Operational Excellence Manager

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Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a world full of sound. We aim to transform the way people understand and treat hearing loss and innovate to connect people with future technologies. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to experience a lifetime of hearing.

The Opportunity

Cochlear is looking for an Operational Excellence Manager to lead the design, deployment, and embedment of Cochlear’s core Manufacturing Business Systems, forming the foundation of the Cochlear Manufacturing System (CMS).

The role is accountable for delivering the systems that enables consistent, scalable, and sustainable ways of working across Cochlear’s global manufacturing network.

This is a permanent full-time role based in our global headquarters in Macquarie University.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the end-to-end design, deployment, and embedment of core Manufacturing Business Systems under the Operational Excellence Strategy
• Develop integrated system architecture connecting CMS, CI system, readiness frameworks, core metrics, and change management approaches
• Translate strategic intent into practical, scalable operating systems, standards, policies, and tools
• Lead cross-functional working groups without direct authority across manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and engineering
• Lead delivery the Operational Excellence Strategy as structured programs
• Develop and maintain program plans, milestones, and delivery roadmaps
• Apply systems thinking methodologies to design interconnected, scalable operating systems
• Lead the design and integration of change management approaches into system deployment

About You

As we grow our operations, we are looking for people who share our passion for delivering quality hearing solutions to our customers. To add value to Cochlear in this role, you'll be able to demonstrate the following essential skills and experience:

• Proven experience designing and implementing business systems, operating models, or Lean manufacturing systems
• Strong systems thinking and systems design capability
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformation programs without direct authority
• Experience delivering end-to-end system deployment and embedment (including change management)
• Strong program management capability (planning, governance, risk, reporting)
• Ability to influence and align stakeholders across functions and levels
• Experience embedding policies, procedures, and standards into operational systems
• Deep understanding of Lean, TPS, or Operational Excellence systems
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• Experience in global, multi-site operating environments

At Cochlear, we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential.

Other Key Benefits:

• Opportunity to shape the future of Operational Excellence across a global manufacturing organisation
• Lead business-critical transformation initiatives with enterprise-wide impact.
• High-profile role with significant growth potential
• Global role with significant international exposure

If you feel that you have the skills and experience to be successful in this role and take on new challenges to build your career with Cochlear, please start your application by clicking the apply button below.

#CochlearCareers

How we recognise your contribution

At Cochlear we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential. Through our internal programs and employee benefits, we aim to create an environment where our people will feel value and supported. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or simply finding an environment which enables you to thrive whilst balancing family or personal life commitments, then we have several programs in place to support you.

For more information about Life at Cochlear, visit www.cochlearcareers.com