VP, National Business Transformation

Recognized by FORTUNE magazine as one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies,” Quest Diagnostics (www.QuestDiagnostics.com) is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that doctors and patients need to make better healthcare decisions. We are pioneers in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care.

With corporate headquarters in Secaucus, NJ, Quest Diagnostics is a Fortune 500 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DGX) and included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. With 2023 revenues of $9.25 billion and over 2,250 patient locations across the United States, Quest Diagnostics serves half of the physicians and hospitals in the U.S. with their large variety of products and services.

The Role

The Vice President, Business Transformation is responsible for designing and implementing a transformation strategy for the O2C value stream, focusing on 3 key elements:

1. a) Drive a Lean transformation across all functions of Quest, building on existing DMS and QMS tools/ processes/ trainings.
2. b) Drive a holistic value realization strategy, building on the existing Invigorate program, analytics team and Kaizen experts.
3. c) Run and further develop the analytics team to provide required data/ reports, but also provide insights for the organization on “what matters most” and where we need to drive improvement efforts

Lean transformation:

Responsible for providing overarching strategic direction, leadership and coaching on the development and implementation of a Lean enterprise program that extends the existing Quest Management System (QMS) to systematically drive continuous improvement (CI) efforts throughout all the Company's operational functions and drive a Lean operations culture to create highly engaged employees across all of Quest and generate the required Invigorate savings.

Value realization:

Responsible to further develop our Invigorate strategy and governance, to not only govern and drive the cost savings program, but more proactively use financial and metrics data, internal and external benchmarks and stakeholder involvement (Gemba) to define a targeted value realization plan to fill future year Invigorate savings and build a multi-year savings and transformation (standardize, optimize, automate) strategy. This includes deploying and coaching a small team of Kaizen experts to help drive the highest value initiatives.

Analytics:

Lead and further develop the existing analytics team, to ensure stakeholders have access to relevant data and reports, but also help provide insights on required areas of improvements that help us drive operational excellence and overall performance. This includes implementation of a company-wide S&OP process.

This position requires an experienced Lean transformation leader with a broad cross-functional background and experience in either laboratory or manufacturing operations, as well as demonstrated success in driving culture change and operational improvements and transformation across transactional business processes.

The successful candidate will have a results-oriented leadership style, strong ownership of concrete results and strong influencing skills, with the ability to make an immediate and lasting organizational impact. Such individual must be both a credible teacher/ coach to diverse levels of people (from laboratory floor to Senior Executive leadership) and capable of developing and executing lean strategies that yield measurable business results. This is a critical leadership position reporting directly to the Corporate Senior Vice President of Enterprise Operations & Operations Excellence.

Ownership of results and drive to achieve impact are key in this role. The successful candidate will not stop at giving advice and act as a consultant but will work with the stakeholders to ensure value creation.

The VP will supervise a National Business Transformation team of 6 – 8 and indirectly lead all the Regional and Esoteric Business Unit Business Transformation leaders. S/He may be based at any Quest site including offices, labs, Patient Service Centers and Logistics hubs. Travel required estimated at 50-75%.

Lean transformation:

• Support and coach executive leadership and management as the Company's Lean Sensei in the development, planning and execution of a lean enterprise transformation strategy.
• Build a Lean Academy and provide leadership/mentoring/training to all levels of the organization on the use and practice of Lean methodology and tools (e.g., 5S, TPM, visual controls, standardized work, DMS, VSM, Jidoka, Kaizen, SMED, etc.).
• Drive structured best practice identification, documentation and sharing program. Implement idea generation program across all of Quest, and integrate it with existing efforts (BIC, functional programs).
• Build and run change management infrastructure: ongoing communication to all employees on the Transformation, regular progress review (audits) to ensure we stay on track on the execution of the programs, set-up required governance meetings and stakeholders, etc.
• Assist in assessing, hiring and developing of lean support teams from within the regional and esoteric business units and various functional units to ensure that the Company's lean strategy identifies business opportunities and delivers measurable business results. Build bridges within and across the Company's divisional and functional organizations.

