Senior Manager, Continuous Improvement at Stryker

Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland

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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

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

LeanSix SigmaShingijutsuKaizenContinuous ImprovementChange ManagementLeader Standard WorkVisual ManagementProblem-SolvingCoachingTeam Leadership

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What work arrangement is required for this role?

The position requires onsite work with no flexibility for remote arrangements.

What are the key skills needed for this Senior Manager role?

The role requires strong leadership and coaching skills, deep understanding of Lean methodologies including Shingijutsu/Kaizen and Six Sigma, expertise in change management, cross-functional collaboration, structured problem-solving (A3, DMAIC, PDCA), and influencing/communication skills.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

What does the company culture emphasize for this role?

The culture focuses on developing a world-class operational excellence, empowering teams, fostering innovation and empowerment at all levels, embedding continuous improvement, and promoting Lean leadership and continuous learning.

What makes a candidate stand out for this position?

Candidates with experience leading Lean transformations, coaching senior leaders, driving site-wide improvement programs, and building high-performing teams with a track record of measurable business impact will stand out.

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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