Sr. Continuous Improvement Specialist

Pillar5 Pharma is a specialized aseptic manufacturer located in the Ottawa Valley Town of Arnprior, Ontario. At Pillar5, we are Building Our Future as North America's ophthalmic Centre of Excellence through best-in-class compliance, operational excellence and industry leadership. Our quality and safety trained team members work together in support of our Mission to produce reliable, high-quality eye-care products that improve and enrich the lives of our customers.

Pillar5 Pharma Inc. is seeking a Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist to lead Operational Excellence initiatives across pharmaceutical manufacturing operations to improve productivity, quality, compliance, reliability, and cost performance. Using Lean, and structured problem-solving methodologies, this role drives process improvements, reduces waste, and delivers sustainable business results while ensuring compliance with GMP and regulatory requirements. The Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist partners with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Validation, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to identify opportunities, lead cross-functional improvement projects, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead continuous improvement projects across manufacturing and support functions.
• Apply Lean, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, and Root Cause Analysis methodologies to improve operational performance.
• Identify opportunities to improve throughput, yield, cycle time, quality, equipment reliability, and cost efficiency.
• Facilitate investigations and corrective actions related to process performance, deviations, and recurring issues.
• Lead cross-functional teams to implement and sustain process improvements.
• Develop KPIs, dashboards, and reports to measure results and ensure long-term sustainability.
• Coach and train employees on continuous improvement tools and best practices.
• Ensure all improvement activities align with GMP, quality, validation, and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with site leadership to prioritize improvement opportunities and align initiatives with business objectives.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, and problem-solving sessions that drive employee engagement and operational excellence.
• Monitor and report project outcomes, including productivity gains, quality improvements, cost savings, and risk reduction.
• Support the development and standardization of processes, procedures, and performance management systems.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by mentoring teams and encouraging data-driven decision making at all levels of the organization.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to identify and implement sustainable solutions to operational challenges.
• Support change management activities to ensure successful adoption and long-term sustainment of process improvements.
• Benchmark industry best practices and identify opportunities to enhance operational excellence capabilities across the organization.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related role within a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Lean Black Belt certification.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects and delivering measurable results.
• Strong analytical, project management, communication, and facilitation skills.
• Experience in GMP pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Knowledge of CAPA, deviations, change control, validation, OEE, SPC, and FMEA.
• TPM Experience and achievements is considered an asset.

COMPENSATION:

• Salary range is $100,000 to $125,000 per year

This posting is for an existing vacancy. Pillar5 Pharma does not use AI at any stage of the recruitment or hiring process. Pillar5 Pharma is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in the workplace. Accommodations are available upon request throughout the recruitment and selection process.