Job Title - AVP Operational Excellence (OPEX)

Division: L'Oreal Dermatological Beauty (Operations) 

Location: Franklin. New Jersey

Reports To: VP Manufacturing

Who We Are: 

For more than a century, L’Oréal has devoted its energy, innovation, and scientific excellence solely to one business: Beauty. Our goal is to offer each and every person around the world the best of beauty in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility to satisfy all beauty needs and desires in their infinite diversity.

At L'Oréal Operations, we create innovative, inclusive, and sustainable beauty together with our business partners by designing, developing, sourcing, manufacturing, and distributing over 6 billion products globally every year. We support over 36 brands across four L’Oréal divisions. We are consumer-oriented, and we act responsibly all along the value chain. Come join our dynamic team!

Manufacturing Operational Excellence Leader: Driving Continuous Improvement on the Factory Floor

A Manufacturing Operational Excellence Leader is a key driver of continuous improvement within a production facility. They champion efficiency, optimize processes, and build a culture of excellence that touches every aspect of manufacturing operations. This role typically reports to a plant manager or a higher-level executive within operations.

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead and Implement Continuous Improvement Initiatives: 
  • Identify and prioritize opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall productivity across all manufacturing processes.
  • Utilize methodologies like Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) to drive these initiatives.
  • Facilitate workshops and training sessions to equip teams with the skills and knowledge to implement these methodologies effectively.
• Data Analysis and Performance Tracking:
  • Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with strategic goals, such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), waste reduction, on-time delivery, and product quality.
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret production data to identify trends, bottlenecks, and areas for improvement.
  • Develop and present regular performance reports to management, highlighting successes, challenges, and proposed solutions.
• Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis:
  • Lead root cause analysis investigations for production issues, quality deviations, and safety incidents.
  • Employ structured problem-solving techniques to identify the underlying causes and develop effective corrective and preventative actions.
• Project Management: 
  • Manage and oversee the implementation of operational excellence projects, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives and timely completion. 
  • Effectively communicate project updates, risks, and resource requirements to stakeholders.
• Team Building and Collaboration:
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and open communication within the manufacturing environment. 
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including production, quality, engineering, maintenance, and supply chain to drive improvement initiatives.
  • Mentor and coach team members to develop their problem-solving and continuous improvement skills.

Capital Expenditure Project Management and Execution:

• Project Planning & Scoping:
  • Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables in line with L'Oréal's strategic goals. This includes identifying needs, developing business cases, and securing internal approvals. 
  • Develop detailed project plans, outlining timelines, resources, budget, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Financial Management:
  • Develop detailed cost estimates and manage project budgets, tracking expenditures and variances.
  • Conduct cost-benefit analyses and assess financial viability of projects.
• Risk Management:
  • Identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies. This involves proactively addressing technical, financial, and scheduling risks.
• Vendor and Contractor Management:
  • Manage relationships with external vendors, suppliers, and contractors, ensuring adherence to contracts and performance standards.
  • This includes leading the bidding and selection process.
• Execution and Implementation:
  • Oversee day-to-day execution of capital projects, ensuring adherence to timelines, quality standards, and safety regulations.
  • Manage project teams, delegate tasks, and provide direction.
• Commissioning and Handover:
  • Manage the project transition from implementation to operation, including commissioning, testing, and handover to operational teams.
  • Develop and deliver training programs for end-users.
• Performance Monitoring and Reporting:
  • Track project progress against established KPIs and report on project status to stakeholders.
  • Conduct post-project reviews to identify lessons learned and improve future project execution.

Maintenance and Reliability:

• Preventative and Predictive Maintenance: 
  • Develop and implement comprehensive preventative maintenance programs for manufacturing equipment and infrastructure.
  • Utilize predictive maintenance techniques, such as condition monitoring and data analysis, to anticipate and prevent equipment failures.
• Corrective Maintenance:
  • Lead and manage teams in responding to equipment breakdowns and failures, ensuring timely repairs and minimal downtime. 
  • This includes troubleshooting, diagnosing, and resolving technical issues.

• Reliability Engineering:
  • Analyze equipment performance data to identify and address root causes of failures, improving overall equipment reliability and reducing maintenance costs.
  • Implement reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) methodologies to optimize maintenance strategies.
• Spare Parts Management:
  • Develop and manage spare parts inventory systems to ensure timely availability of critical components while optimizing inventory costs.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives within maintenance and reliability processes, leveraging data analysis and lean manufacturing principles to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Safety and Compliance:
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant safety regulations and L'Oréal's internal safety protocols.
  • Implement and maintain a strong safety culture within the maintenance team.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Significant experience in a manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of leading operational excellence initiatives. 
• Strong understanding and practical application of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other relevant methodologies.
• Expertise in data analysis, problem-solving, and root cause analysis techniques.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Lean Six Sigma certification (Black Belt preferred).

As an integral part of our culture at L’Oréal, wellness is at our core. We not only offer a generous Benefits Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K), we also offer flexible time off, work from home days, and a pension plan! Additionally, you will have access to company perks such as Makeup, Skincare, and Fragrance! Employees receive a stipend for L'Oréal products as well as VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, and other perks such as Monthly Mobile Allowance, discounted gym memberships, and ERGs.

Additional Benefits Information As Follows:

• Competitive Benefit Package (Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Plan)  
• Hybrid Work Policy (3 Days in Office, 2 Days Work from Home) 
• Flexible Time Off (Paid Company Holidays, Paid Vacation, Vacation Buy Program, Volunteer Time, Summer Fridays & More!)  
• Access to Company Perks (VIP Access to L’Oréal’s Internal Shop for Discounted Products, Monthly Mobile Allowance)  
• Learning & Development Opportunities (Unlimited Access to E-learnings, Lunch & Learn Sessions, Mentorship Programs, & More!)  
• Employee Resource Groups (Think Tanks and Innovation Squads)  
• Access to Mental Health & Wellness Programs   

Don’t meet every single requirement? At L'Oréal, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and innovative workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with the qualifications listed in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways! You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and take pride in a diverse environment. We would love to find out more about you as a candidate and do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, medical condition or disability, or any other legally protected status.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting [email protected]. If you need assistance to accommodate a disability, you may request an accommodation at any time. 

Our Safe Together Plan: Your safety is our highest priority. We will proceed with caution and adhere to enhanced protection standards to ensure our sites are safe for all employees. We must all operate with the shared responsibility for each other’s health & safety in mind.