Value realization:

• Govern, drive, and further refine the corporate Invigorate cost savings program to systematically review the order-to-cash value stream, identify and quantify opportunities, and work with all stakeholders to develop and drive initiatives and projects to create savings.
• Deploy transformation leaders to help realize value through Kaizens and other high-impact interventions – based on input from the Lean program, the value realization roadmap or functional/ regional requests
• Drive alignment with regional Transformation teams to ensure aligned priorities and initiatives – build an integrated team between corporate and regional transformation teams to ensure we work on a shared and aligned priority list and work on “what matters most” for Quest
• Analytics:
• Provide data analytics, metrics and dashboards to stakeholders (ELT, corporate teams, regional teams) and manage the Tier 1 metrics (most relevant corporate metrics, determining employee bonus) strategy and accountability process
• Implement S&OP program across Quest, to better align demand and supply for key equipment and labor across Quest

• Require a minimum of 15 years of progressive leadership experience implementing lean, driving companywide transformation programs, and leading cost reduction programs.
• Require a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with a preference for degree in a technical engineering discipline (e.g. manufacturing, mechanical, industrial, process, quality, etc.).
• Prefer an advanced degree in a technical engineering discipline (e.g., manufacturing, mechanical, industrial, process, quality, etc.).
• Previous cross functional experience in Business Consulting, Lean program management, operational management is preferred
• Require Six Sigma Certified Black Belt; prefer Six Sigma Master Certified Black Belt
• Demonstrated successful development and deployment of a full-scale Lean transformation program (i.e., full deployment of Lean Production System to all functions of the company, multiple sites), by using Kaizen, Six Sigma, CI, etc. tools/methods to drive culture change, continuous improvement, and cost savings. Show evidence of success without the use of consultants or a large corporate team.
• Demonstrated track record of managing large-Scale Continuous Improvement programs and conducting cross-functional, large-scale Kaizen events.
• Advanced kaizen training from a recognized leader in Lean Operations such as Toyota or Shingijutsu or similar with a Lean black belt certification.
• Demonstrated record of systematically identifying opportunities using financial and operational data, and transforming those insights into a structured multi-year improvement roadmap that delivers significant savings.
• Demonstrated operations/process leadership experience
• Demonstrated leadership skills: Proven track record attracting & developing talent both within and outside direct chain of command. Strategic thinker with strong planning & program management skills.
• Demonstrated track record of execution: Meeting operating commitments and driving year over year business improvements.
• Demonstrated Change Management: Successful experience driving and successfully implementing organizational change on a significant level. Demonstrated ability to make courageous recommendations and decisions to drive significant organizational change; ability to influence others outside direct control; Tenacity and energy in leading change towards an effective work environment.
• Strong business acumen: Solid understanding of operations and overall business financials.
• Strong initiative, ownership, and self-motivation: Ability to work with minimum supervision and as a team-player.
• Strong analytical skills: Ability to analyze and process high volume of information; manage priorities; follow through; develop clear and well-defined processes.
• Strong communication, influential and interpersonal skills: Ability to negotiate and communicate across all levels of the organization; ability to communicate clearly and effectively to direct and motivate team and others, maintaining a persuasive and credible presentation style at all levels of the organization; ability to influence those outside of direct control to achieve overall business goals.
• Fluent in English
• Excellent presentation skills: Dynamic, but straight-forward approach with the ability to translate theory into practical application. Ability to make the complex simple to understand and implement.
• Broad based background with management experience: Experience across multiple functional areas and ability to lead in a matrix management structure.

Competencies

Comfort Around Top Management

Strategic Agility

Dealing with Ambiguity

Drive for Results

Organizational Agility

Managerial Courage

Business Acumen

Problem Solving

Listening

Equal Opportunity Employer: Race/Color/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Vets