Project Manager (Continuous Improvement)

This position will lead a variety of projects and teams to apply Business Transformation/Lean principles and tools to ensure Quest Diagnostics is efficient and effective in the delivery of its services, solutions, and processes while improving customer and employee satisfaction. This position will also be responsible for coaching others to learn and apply Lean principles and tools to their daily work.  

This is an Hybrid position at SJC Lab (4 days onsite, 1 day work from home)

Pay Range: $87,000 - $115,000/ year

Salary offers are based on a wide range of factors including relevant skills, training, experience, education, and, where applicable, certifications obtained. Market and organizational factors are also considered. Successful candidates may be eligible to receive annual performance bonus compensation.

Benefits Information:

We are proud to offer best-in-class benefits and programs to support employees and their families in living healthy, happy lives. Our pay and benefit plans have been designed to promote employee health in all respects – physical, financial, and developmental. Depending on whether it is a part-time or full-time position, some of the benefits offered may include:

· Medical/Prescription Drugs

· Dental

· Vision

· Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

· Supplemental Health Plans

· 401(k) Plan – Company match dollar-for-dollar up to 5%

· Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

· Supplemental Life Insurance

· Dependent Life Insurance

· Short- and Long-Term Disability buy-up

· Blueprint for Wellness

· Emotional Well-Being Resources

· Educational Assistance

· Paid time off / Health Time

• Provides support to key laboratory departments to ensure quality, service delivery, and cost savings targets are met

  • Spends significant time in the lab to learn processes, build relationships, and understand pain points

  • Collaborates with department leadership to review turnaround time, productivity, and quality metrics to drive improvements

  • Establishes a pipeline of continuous improvement projects that includes a mix of self-led and mentored initiatives

• Leads projects and working teams to effectively initiate, plan, execute, monitor, and close projects  

  • Leads projects 

    • Leads projects through issues, roadblocks, and problems 

    • Acts as a change agent to drive teams toward success 

    • Guides team members to perform through issues and constraints 

  • Owns projects 

    • Owns the timeline, budget, resource constraints, and deliverables/results 

    • Shifts between the big picture and the small-but-crucial details 

    • Is prepared to roll up their sleeves and work through detailed issues 

  • Manages projects 

    • Ensures all appropriate tools are completed and used effectively (e.g., charter, Gantt chart, status updates) 

  • Communicates 

    • Actively communicates with project sponsors and stakeholders 

    • Establishes regular points of communication 

    • Manages sponsor and stakeholders expectations 

  • Delivers the expected results 

    • Performs root cause analysis on project shortfalls and takes corrective action as necessary 

• Applies Business Transformation/Lean principles and tools toward a variety of small to medium projects as well as other necessary skills, such as: 

  • Identifying root causes of issues and designing solutions that address them 

  • Defining, monitoring, and controlling processes  

  • Understanding (internal/ external) customer needs and designing solutions around them 

  • Identifying the impacts from change and developing proactive change plans 

• Supports various teams to achieve their goals by facilitating on-site workshops, rapid continuous improvement events, and providing ongoing guidance or consultation 

• Coaches other employees on the use of various tools, concepts and practices foundational to Business Transformation/Lean in order for Quest Diagnostics employees to build self-sufficiency, sustainability and scalability  

• Participates in Communities of Practice 

• Leads Business Transformation/Lean training classes 

• Documents business processes 

• Completes required continued learning

Required Work Experience: 

• Demonstrated experience (1 to 3 years) of leading projects from initiation to completion 

Physical and Mental Requirements:  

• The normal performance of duties may require lifting and carrying objects 
• Frequent walking and/or standing.  

Knowledge:  

• Working knowledge of SJC lab systems (SunQuest, Cognos, Atlas, QLS, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience facilitating discussions or workshops  
• Some experience leading changes 

Skills:  

• Problem-solving skills 
• Effective written and verbal communication skills across multiple formats:  formal presentations, meetings, conference calls, e-mails, and memos   
• Demonstrated data analysis skills 
• Demonstrated ability to develop strong relationships with others 
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously 
• Comfortable using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint 
• Interpersonal skills 
• Decision-making skills 
• Planning and organization skills 
• Results-oriented  
• Creative 
• Persistent 
• Composed 
• Able to learn new concepts rapidly 

EDUCATION 
Associates Degree(Required)
Bachelor’s Degree preferred 
LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS 
Formal training in project management or continuous improvement methodologies (e.g., Six Sigma, Total Quality Management, Lean, Theory of constraints)