PPI Business System Specialist II

Work Schedule Standard (Mon-Fri) Environmental Conditions Office, Some degree of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) required (safety glasses, gowning, gloves, lab coat, ear plugs etc.), Warehouse Job Description Job Title: PPI Business System Specialist II Location: Haverhill, MA - Ward Hill Site, 220 Neck Road Work Arrangement: Fully onsite; limited remote flexibility may be available on an ah-hoc basis with manager approval, based on business needs. How will you make an impact? Thermo Fisher Scientific's Laboratory Chemicals Division manufactures reagents and chemicals used across life sciences research, drug discovery, and manufacturing. At the Ward Hill site, we work safely, perform with pride, and build our culture on respect, accountability, and continuous improvement. The PPI Business System Specialist II will help make work easier, improve performance, and support measurable results across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Productivity, Cost, and Customer Experience. Position Summary Reporting to the Manager, PPI, the PPI Business System Specialist II is a key member of the site PPI team responsible for leading and supporting defined cross-functional continuous improvement and productivity projects across the site. Using the Thermo Fisher Scientific Practical Process Improvement (PPI) Business System, Lean methodologies, and data-driven problem solving, this role identifies opportunities, analyzes end-to-end processes, implements sustainable solutions, and validates business benefits. The role partners with functional leaders, process owners, operators, and subject-matter experts to strengthen daily management, improve process performance, and build practical continuous improvement capability. What will you do? Key Responsibilities: Continuous Improvement Project Leadership • Lead and support defined, cross-functional continuous improvement and productivity projects using PPI, Lean, and structured problem-solving methodologies. • Manage assigned projects from opportunity identification and scoping through implementation, benefit validation, and sustainment. • Develop project charters that define scope, objectives, baselines, targets, milestones, risks, governance, and stakeholder responsibilities. • Deliver measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, and customer experience. • Maintain project plans, action logs, risk registers, performance dashboards, and benefit-tracking documentation. • Partner with Finance and process owners to quantify, validate, and report operational and financial benefits. • Escalate significant risks, barriers, and resource constraints to the Manager, PPI, project sponsors, and relevant leaders. Process Transformation and Problem Solving • Analyze operational, transactional, and business processes to identify performance gaps, constraints, waste, variation, and root causes. • Apply structured problem-solving methods, including A3 thinking, 8-Step problem solving, root cause analysis, process mapping, and Value Stream Mapping. • Facilitate Kaizen events, rapid improvement workshops, process redesign discussions, and direct process observation/Gemba activities. Daily Management and Operational Excellence • Support the deployment and maturity of Daily Management Systems, tiered accountability, visual management, and performance-review routines. • Help teams establish relevant key performance indicators, visual controls, escalation pathways, and problem-solving routines. • Develop and implement standard work in partnership with process owners and subject-matter experts. • Ensure new and revised processes have clear ownership, documented controls, performance measures, and sustainment plans. • Coach teams to use Daily Management to identify abnormalities, prioritize problems, and take timely corrective action. Productivity Pipeline, Reporting, and Sustainment • Assess improvement opportunities for feasibility, value, complexity, risk, and alignment to site priorities. • Generate, maintain, and refresh the PPI savings pipeline, including active projects, forecast and validated savings, project aging, risks, and barriers. • Prepare PPI performance summaries, dashboards, action trackers, and meeting materials for daily, weekly, and monthly reviews. • Conduct post-implementation follow-up to assess benefit delivery, adoption, control effectiveness, and sustainability. Capability Building, Coaching, and Change Leadership • Serve as a practical resource for PPI, Lean, Daily Management, and structured problem-solving methodologies. • Deliver or support training, coaching, and practical guidance to colleagues, project teams, and process owners. • Coach colleagues and front-line leaders on root cause thinking, data-based decision making, standard work, and sustaining improvements through standardization. This role is expected to spend approximately 10% - 15% of time supporting Manager, Supply Chain – data analysis • Prepare and refresh data for multiple daily and weekly calls, reports, and reviews • Maintain Planning dashboards, auditing tools, and visibility reports • Perform routine data analysis to identify trends, gaps, risks, and recurring issues • Prepare ad hoc analyses and respond to data requests • Maintain action trackers and coordinate follow-up with responsible functions • Support root-cause analysis for schedule misses and material constraints • Automate and streamline recurring reports and manual analytical processes • Create, update, and maintain material master data across multiple global ERP systems • Support Kinaxis master data maintenance and visibility dashboards following implementation • Perform routine master data audits and resolve discrepancies • Support new material/SKU setup and master data changes • Support data cleanup, standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives Qualifications: Experience • 3+ of relevant experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, business process improvement, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, business operations, or a related discipline. • Demonstrated experience leading or supporting cross-functional improvement projects from problem identification through implementation and sustainment. • Practical experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, PPI, or equivalent improvement methodologies. • Experience facilitating structured problem solving, process mapping, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen events, A3/8-Step problem solving, 8D/RCA, or similar improvement activities. • Experience with project savings tracking, KPI reporting, dashboards, Smartsheet, ERP systems, Kinaxis, or data visualization tools preferred. Education/Certifications • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, Science, Information Systems, or a related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. • Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Green Belt, PPI Business System, or similar continuous improvement certification. Skills • Strong project management, facilitation, analytical, and structured problem-solving skills. • Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to collaborate and build relationships with peers, leadership, and stakeholders. • Ability to manage multiple priorities with limited supervision while maintaining clear follow-up, accountability, and attention to detail. • Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel required; experience with dashboards, data visualization, Smartsheet, ERP, Power BI, or Kinaxis tools preferred. • Growth mindset and demonstrated belief in continuous improvement, employee engagement, and sustainable process improvement. Compensation and Benefits The salary range estimated for this position based in Massachusetts is $88,000.00–$95,000.00. This position may also be eligible to receive a variable annual bonus based on company, team, and/or individual performance results in accordance with company policy. We offer a comprehensive Total Rewards package that our U.S. colleagues and their families can count on, which includes: A choice of national medical and dental plans, and a national vision plan, including health incentive programs Employee assistance and family support programs, including commuter benefits and tuition reimbursement At least 120 hours paid time off (PTO), 10 paid holidays annually, paid parental leave (3 weeks for bonding and 8 weeks for caregiver leave), accident and life insurance, and short- and long-term disability in accordance with company policy Retirement and savings programs, such as our competitive 401(k) U.S. retirement savings plan Employees’ Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) offers eligible colleagues the opportunity to purchase company stock at a discount For more information on our benefits, please visit: