Senior Manager - Process Excellence (R&D)

Team: Process Excellence

Location: River HQ, Bengaluru

• *Key Responsibilities**

• Lead, mentor, and guide a team of Process Excellence associates Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) specialists, and Quality Engineers to deliver measurable business outcomes

• Allocate team resources across improvement projects, auditing schedules, and process mapping initiatives

• Build internal consulting capability by training team members on Lean, Six Sigma, and Value Stream Mapping (VSM) methodologies

• Map, standardize, and continuously refine end\-to\-end Research \& Development departments from concept generation through design, validation, and commercial launch

• Identify operational bottlenecks, waste, and variation in plant operations, supply chain, and administrative workflows

• Design and deploy Lean Six Sigma frameworks (DMAIC, Kaizen, 5S, Poka\-Yoke) to optimize yield, throughput, and cycle time

• Lead change management efforts to ensure successful adoption of new processes and practices, minimizing resistance and maximizing engagement

• Partner with cross\-functional leadership (Factory Operations, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Product Design and Engineering) to implement high\-impact Process Improvement initiatives

• Work with Engineering \& Product teams to streamline rapid prototyping workflows, pre\-production runs, and testing phases to shorten time\-to\-market

• Establish standard operating procedures (SOPs) and control points for prototype build reviews, design validation testing (DVT), and process validation testing (PVT)

• Oversee the end\-to\-end documentation of core R\&D processes, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and Value Stream Maps (AS\-IS and TO\-BE models)

• Drive digital transformation by facilitating integration of process automation and digital workflow tools into traditional manufacturing environments

• Establish and manage an enterprise\-wide Process Compliance Audit Framework to ensure adherence to internal standards \& also support certification to external standards like ISO

• Conduct periodic process compliance audits, identify non\-conformance root causes, and enforce Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) plans

• Deliver regular audit compliance scorecards and risk reports to executive leadership

• Deep understanding of DMAIC frameworks, waste elimination (Muda, Mura, Muri), cycle\-time reduction, and root\-cause analysis

• Deep understanding of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Stage\-Gate frameworks, DFMEA/PFMEA, Prototyping cycles, and GTM readiness metrics

• *Ideal Candidate**

• B.E. / B.Tech / M.Tech in Mechanical, Automotive, Electrical Engineering. Master’s / MBA is a strong advantage

• Strong domain expertise in Manufacturing or Automotive / OEM / Auto\-Ancillary environments

• 10\+ years of total experience, with a significant track record in R\&D Process Excellence, New Product Development (NPD), or Engineering Operations in Manufacturing or Automotive OEMs/Tier\-1 suppliers

• Demonstrated transformation experience within R\&D functions across industries like Automotive, CPG, FMCG, High\-Tech is mandatory for this role

• Certifications as a Lean Practitioner, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt, Design Thinking or Certified ISO Internal Auditor will be an added advantage

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