Director of Manufacturing Strategy & Operational Excellence

Cardinal Health’s Global Medical Products and Distribution (“GMPD”) segment, focuses on U.S. and International Products and Distribution businesses.  We offer industry expertise and an expanding portfolio of safe, effective medical products that improve quality, manage costs and reduce complexity. With our trusted regulatory experience, insights, and infrastructure, we help manufacture and source medical products that meet the demand for value-driven, comprehensive healthcare solutions.

The Director of Manufacturing Strategy & Operational Excellence is responsible for executing the enterprise-wide manufacturing strategy to advance the Core & Convertor Manufacturing organization toward World Class Manufacturing. This leader will work with central team in development of strategy and in driving the implementation and continuous improvement of key operational systems including Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), 6S, Lean Six Sigma, Strategy Deployment, Cost Savings Programs Management, Capital Management, and lead programs in advanced manufacturing technologies such as automation and Artificial Intelligence.

Working in partnership with site leadership across multiple global medical manufacturing facilities, this role will define the roadmap for the Core & Convertor teams’ operational transformation, establish performance standards, and lead initiatives that improve Operational Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), productivity, and cost performance.

The Director will design and implement a five-year strategic roadmap that prioritizes initiatives based on each site's maturity and readiness, while building the capabilities necessary to sustain long-term operational excellence. Additionally, the Director will manage the Core & Convertor Team tactical and strategic elements of VIP and Capital Planning. Management of the Value Improvement Projects (VIPs) and Capital Investments including collaborating with the sites on monthly spend tracking, management reporting, gap identification & gap closure planning, annual planning, and long-term strategic roadmap development and execution leadership.

Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Strategy & Transformation

• Lead enterprise manufacturing strategy to advance Core & Convertor sites toward World Class Manufacturing.
• Develop and execute a phased five‑year Operational Excellence roadmap aligned to site maturity.
• Align improvement initiatives with business growth, performance targets, and customer needs.

Operational Excellence Leadership

• Deploy and sustain TPM, 6S, and Lean Six Sigma across the manufacturing network.
• Foster a disciplined continuous improvement culture driving cost, productivity, and waste reduction.
• Standardize best practices to deliver sustainable performance improvements.

Performance & Equipment Effectiveness

• Drive significant OEE improvements through data‑driven performance management.
• Partner with sites to implement standardized KPIs, dashboards, and CI frameworks.

Advanced Manufacturing & Technology

• Lead the adoption of automation, digital manufacturing, and AI to improve efficiency, quality, and throughput.
• Partner with OPEX, Engineering, and IT to pilot, scale, and integrate emerging technologies.

Global Collaboration & Influence

• Partner with plant leadership across a global manufacturing footprint to drive OpEx adoption.
• Coach and influence leaders to ensure accountability and sustained results without direct authority.

Governance & Capability Building

• Establish governance, standards, and metrics for enterprise OpEx initiatives.
• Strengthen Lean Six Sigma capabilities and build a pipeline of OpEx leaders.

Qualifications

• Bachelors and Advanced Degree in related field, or equivalent work experience, preferred.
• Strong project management skills with ability to plan tasks, assign and manage resources, remove barriers, manage change, resolve conflict, build consensus, and motivate team members.  Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification strongly preferred.
• Progressive manufacturing experience required.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale operational excellence or transformation initiatives
• Strong expertise in Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Proven ability to improve OEE and drive measurable operational performance improvements
• Experience working across multi-site or global manufacturing operations
• Strong influence, leadership, and change management skills
• Experience implementing automation, digital manufacturing systems, and / or AI-driven manufacturing technologies preferred
• Experience developing enterprise manufacturing strategies or operational excellence roadmaps
• Approximately 50% travel required to support global manufacturing sites and lead implementation of strategic initiatives.
• This is a remote based position; ideal candidate will live in the eastern time zone in the United States.
• Ability to work remotely from home/field requires a dedicated, quiet, private, distraction free environment with access to high-speed internet. We will provide you with the computer, technology and equipment needed to successfully perform your job. You will be responsible for providing high-speed internet.

Anticipated base salary range: $135,400 - $200,000

*The salary range listed is an estimate. Pay at Cardinal Health is determined by multiple factors including, but not limited to, a candidate’s geographical location, relevant education, experience and skills and an evaluation of internal pay equity.

Bonus eligible: Yes

Benefits: Cardinal Health offers a wide variety of benefits and programs to support health and well-being.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off plan
• Health savings account (HSA)
• 401k savings plan
• Access to wages before pay day with myFlexPay
• Flexible spending accounts (FSAs)
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Work-Life resources
• Paid parental leave
• Healthy lifestyle programs

Application window anticipated to close: 5/6/2026 *if interested in opportunity, please submit application as soon as possible.

Candidates who are back-to-work, people with disabilities, without a college degree, and Veterans are encouraged to apply.

Cardinal Health supports an inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, experience and background. We celebrate the power of our differences to create better solutions for our customers by ensuring employees can be their authentic selves each day. Cardinal Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, creed, status with regard to public assistance, genetic status or any other status protected by federal, state or local law.

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