Operational Excellence Specialist

Abbott Laboratories; Witney; On-site; GBP 60,000 - GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global healthcare company is seeking an Operational Excellence Specialist in Witney to drive Continuous Improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will coach teams on Lean Six Sigma methodologies and manage improvement projects to enhance operational processes. Qualifications include secondary education and experience in various operational environments. Abbott offers a competitive salary, a defined contribution pension scheme, and a supportive work environment that encourages growth and wellness activities.

Benefits

Competitive salary and benefits package

Defined contribution pension scheme

Share ownership opportunities

Wellness initiatives and employee engagement activities

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in Operations, Technical, Quality, or Financial environments.
• Strong communication and decision-making skills.
• Practical experience with modern manufacturing excellence tools.

Responsibilities

• Act as a Continuous Improvement change specialist.
• Coaching colleagues on Lean Six Sigma principles.
• Deliver Operational Excellence initiatives.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma principles

Process optimisation

Data analysis using Excel

Collaborative leadership

Communication skills

Education

Completed secondary education or equivalent

Tools

Power BI dashboards

Digital tools (Power Apps)

Job description

Join Abbott as an Operational Excellence Specialist – based in Witney

About Abbott

Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, we’ve been helping people reach their potential — because better health allows individuals and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create innovative solutions across the spectrum of health, advancing technologies that help people live their best lives.

The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an Operational Excellence Specialist to join our team in Witney. In this role, you will act as a key change agent, driving Continuous Improvement (CI) activity across our Operational areas. You will help develop a culture of excellence by supporting teams with Lean Six Sigma tools, data-driven decision-making, and enhanced operational processes — all while maintaining and uplifting quality and compliance standards.

This position is a fantastic opportunity for someone passionate about problem solving, process optimisation, and empowering teams to work smarter.

Responsibilities

• Act as a Continuous Improvement change specialist, coaching colleagues on Lean Six Sigma principles, tools, and project execution.
• Support the set-up, facilitation, and delivery of Lean Six Sigma training across the site.
• Develop and enhance Operational Excellence systems using structured PDCA methodology — including benchmarking, current state assessment, future state proposals, and implementation support.
• Deliver Operational Excellence initiatives that strengthen the Manufacturing Operating System and elevate the site’s OpEx maturity.
• Independently identify, lead, and execute small to medium improvement projects using DMAIC methodology.
• Manage project resources, timelines, risks, and milestones; present findings and outcomes to key stakeholders.
• Develop, deploy, and maintain digital tools (e.g., Power Apps) to improve operational visibility and efficiency.
• Facilitate meetings and workshops to drive engagement, alignment, and problem-solving.
• Support the wider Site Excellence team with engagement and cultural initiatives.

Education & Experience

Education: Completed secondary education or equivalent.

Experience: Demonstrated experience across Operations, Technical, Quality, and/or Financial environments. Strong communication, decision-making, facilitation, and collaborative leadership skills. Practical experience with modern manufacturing excellence tools & techniques, including Lean Six Sigma. Ability to perform data analysis using Excel; familiarity with basic Power BI dashboards and interpretation of trends/KPIs.

What We Offer

At Abbott, we believe in helping you bring your passion, ideas, and purpose to life. In return, we offer:

• A competitive salary and benefits package.
• A class-leading defined contribution pension scheme.
• Share ownership opportunities.
• A supportive and inclusive work environment that encourages career growth and development.
• Access to a wide range of wellness initiatives and employee engagement activities.

At our Witney site: onsite allotments, beekeeping, yoga, and more.