Senior Project Lead - Operational Excellence Business Improvements

Senior Project Lead – Wilton Factory Operational Excellence
 

ASML US brings together the most creative minds in science and technology to develop lithography machines that are key to producing faster, cheaper, more energy-efficient microchips. We design, develop, integrate, market and service these advanced machines, which enable our customers - the world’s leading chipmakers - to reduce the size and increase the functionality of their microchips, which in turn leads to smaller, more powerful consumer electronics. Our headquarters are in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, and we have 18 office locations around the United States including main offices in Chandler, Arizona, San Jose and San Diego, California, Wilton, Connecticut, and Hillsboro, Oregon.

The Senior Project Lead is part of the Project and Change Management team within ASML Wilton Factory’s Operational Excellence organization.  Operational Excellence drives continuous and structural improvements related to ways of working, processes and IT tooling. The Senior Project Lead will lead complex implementations of software, tools and process change within Wilton Factory manufacturing and operations. The Senior Project Lead scopes, plans, budgets, executes/drives and reports on these complex and strategic projects. Typically these projects are cross-departmental and cross-business line improvements (e.g. spanning D&E, logistics, planning, engineering, manufacturing and/or DUV, EUV and Optical Fabrication).

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Role and responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of one or more complex, cross-functional improvement projects . This may include but is not limited to: defining the project team and gaining approval on project plan. Managing end to end project planning and executing project deliverables while measurable impact. Establishing accurate project reporting, tracking project financials and transferring the project to business process owners in line management upon project close.
• Manage key stakeholders across Wilton Factory to align and prioritize need on new processes or improvements delivered. Ensure continuous commitment of WF key stakeholders at all levels (from operational to senior leadership) to make the project a success, by addressing them on their tasks and responsibilities.
• Identify project dependencies across the factory and create project roadmaps with clear timelines and objectives.  Drive execution rigor and translate strategic priorities into executable delivery plans.
• Plan and coordinate the identification and elicitation of requirements; conduct analysis of those requirements for completion and alignment; document and manages requirements throughout the life of the project; and coordinate the verification of the end deliverable.
• Evaluate financial consequences and business case of required improvements (including resources). Develop strong understanding of the business and own the business case and value realization.  Quantify benefits, assess financial and resource implications, and ensure delivery of targeted impact
• Collaborate with IT business partners and teams throughout application testing phases ie. SIT, UAT.  Ensure test scripts accurately represent the business process flows either being created or currently in place.  Collect feedback via end users and drive business user adoption on release. 
• Lead and develop high-performing project teams, defining a clear vision and outcomes while providing direction on how to achieve them; effectively manage resources across projects and adjust team composition as needed; foster an environment of open communication and continuous feedback
• Coach and mentor team members to strengthen capability, engagement, performance, and overall delivery maturity
• Manage project governance by providing clear, fact-based reporting and steering decision-making through Project Boards and senior management forums. Manage the deployment of project resources, proactively managing project costs, providing forecasts, and presenting variances with narrative at appropriate review points to ensure effective utilization.
• Lead and embed change management, ensuring adoption of new processes, tools, and ways of working through structured communication and stakeholder engagement.  Ensure sustainable handover to line organization, embedding improvements into standard ways of working and securing long-term impact
• Remove barriers and address risks/escalations, ensuring momentum and on-time delivery in a complex, dynamic environment

Education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree required - preferably a technical field or business administration. MBA preferred
• Extensive experience with project management methodologies, project reporting, and risk analysis and management.  Certification in project management methodology such Prince2 or PMBOK foundation & practitioner preferred
• Experience leading and deploying complex enterprise transformation projects including improvements to IT applications and infrastructure.  SAP experience preferred.
• 7+ years proven track record in managing cross-departmental projects in a fast-paced, technical environment with demonstrated delivery of business impact
• Experience driving organizational change within complex stakeholder environments
• Previous experience in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred (e.g., high-tech, semiconductor or similar)
• Experience in operational excellence and continuous improvement, including roles such as project lead or process improvement leader
• Experience working with Agile practices and mindset preferred
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder

Skills

At ASML, you operate at the intersection of technology, operations, and people. You don’t work in isolation—you drive impact through cross-functional collaboration, influencing across organizational boundaries to solve complex challenges. You’re trusted to take ownership, challenge the status quo, and determine the best path forward to deliver results that positively impact the business and Wilton Factory.  To succeed in this role, you bring:

• A hands-on, pragmatic mindset.  You are comfortable engaging directly with stakeholders, including the shopfloor.
• A continuous improvement mindset; you instinctively look for waste, variation, and flow issues
• Sharp observation and situational awareness, with the ability to read people, dynamics, and operational signals and respond effectively
• Learning agility and the ability to quickly absorb and apply new concepts, tools, and ways of working
• Data-driven decision making.  You interpret data, translate insight into action, and connect it to business impact
• Customer focus and the ability to prioritize based on customer value, quality, and delivery performance
• High attention to detail and execution rigor, with a focus on accuracy and completeness
• Resilience in a dynamic environment and the ability to perform effectively under pressure, shifting priorities, and tight timelines
• Strong written and verbal communication.  The ability to clearly communicate difficult concepts to diverse stakeholder groups and senior leaders. 
• Effective stakeholder management by building trust and driving alignment across teams, functions, and leadership
• Structured way of working—able to operate independently within defined processes while improving and challenging them where needed

 Diversity & Inclusion

ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a driving force in the success of our company.

Other information

Role within Office

Responsibilities:

• Routinely required to sit; walk; talk; hear; use hands to keyboard, finger, handle, and feel; stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach, and stretch. 
• Occasionally required to move around the campus.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• May require travel dependent on business needs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

This position may require access to controlled technology, as defined in the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. § 730, et seq.). As a condition of employment, qualified candidates must be legally authorized to access such controlled technology prior to beginning work. Business demands may require the Company to proceed with candidates who are immediately eligible to access controlled technology.

EOE AA M/F/Veteran/Disability

Additional Responsibilities:

There is potential for exposure to strong magnetic fields, high voltage and currents.

ASML is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values and respects the importance of a diverse and inclusive workforce. It is the policy of the company to recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We recognize that inclusion and diversity is a driving force in the success of our company.

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