Veralto Enterprise System Leader (VESL), Growth Innovation (R&D / Product Management) (m/f/d)

Overview

• Use your passion to create a culture for continuous improvement across innovation and product teams.

• Act as a change agent, shaping innovation strategy by optimizing systems and workflows.

• Empower teams to unlock breakthrough thinking using data, insight, and experimentation.

Position reports directly to the VP, Global Operational Excellence & VES and is structured as a remote role with approximately 25% travel to Regensdorf (Switzerland) and the United States. You will drive the deployment of VES tools and methodologies across global R&D and Product Management to accelerate innovation outcomes and embed a culture of continuous improvement.

How You’ll Make a Difference

• Support the deployment of VES tools and methodologies—Accelerated Product Development (APD), Continuous Delivery (CD), Product Planning (PPG), Strategic Innovation Review (SIR), and Rationalized Roadmap (RRM)—within R&D and Product Management teams to accelerate innovation outcomes globally in an agile manner.

• Partner with R&D and Product Management leadership to identify, prioritize, and execute high‑impact improvement across the innovation pipeline.

• Facilitate Kaizen events, rapid improvement workshops, and Value Stream Mapping / Visual Project Management (VSM / VPM) to eliminate waste and reduce New Product Development (NPD) cycle times.

• Coach cross‑functional teams on VES principles and tools, build internal capability, and foster a self‑sustaining culture of continuous improvement across global sites.

• Drive adoption of structured problem‑solving methods (root cause analysis) to resolve R&D and product development bottlenecks.

• Help establish visual management systems and daily management cadence that improve transparency, accountability, and decision velocity across innovation teams.

• Collaborate with senior leadership to define, track, and communicate key performance metrics aligned to innovation strategy.

• Champion cross‑functional alignment by bridging Operational Excellence and R&D/Product Management, ensuring VES initiatives support growth and commercial objectives.

Key Responsibilities & Behavioral Expectations

• Innovation Excellence & Leadership

• Help define a winning roadmap for attractive segments utilizing Customer Insight, Problem to Portfolio (P2P), Strategy Partner Grow (SPG), and Technology Development Process (TDP).

• Implement, improve, and sustain standard work and operating rhythms for Innovation and Product Management teams.

• Support the effective deployment of NPD Planning and NPD Execution.

• Coaching, Facilitation & Capability Building

• Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, JDIs, and problem‑solving sessions.

• Provide ongoing coaching on NPD tools—including FMEA, VSS, VPM, and LEx for NPD Commercialization.

• Model situational leadership, resilience, and positive change adoption behaviors.

• Kaizen, CP/CT, & PSP Funnel Ownership

• Own the Innovation Kaizen Funnel and ensure high‑quality intake, charter, and sustainment.

• Help grow the CP/CT talent pipeline, partnering with the global VES team to strengthen Innovation and Product Management capability.

• Coach teams to identify, define, and solve high‑impact business problems using structured PSP and DIVE thinking.

• Monitor funnel health and link efforts to business priorities and CVDs.

• Cross‑Functional Alignment

• Drive harmony, collaboration, and alignment across marketing, IT, finance, production, new product introduction (NPI), and supply chain teams, ensuring transparency, clarity of priorities, and consistent execution of improvement initiatives.

• Demonstrate managerial courage by constructively challenging assumptions, elevating risks early, and addressing barriers that impede innovation progress or capability development.

• Model resilience when navigating regional complexity, shifting priorities, and cultural nuances—maintaining composure, adaptability, and a solutions‑oriented mindset.

• Represent XRP in global VES and Veralto Enterprise System Office forums.

Leadership Competencies

• Continuous Improvement Mastery

• Strong capability in VES fundamental tools: Problem Solving Process (PSP), Kaizen, Voice of Customer (VOC), Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Standard Work (SW), Daily Management (DM).

• Proven ability to improve processes and drive measurable business outcomes.

• Influence & Change Leadership

• Able to work without authority across cultures and seniority levels.

• Capable of building followership and creating momentum for change.

• Facilitation & Coaching Excellence

• Effective facilitator who creates psychological safety, structure, and momentum within teams.

• Adaptable communication style across functions and country contexts.

• Data‑Driven Decision Making

• Uses insights and business intelligence data to diagnose issues and drive improvements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, science, business, or a related field required.

• 3‑5+ years of experience in operational excellence, continuous improvement, or business transformation, specifically in R&D, engineering, or product development environments.

• Ability to travel up to 25% across EMEA and the USA.

• Required fluency in English; preferred Swiss German. Additional EMEA languages are a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in facilitating Kaizen events and continuous improvement initiatives, specifically in software or firmware.

• Exposure to AI and digital tools applied to innovation.

• Experience with VES, Danaher Business System (DBS), or an equivalent enterprise‑level lean/continuous improvement system.

• Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to present complex ideas clearly to both technical and executive audiences.