Recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the "World's Most Admired Companies," Quest Diagnostics (www.QuestDiagnostics.com) is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that doctors and patients need to make better healthcare decisions. We are pioneers in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care.

With corporate headquarters in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DGX) and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, with 2023 revenues of $9.25 billion.

The Role

This position is a key member of a regional leadership team, driving an end-to-end analysis of the regional Business Operations & performance measures, identifying cross-functional system view of opportunities for profitable growth, and driving business transformation leveraging the Quest Management System (QMS) specifically focused on Continuous Improvement (CI), system thinking, and big data analytics techniques (adopting AI). Additionally, this leadership role requires operational experience in business financials, functions, and demonstrated ability to collaboratively work across multiple functions to drive change. This role will lead a team that is responsible for driving business analytics, use of QMS toolset with the operating functions, project management of the business transformation projects and leading / implementing appropriate operating cadence for the business.

This individual will be required to work primarily on-site in our various operational functions; this includes but is not limited to our labs, Logistics hubs, Patient Services Centers and client sites.

• Develop operational strategy for the region, drive key initiatives deployment and champion the operating rhythm/pulse of business operations
• Work collaboratively with all aspects of the business including Commercial, Patient Services, Lab Operations, and other functional areas.
• Owns the learning, application, and adoption of QMS principle and practices across large portions of the enterprise with the goal of building localized self-sufficiency, sustainability, and scalability of improvement efforts
• Champions and drives the use of big data analytics tools (adopting AI) to tackle system level problems
• Cultural change shift from dashboards and analytics towards actions and results
• Owns a portfolio of initiatives such as operational execution that result in large-scale improvement across designated functions and businesses
• Drive continuous improvement, process management, or system thinking (value stream thinking)
• Facilitate cross-functional discussions, targeted workshops, and Kaizens to achieve strategic & operational objectives
• Leverage Hoshin deployment where appropriate and breakthrough planning
• Demonstrates expertise in driving cross-functional collaboration and business transformation projects using program management principles and tools, and has a strong track record of success leading and influencing at the senior leadership level without direct authority in driving change
• Captures, quantifies, and reapplies best-in-class practices between laboratories, businesses, and regions
• Leads and supports a regionwide team of 5-10 QMS-CI specialists, project managers, and data analysts; responsible for coaching and guiding them, as well as facilitating their development and career planning; those individuals will be at the Analyst, Manager and Director level
• Acts as a change agent to guide teams toward success
• Leads efforts to implement Process Control and Management (process definition, documentation, ownership, metrics, and monitoring systems)
• Works with functional and site leaders as a "thought leader" to create future state improvement roadmaps with clear executable plans that are in line with the business strategies and improvement needs
• Contributes toward building a grass-roots culture of continuous improvement, use of big data analytics techniques, system thinking, and cross-functional collaboration
• The role requires the need to occasionally be onsite during evening or 3rd shift hours

• 15-20 years of direct responsibility of operational ownership of different aspects of a business, and Continuous Improvement experience, in areas of Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Organizational Leadership, or Healthcare
• Bachelor's degree required (industrial engineering, supply chain or other technical focus); Master's degree in industrial engineering or related discipline is preferred
• Formal training in continuous improvement methodologies required (e.g., Lean Manufacturing, TPS, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Theory of Constraints)
• Licensing in Continuous Improvement certified (LSS Master Black Belt or Lean certified, QMS or equivalent business operating systems Certified) is preferred
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, cross-functional change initiatives (15+ years)
• Previous experience designing and deploying "kaizen culture" across medium-to-large organizations
• Experience working in such systems as the Toyota Production System, Danaher Business System, Virginia Mason Production System, Honeywell Operating System, Thermo Fisher, GE or similarly mature and rigorous lean models
• Expert-level experience using robust, structured problem-solving and designing countermeasures for multivariate problem
• Demonstrated understanding of continuous improvement, process management, and systems thinking
• Proven track record of fostering leadership alignment, target setting, and 'catch-ball'
• Poise and leadership presence when facilitating discussions and leading workshops
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with others
• Advanced data analysis skills
• Financial and Business acumen, must be familiar with financial P&L
• Change Agent; have the ability to scale
• Working knowledge of Hoshin-Kanri (Policy Deployment) principles and practices
• Effective written and verbal communication skills across multiple formats: formal presentations, training material development, meetings, conference calls, e-mails, and memos
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously

Competencies

• Problem Solving
• Listening
• Directing Others
• Dealing with Ambiguity
• Drive for Results
• Organizational Agility
• Managerial Courage
• Business Acumen
• Collaboration