GRAIL
Associate Director, Operational Excellence # 4890
Durham, NC · Director · Full-time
Sponsorship not specified$146k-$194kDetected 1 day ago
PythonSQLData AnalysisData ScienceData VisualizationProcess ImprovementClinical TrialsClinical Laboratory TechniquesFDA RegulatoryNGSLeadershipCommunicationCollaborationProblem SolvingOrganizational Skills
About the role
- For more information, please visit grail.com The Associate Director, Operational Excellence is central to driving continuous improvement, operational rigor, and data-informed decision-making across laboratory and operational workflows.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain operational dashboards and data visualizations to provide real-time visibility into performance
- Partner with stakeholders to define meaningful metrics and continuously improve reporting frameworks
- Establish and refine control limits, early warning systems, and predictive indicators to proactively manage operational risk
- Lead and scale Lean initiatives, including 5S, Six Sigma, and Kaizen programs, across operational teams
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement through structured problem-solving and iterative refinement of processes
- Develop and maintain a centralized system for capturing operational issues, risks, and improvement opportunities
- Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Engineering, Software, Lab) to prioritize and align on improvement efforts
- Act as a key liaison between Operations and non-Operations teams to drive execution of improvement initiatives
Requirements
- 12+ years of experience in operational excellence, process improvement, or analytics, ideally in biotech, diagnostics, or regulated environments
- Strong experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker) and data analysis (SQL, Python, R, or similar)
- Proven ability to work with SPC/QC frameworks and operational performance metrics
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders
- Experience in NGS, clinical laboratory operations, or diagnostics workflows
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, gloves, and hearing protection, required in designated areas.
Nice to have
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Operations, Data Science, or related field (advanced degree preferred)
- Demonstrated expertise in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt preferred), and Kaizen methodologies
- Familiarity with regulated environments (CLIA, CAP, FDA) preferred
Skills
- GRAIL is headquartered in the bay area of California, with locations in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom.
- It is supported by leading global investors and pharmaceutical, technology, and healthcare companies.
- For more information, please visit grail.com
- This role works on-site full-time at our office located in Durham, NC
Compensation
- The expected, full-time, annual base pay scale for this position is $146K - $194K.
This listing is sourced directly from GRAIL's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.