Giralda - NJ - US: $168,140 - $203,744
New Brunswick - NJ - US: $168,140 - $203,744
Princeton - NJ - US: $168,140 - $203,744
The starting compensation range(s) for this role are listed above for a full-time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills, where the job is performed, the employee's work schedule, job-related knowledge, and experience. Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.
Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.
Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Our benefits include:
Health Coverage: Medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care.
Wellbeing Support: Programs such as BMS Well-Being Account, BMS Living Life Better, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
Financial Well-being and Protection: 401(k) plan, short- and long-term disability, life insurance, accident insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection, personal liability protection, identity theft benefit, legal support, and survivor support.
Work-life benefits include:
Paid Time Off
US Exempt Employees: flexible time off (unlimited, with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (not applicable to employees in Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees)
Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non-Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays
Based on eligibility*, additional time off for employees may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs and an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas and New Years Day.
All global employees full and part-time who are actively employed at and paid directly by BMS at the end of the calendar year are eligible to take advantage of the Global Shutdown.
*Eligibility Disclosure: T he summer hours program is for United States (U.S.) office-based employees due to the unique nature of their work. Summer hours are generally not available for field sales and manufacturing operations and may also be limited for the capability centers. Employees in remote-by-design or lab-based roles may be eligible for summer hours, depending on the nature of their work, and should discuss eligibility with their manager. Employees covered under a collective bargaining agreement should consult that document to determine if they are eligible. Contractors, leased workers and other service providers are not eligible to participate in the program.
Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as Transforming patients' lives through science , every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in a supportive culture, promoting global participation in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.
On-site Protocol
BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy @type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:
Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.
Supporting People with Disabilities
BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com . Visit careers.bms.com/ (https://careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility) eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.
Candidate Rights
BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.
If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/
Data Protection
We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud-protection .
Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.
If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com . Please provide the Job Title and Requisition number so we can review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email and you will not receive a response. Inquiries related to the status of your application should be directed to Chat with Ripley.
R1601309 : Associate Director, Operational Excellence Company: Bristol-Myers Squibb
Req Number: R1601309
Updated: 2026-04-20 06:09:56.413 UTC
Location: Princeton-NJ
Bristol Myers Squibb is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, pregnancy, citizenship, marital status, gender expression, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by law.
