Senior Manager Continuous Improvement CI Lead

This Senior Manager, Continuous Improvement (CI) Lead is part of Global Business Services (GBS) and reports to the Global Process Excellence Lead within Operational Excellence. As a key member of the Process Excellence function, the CI Lead will oversee a portfolio of projects and programs, driving process improvements that create measurable business impact. The role will work closely with leaders across Finance, Procurement, Operations, the PMO, Service Management, and Transformation to ensure initiatives are executed effectively and deliver lasting value. The ideal candidate is a strategic problem-solver with strong business acumen and the ability to influence at all levels of the organization. Success in this role requires the agility to thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities while producing high-quality outcomes. Candidates with a blend of strategy, operations, and technology expertise who can quickly build credibility and demonstrate impact will excel at Fresenius Medical Care.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and institutionalize effective project management and governance frameworks that enable consistent delivery of process excellence initiatives. Partner with GBS Operations, IT, and other stakeholders to implement and sustain Business Process Management systems and models.
• Deliver process excellence on high-impact, visible projects through process discovery, mapping, documentation, and pain point analysis, ensuring meaningful business outcomes. Conduct deep-dive sessions to identify opportunities for process standardization, optimization, and cross-functional alignment.
• Drive ideation and continuous improvement opportunity identification across GBS towers and processes. Leverage internal and external benchmarks to uncover best practices and initiate business process improvement projects.
• Lead the efficiency agenda by driving process transformation and measurable value creation across stakeholders and departments. Partner with Global Process Owners, Sub-Owners, and Business Process Owners to enhance processes, realize efficiencies, and advance an innovation roadmap globally.
• Identify automation opportunities and collaborate with Intelligent Automation teams to deliver tangible business value. Advise the business on best practices, tools, and methodologies to manage processes and other strategic initiatives effectively.
• Articulate project benefits, value, and estimated ROI to guide prioritization and decision-making. Develop and promote approaches to embed a continuous improvement mindset into the GBS culture.
• Strengthen the culture of continuous improvement through training programs, knowledge-sharing, and organizational events. Share best practices across business units, bringing insights that foster collaboration and a culture of excellence.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with partners across Finance, Engineering, Product, and other key functions. Facilitate cross-functional team meetings with clarity and efficiency, connecting insights and influencing key business decisions.
• Actively participate in QBRs and operational reviews, providing ongoing insights into functional health and performance. Provide direct supervision, mentorship, and support to executives and staff, cultivating growth, accountability, and high performance.
  
  
  

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Black Belt certification (or equivalent experience) required; Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification is an advantage.
• 10–15 years of leadership experience in process excellence, transformation, or operational improvement, ideally in global and complex organizations.
• Prior experience in Shared Services/GBS, consulting, or working with outsourced providers strongly preferred.
• Proven success in leading large-scale transformation programs, creating a culture of innovation, and aligning teams to organizational mission and goals.
• Deep expertise in process optimization frameworks such as Lean, Six Sigma, design thinking, and business process re-engineering, with hands-on experience in process mining, modeling, and automation tools. Strong background in identifying and evaluating automation opportunities (including RPA), building business cases, and delivering measurable value.
• Experience managing end-to-end processes across Finance and Procurement functions (P2P, O2C, R2R, FP&A, Tax, Treasury) is highly desirable. Skilled at building strong cross-functional partnerships and influencing across diverse, global, and matrixed teams.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills with the ability to balance innovation and efficiency while managing cost and investment. Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex ideas for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to talent development, fostering collaboration, and empowering teams to grow. Curious, adaptable, and committed to continuous learning, keeping abreast of emerging tools and practices.
• Flexible and comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment with occasional early/late hours and international travel (15–25%).