OMS & Process Improvement Specialist at Bayer East Africa

Job Description: 

• This role will fully implement and maintain One Management System requirements and will be the central coordinator of process improvement initiatives at site level and play coordinating role across functions.
• The role will report to the RC East Africa Production Lead. 

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Integrated Management System (IMS) Works with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that all the processes are mapped and all relevant procedures documented and updated to reflect actual operations.
• Coordinates the implementation and ongoing maintenance of the IMS for the processes, ensuring that all systems and processes align with Bayer IMS standards.
• Facilitates a robust culture of Investigations of quality and process deviations and drive collaboration with the various squads to identify root causes and implement corrective actions to prevent future occurrences (CAPA culture).
• Shares the learnings related to process and quality deviations to avoid reoccurrence of process failures. 
• Ensures effective change management protocols are followed when implementing process changes, including the monitoring of the Management of Change System (MOC).
• Drives continuous and proactive risk analysis and mitigation culture on site utilizing appropriate tools, such as Intelex platform. 
• Maintains the health of Integrated Management System on site by tracking the performance of the relevant IMS vitals in relevant forums. Vitals such, CAPA closure rates, Audit finding closure rates, Document validity rates etc.
• Facilitates effective production retrospectives/ management reviews on a 90-day cycles, leveraging on performance data from across the seed value chain.
• Conducts IMS awareness and compliance training for cross-functional teams
• Co-ordinates relevant internal and external audits on site and ensures full audit findings resolutions. 
• Represents the site in regional forums, sharing and implementing best practices to improve quality management processes. 
• Supports effective usage of tools such as Intelex, Mydoc & other relevant Quality tools and acts as immediate point of contact for the site.
• Process Improvements Leads end- to-end process mapping, waste reduction, and standardization initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and Root Cause Analysis tools.
• Uses data from various sources to drive data driven improvement and optimization decisions across the site. 
• In Liaison with the Regional Operational excellence Business Partner, the role implements the relevant OnePSS initiatives.
• Drive digitalization and automation initiatives in documentation and traceability systems.
• Leads and manages IMS-related innovation and optimization projects, ensuring documentation is updated, technical support is provided, and KPIs are monitored throughout the lifecycle of the project. 
• Drive together with the site to accelerate onePSS implementation across site, working collaboratively to increase maturityand effectiveness
• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Lean practices and lead the site’s continuous-improvement journey.
• Provide hands-on support, coaching, and guidance to accelerate onePSS deployment and other continuous-improvement initiatives
• Drive continuous improvement by leveraging expertise to deliver significant operational-excellence gains.
• Develop and review site Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure clear performance tracking and data-driven decision-making.
• Participate in 5WHY problem solving identifying corrective and preventative actions.

Mission and Squad Connections:

To be successful in this role, the incumbent will interact with but not limited to the following mission teams: 

• Field mission team
• Plant mission team
• Product Quality team
• Quality Testing Team
• Supply Chain mission team
• Site / country leadership
• HSE Co-Ordinator
• Regional One Management System business partners 

Qualifications and Competences:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Agronomy, Quality Management, Engineering, or related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in seed industry and/ or manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of production systems and quality standards.
• Lead Auditor certification in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, 45001 an added advantage
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification 
• Practical experience in process improvement 
• Excellent problem-solving skills and root cause analysis tools.
• Extensive knowledge on data management & analysis.
• Strong documentation and project management skills.
• High level of influencing skills
• Strong coaching / mentoring and group facilitation skills
• Skilled at leading, managing conflict and negotiating with cross-functional teams
• Demonstration of courage, candor and initiative skills.
• Deliver results in a dynamic changing environment
• Familiarity with regulatory bodies or seed certification standards is desirable.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to compliance.