Senior PPI Business Systems Specialist (Continuous Improvement)
Thermo Fisher Scientific · Highland Heights, KY
- Level
- Senior
- Team
- Lean / CI
- Travel
- 25%
- Degree
- Required
- Industry
- Pharma & life sciences
- Posted
- Yesterday
The role in 30 seconds
A senior continuous improvement role at Thermo Fisher Scientific (pharma & life sciences) in Highland Heights, KY. As part of the Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System, the individual will work with all levels to drive continuous improvements that enable growth, improve quality and elevate customer and employee experience.
- They ask for
- degree required
- Tools it names
- Lean, Kaizen, FDA / GMP
- Day to day
- about 25% travel · relocation help
Read from the posting. The full description is below.
From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026
Continuous Improvement roles in the US: typical posted base $105k–$152k.
Median of the low and high ends of 126 live postings that list pay, out of 326 continuous improvement openings in the US, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.
Kentucky plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →
How this role compares
Against 325 other live lean / ci postings in the US.
- Base pay
- Not listed in this posting
- Experience asked
- Not stated
Typical $103k–$149k, from 113 postings that list pay.
Similar roles usually ask 5+ years.
Skills these teams ask for most
- ✓ Lean 86%
- Six Sigma 55%
- Value stream mapping 49%
- ✓ Kaizen 49%
- Root cause 44%
- 5S 32%
✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.
Stands out: this posting asks for FDA / GMP, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.
At a glance
Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.
How to get in at this plant
Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.
- 1
Pick 2–3 people on the Lean / CI team at Thermo Fisher Scientific
We found 3 people at this company and state: 2 in this kind of role, 1 leaders. Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. See them ↓
- 2
Send a short, curious note
One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.
Write to Kevin → (free) - 3
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is CI run from the plant floor or from a corporate OpEx group?
- Which metrics does leadership actually watch: OEE, scrap, cost per unit?
- The posting says about 25% travel. Between which sites?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
- 4
Apply with someone vouching for you
If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.
- 5
Bring proof to the interview
One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.
This plant: Thermo Fisher Scientific in Highland Heights
No other open roles at this site right now · 3 people we found in lean / ci roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Full description from Thermo Fisher ScientificAs posted on their careers site.ShowHide
The Role
The Senior PPI Business Systems Specialist will drive implementation of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System for the Highland Heights site. In this role, you will work closely with the site and business leadership to drive problem-solving and a continuous improvement culture. This position combines project management, facilitation, leadership and continuous improvement skills for the development of standards, best practices, and performance improvements across the business unit.
As part of the Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System, the individual will work with all levels to drive continuous improvements that enable growth, improve quality and elevate customer and employee experience. This role engages teams to build lean capability and streamline processes.
- ◆Lead and facilitate Kaizens and Projects
- ◆Apply Lean and continuous improvement methodologies to improve processes and build team capabilities
- ◆Identify areas of opportunity for improvement/growth and support teams on implementation of these opportunities
- ◆Provides PPI Business System program support through project traceability, pipeline building and productivity tracking and reporting
- ◆Partner with Finance personnel to evaluate project savings estimates, validate reported PPI benefits, and ensure accurate accounting of PPI Productivity
- ◆Regularly seek feedback from Division / BU / Function staff to directly meet and understand their needs
Key
Education
- ✓Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, biological science or related field.
- ✓Advanced degree preferred
Experience
- ✓1 0+ years of experience in engineering, manufacturing, clinical, pharmaceuticals, biological, and/or GMP environment (QA, QC, manufacturing)
In some cases an equivalency, consisting of a combination of appropriate education, training and/or directly related experience, will be considered sufficient for an individual to meet the
requirements
of the role.
Show full description ↓Show less ↑
Work Schedule
Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions
Office
Job Description
Senior PPI Business Systems Specialist
Fully Onsite; Highland Heights, KY
This is a fully onsite role based at our Global Central Laboratory in Highland Heights, KY. We welcome applicants from all locations within the US. Please note that relocation assistance is not provided for this position, and any relocation costs will be the responsibility of the candidate. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. Must be able to pass a comprehensive background check, which includes a drug screening.
At Thermo Fisher Scientific, you’ll discover meaningful work that makes a positive impact on a global scale. Join our colleagues in bringing our Mission to life - enabling our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. We provide our teams with the resources needed to achieve individual career goals while taking science a step beyond through research, development and delivery of life-changing therapies. With clinical trials conducted in 100+ countries and ongoing development of novel frameworks for clinical research through our PPD clinical research portfolio, our work spans laboratory, digital and decentralized clinical trial services. Your determination to deliver quality and accuracy will improve health outcomes that people and communities depend on – now and in the future.
Our PPD® Laboratory Services team has a direct impact on improving patient health through the expertise of scientists, industry thought-leaders and therapeutic experts. As the world leader in serving science, our laboratory professionals bring their commitment to accuracy and quality to deliver groundbreaking innovations.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- •Demonstrated experience leading and influencing teams, directly or indirectly, to achieve results.
- •Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to connect with and positively influence all levels of the organization
- •Excellent skills in Microsoft Office suite; Word, Excel, Project, Visio, Outlook and PowerPoint.
- •Proven track record to drive cross functional teams to solve problems and implement sustainable improvements within the organization
- •Catalyst to drive continuous improvement in both non-operational and operational areas
- •Self-Starter and independent
- •Passion and enthusiasm for driving improvement and leading change
- •Excellent Financial Acumen
- •Demonstrated project management experience in a fast-paced environment
- •Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to multi-task
- •Ability to interface and effectively influence all levels of the organization.
- •Effective oral and written communication skills including the ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing
Work Environment
Thermo Fisher Scientific values the health and wellbeing of our employees. We support and encourage individuals to create a healthy and balanced environment where they can thrive. Below is listed the working environment/requirements for this role:
- •Able to communicate, receive, and understand information and ideas with diverse groups of people in a comprehensible and reasonable manner.
- •Able to work upright and stationary for typical working hours.
- •Able to use and learn standard office equipment and technology with proficiency.
- •Able to perform successfully under pressure while prioritizing and handling multiple projects or activities.
- •May require travel up to 25%
Why Join Us?
Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Watch as our colleagues explain 5 reasons to work with us. As one team of 100,000+ colleagues, we share a common set of values - Integrity, Intensity, Innovation and Involvement - working together to accelerate research, solve complex scientific challenges, drive technological innovation and support patients in need. #StartYourStory with PPD, part o
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