Danaher

Senior Director, Reagent Operations

Danaher • $190K — $220K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or related technical field.
  • 15+ years of relevant experience in reagent manufacturing.
  • 10+ years managing teams in a GMP environment.
  • Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent experience.
  • Proven ability to analyze financial data and drive decision-making.

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic leadership for site operations to meet safety and quality standards.
  • Build and develop high-performing teams focused on accountability and continuous learning.
  • Drive operational excellence through Lean principles and data-driven decision-making.
  • Manage annual operating and capital budgeting processes effectively.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to execute business priorities.
  • Guide complex product and process investigations ensuring compliance.
  • Shape the long-term vision for manufacturing capabilities and innovation.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health care programs including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Paid time off to support work-life balance.
  • 401(k) plan for retirement savings.
  • Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
Full Job Description

The Senior Director of Reagent Operations for Beckman Coulter Diagnostics has overall site responsibility for the reagent manufacturing operations located in Chaska, MN. The site manufactures highly technical diagnostic reagents essential to Beckman Coulter Diagnostics and Life Science businesses.


This position leads the entire reagent manufacturing team in Chaska, MN and reports to the VP of North American Manufacturing and will be an onsite role.


In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Provide strategic leadership for site operations, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and financial performance while meeting customer and business objectives.
  • Build, develop, and retain high-performing teams by fostering a culture of accountability, inclusion, continuous learning, and talent development.
  • Drive operational excellence through Lean principles, continuous improvement initiatives, and data-driven decision-making to achieve sustainable business results.
  • Lead annual operating and capital budgeting processes, managing labor, controllable expenses, manufacturing variances, and resource allocation to deliver financial commitments.
  • Partner closely with cross-functional leaders across Operations, Materials, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and EHS to execute business priorities and drive organizational performance.
  • Provide technical and leadership guidance for complex product, process, and manufacturing investigations, ensuring timely resolution and regulatory compliance.
  • Shape and execute the long-term vision for device manufacturing by advancing operational capabilities, driving innovation, and supporting future growth and scalability of the business.

The essential requirements of the job include:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in technical discipline such as Engineering, (e.g., Biomedical, Chemical, Industrial Engineering), and 15+ years of relevant experience. 10+ years of experience managing people in a GMP environment and expertise developing a culture of compliance in GMP environments.
  • 10+ years of experience in immunoassay manufacturing. Experience representing manufacturing in the PSI(S&OP) process. 10+ years of experience driving a lean manufacturing environment and continuous process improvement, including problem-solving issues using lean tools such as 5-whys and determining root cause.
  • Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent experience driving operational excellence through Lean principles, DMAIC methodologies, and data-driven decision making. Proven success developing a culture of continuous improvement through daily management systems, performance metrics, accountability processes, and root-cause problem solving. Demonstrated ability to lead complex organizational change, build stakeholder alignment, drive adoption of new processes and behaviors, and sustain improvements that deliver measurable business results.
  • Proven ability to leverage financial and operational data to drive decision-making, including analyzing financial statements and P&Ls, evaluating investment opportunities, and presenting business cases for process improvements, capacity expansion, and capital expenditures.
  • Track record of successfully leading teams through dynamic business environments by adapting to shifting priorities, maintaining operational focus, and fostering a growth-oriented mindset. Strong influencing skills with the ability to gain stakeholder buy-in, build collaborative partnerships across functions, and drive organizational alignment around key initiatives.
  • Extensive ability to drive break through thinking, develop high performing teams, and create learning and growth opportunities for the team while developing a culture of safety and compliance.

Travel, Motor Vehicle Record & Physical/Environment Requirements:

  • Ability to travel 30-40% globally per business needs.

It would be a plus if you also possess previous experience in:

  • Experience leveraging technology, data, digitization, and AI to drive business results.
  • Experience leading large-scale manufacturing transformations, including new product introductions, technology transfers, site expansions, or capacity optimization initiatives within a global regulated healthcare, diagnostics, or life sciences environment.

#LI-KW4


Beckman Coulter Diagnostics, a Danaher operating company, offers a broad array of comprehensive, competitive benefit programs that add value to our lives. Whether it’s a health care program or paid time off, our programs contribute to life beyond the job.


Check out our benefits atDanaher Benefits Info.


The annual salary range for this role is $190,000 - $220,000. This is the range that we in good faith believe is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future.


This job is also eligible for bonus/incentive pay.

We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance and 401(k) to eligible employees.


Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.


Join our winning team today. Together, we’ll accelerate the real-life impact of tomorrow’s science and technology. We partner with customers across the globe to help them solve their most complex challenges, architecting solutions that bring the power of science to life.


About Danaher

Beckman Coulter develops, manufactures and markets products that simplify, automate and innovate complex biomedical testing. More than 275,000 Beckman Coulter systems operate in both Diagnostics and Life Sciences laboratories on seven continents. For more than 75 years, our products have been making a difference in peoples' lives by improving the productivity of medical professionals and scientists, supplying critical information for improving patient health and delivering trusted solutions for research and discovery.

Danaher Careers

Joining Danaher means becoming part of a global team committed to driving growth, innovation, and leadership across various industries. At Danaher, we offer more than just job opportunities; we provide a platform for professional development and personal achievement.

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At Danaher, you will engage in work that propels global industries forward through innovation and leadership. Our team at Danaher is dedicated to enhancing the company's impact on science, technology, and healthcare. We believe in fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, where every team member’s contribution is valued.

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Ready to take the next step in your career? Explore the open positions on our Danaher Careers page. Tailor your resume, prepare for your interview, and join a team that’s dedicated to making a real impact. At Danaher, your career is just the beginning of a journey filled with leadership opportunities, innovative projects, and a chance to work with some of the brightest minds in the industry.

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Learn more about Danaher
Size
78,000 employees
Market Cap
$189 billion
Industry
Net Income
$3.6 billion
Founded
1969
5 Year Trend
+11.8%
Revenue
$22.2 billion
NASDAQ

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