Senior Manager, Continuous Improvement at Stryker

Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland

Stryker Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Healthcare, Medical DevicesIndustries

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in Engineering, Business, or related field required; Master’s degree preferred
  • 10+ years of relevant experience in manufacturing, operations, or continuous improvement
  • 4+ years in people leadership roles
  • Proven track record of deploying Lean or Operational Excellence programs within a large manufacturing or regulated environment (medical device or similar industry preferred)
  • Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification (or equivalent) preferred
  • Strong leadership and coaching skills
  • Deep understanding of Lean methodologies, change management, and cross-functional collaboration
  • Strong influencing and communication skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead and evolve the site’s Continuous Improvement (CI) strategy, aligning with divisional and corporate goals around Cost, Quality, Delivery, People, and Innovation
  • Develop, mentor, and lead a high-performing CI team, ensuring a robust talent pipeline and strong succession planning
  • Act as the strategic thought partner to senior leaders, coaching them on Lean leadership, problem-solving, and performance management
  • Champion Shingijutsu / Kaizen, Lean, and Six Sigma methodologies to drive breakthrough improvements in productivity, flow, and waste elimination
  • Lead major site-wide improvement programs and business transformation initiatives that impact multiple value streams, ensuring measurable results and sustainability
  • Embed Leader Standard Work (LSW), tiered accountability, and visual management systems to ensure ongoing operational discipline and continuous learning
  • Translate site and business unit strategies into actionable objectives, cascading them effectively through the CI organisation
  • Build organisational capability through training, coaching, and hands-on facilitation of improvement events and workshops
  • Leverage strong influencing and communication skills to engage diverse stakeholders, from operators to executives, in achieving shared goals
  • Drive financial accountability by leading cost transformation initiatives, productivity programs, and value stream optimisations that improve profitability and efficiency
  • Partner with functional leaders to identify and prioritise strategic improvement opportunities, developing business cases and ensuring alignment with corporate priorities
  • Foster a culture of innovation and empowerment, enabling employees at all levels to contribute to process improvements
  • Apply structured problem-solving methodologies (A3, DMAIC, PDCA, GPS, PPS) to drive root-cause analysis and sustain corrective actions
  • Benchmark best practices across Stryker sites and the broader industry, ensuring the organisation remains at the forefront of manufacturing and operational excellence
  • Support strategic planning, KPI alignment, and execution tracking, ensuring consistency and transparency of performance management across the organisation
  • Ensure all CI initiatives uphold Stryker’s standards for quality, safety, and regulatory compliance
  • Lead and mentor others to apply Lean tools in compliance-sensitive environments, ensuring improvements align with QMS, EHS, and regulatory requirements
  • Maintain accurate documentation of CI activities, results, and governance metrics in accordance with company policy

Skills

Lean
Six Sigma
Shingijutsu
Kaizen
Continuous Improvement
Change Management
Leader Standard Work
Visual Management
Problem-Solving
Coaching
Team Leadership

Stryker

Develops and manufactures medical devices and equipment

About Stryker

Stryker develops and manufactures medical devices and equipment aimed at improving patient care and surgical efficiency. Their products include surgical tools, neurotechnology devices, and orthopedic implants, which are sold directly to hospitals and clinics. Stryker stands out from competitors by focusing on high-quality products and a commitment to advancing healthcare solutions. The company's goal is to enhance the overall healthcare experience for both patients and medical professionals.

Kalamazoo, MichiganHeadquarters
1941Year Founded
$423.3MTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Biotechnology, HealthcareIndustries
10,001+Employees

Benefits

Medical & prescription plans
Supplemental health benefits
Flexible Spending accounts
Employee Assistance Program
Short-term & long-term disability
Tuition reimbursement
401(k) plan
Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Risks

Integration challenges from acquisitions may strain Stryker's resources.
Rapid tech advancements risk obsolescence of Stryker's current products.
Regulatory scrutiny on acquisitions could delay Stryker's market entry.

Differentiation

Stryker's acquisitions enhance its minimally invasive surgical solutions portfolio.
Entry into the peripheral vascular segment diversifies Stryker's market presence.
Stryker's focus on AI integration boosts diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency.

Upsides

Growing demand for minimally invasive solutions aligns with Stryker's strategic acquisitions.
The orthopedic implants market growth benefits Stryker's expanding product line.
Stryker's acquisition of Inari Medical positions it in a high-growth vascular market.

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