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Functional Excellence Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Veracode

Manager, Engineering

Burlington, MA

It's our responsibility as leaders to foster an environment that invites innovation, creativity, and an opportunity to develop and demonstrate strong command of functional excellence for the folks we ...

Veracode

Manager, Engineering

Burlington, MA

It's our responsibility as leaders to foster an environment that invites innovation, creativity, and an opportunity to develop and demonstrate strong command of functional excellence for the folks we ...

Flex

Business Excellence Leader

Austin, TX

Demonstrates functional, technical skills as well as customer service attitude (external and ... Tuition Reimbursement Job CategoryOperational Excellence Is Sponsorship Available? No Flex is an ...

Philips

Business Excellence Leader

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$178K - $283K/yr

Your skills include driving operational excellence within MedTech or regulated environments, with experience in process standardization, KPI management, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional ...

Philips

Business Excellence Leader

Cambridge, MA

$178K - $283K/yr

Your skills include driving operational excellence within MedTech or regulated environments, with experience in process standardization, KPI management, regulatory compliance, and cross-functional ...

AkzoNobel

Production Manager

High Point, NC · On-site

This will be achieved by supporting the overall operations effort to create a culture of functional and operational excellence while delivering leading product to our leading markets. Key ...

AkzoNobel

Production Manager

High Point, NC · On-site

This will be achieved by supporting the overall operations effort to create a culture of functional and operational excellence while delivering leading product to our leading markets. Key ...

Apple

Business Operations Lead

Culver City, CA

$146.50K - $274.10K/yr

Cultivates functional excellence through clear articulation of team purpose, priorities, and performance expectations. Oversees the identification and prioritization of process roadmaps and tooling ...

ITW EAE

Engineering Manager

Lakeville, MN

Drive functional excellence and best practices in engineering processes, tools, and standards. Cross‑Functional Collaboration * Partner closely with product management, marketing, sales, and ...

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All JobsFunctional Excellence Jobs

Functional Excellence information

See salary details

$45K

$82.3K

$129.5K

How much do functional excellence jobs pay per year?

As of May 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for functional excellence in the United States is $82,286.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $76,500.00 and $94,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Functional Excellence Manager, and why are they important?

To excel as a Functional Excellence Manager, you typically need a strong background in process optimization, project management, and data-driven decision-making, often supported by a relevant degree. Familiarity with Six Sigma, Lean methodologies, and tools like SAP or other ERP systems is highly valuable. Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills help drive cross-functional initiatives and foster continuous improvement. These competencies are critical for standardizing best practices, increasing efficiency, and achieving organizational goals.

How does a Functional Excellence professional typically collaborate with other departments to drive organizational improvement?

Functional Excellence professionals often work cross-functionally, partnering with teams such as operations, finance, HR, and IT to identify and implement best practices. They facilitate workshops, lead continuous improvement projects, and act as change agents to ensure consistent standards and processes across the organization. Regular collaboration involves gathering feedback, aligning goals, and tracking progress to ensure initiatives deliver measurable results. This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to influence without direct authority.

What is Functional Excellence?

Functional Excellence refers to the pursuit of best-in-class practices, processes, and performance within a specific function or department of an organization, such as finance, human resources, or supply chain. It involves continuously improving efficiency, effectiveness, and quality to deliver superior results and drive business success. Achieving Functional Excellence often includes benchmarking against industry standards, implementing best practices, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Organizations invest in Functional Excellence to increase competitiveness, reduce costs, and enhance customer satisfaction.

What is the difference between Functional Excellence vs Business Analyst?

AspectFunctional ExcellenceBusiness Analyst
Primary FocusOptimizing processes and operational efficiency within functionsAnalyzing business needs and defining solutions
Required SkillsProcess improvement, quality management, cross-functional collaborationRequirements gathering, data analysis, stakeholder communication
Work EnvironmentCorporate, manufacturing, or service industries focusing on internal processesProject teams, consulting, IT, finance, and business units

Functional Excellence roles focus on enhancing operational processes and efficiency within organizations, often working across departments. Business Analysts primarily analyze business needs and recommend solutions to improve systems and workflows. While both roles require analytical skills, Functional Excellence emphasizes process optimization, whereas Business Analysts focus on requirements and solution design.

More about Functional Excellence jobs
What cities are hiring for Functional Excellence jobs? Cities with the most Functional Excellence job openings:
What states have the most Functional Excellence jobs? States with the most job openings for Functional Excellence jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Functional Excellence jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Functional Excellence jobs are:
Functional Excellence jobs near you
Infographic showing various Functional Excellence job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,286 per year, or $39.6 per hour.

ED, Functional AI & Process Excellence - IDS

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

East Hanover, NJ • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Posted 3 days ago

Job description

Band

Level 7


Job Description Summary

The location for this role is East Hanover, NJ.


Job Description

Novartis seeks an Executive Director with extensive experience in AI strategy development and execution. The ideal candidate will have a proven ability to lead AI initiatives and possess a deep understanding of AI best practices and pharmaceutical data and external data vendors.

The Executive Director of Functional AI and Process Excellence, works with a team of other EDs of Functional AI and Process Excellence leads across Novartis as part of a Functional Working Group, to elevate NVS capabilities, catalyze adoption, accelerate culture change and pull-through process changes in close partnership and coordination with the Function Head, or a member of the Function leadership team.

Reporting to the Head of AI & Innovation, Insights and Decision Sciences, this role serves as a thought leader and catalyst for AI adoption, process mapping and optimization, guiding functional teams in leveraging AI to enhance business performance. By fostering a strong AI culture, implementing best practices, and ensuring alignment with the broader AI strategy, this role will enable Novartis to maximize the value of AI investments within their respective functional areas.

This role is also accountable as a standing member of the AI Functional Working Group, is accountable to fully participate and drive functional adoption of enterprise standards, governance and pull-through of AI and Data programing, training and other centrally created use cases, programs and initiatives, the Process Excellence team and their respective functional areas, ensuring that AI solutions, Process Optimizations are strategically deployed, governed effectively, and continuously optimized to support enterprise-wide objectives.


Major Accountabilities:

  • Lead efforts in function to embed AI into functional workflows, ensuring AI solutions enhance decision-making, operational efficiency, and business impact.

  • Foster a culture of innovation and data-driven decision making within each function to promote knowledge-sharing, cross-functional collaboration, and the scaling of successful AI initiatives.

  • Provide oversight on AI deployment within functions, ensuring adherence to governance frameworks, regulatory requirements, and ethical AI principles.

  • Establish performance objectives for other in functional AI efforts, leads and implement metrics to measure AI's impact on functional and business goals, ensuring AI value realization is consistently assessed.

  • Ensure functional area teams have knowledge of available AI applications

  • Identify, assess, and prioritize AI opportunities within functions, ensuring AI initiatives are strategically aligned, scalable, and focused on high-value business outcomes.

  • As part of the AI Functional Working Group, ensure Novartis stays at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare transformation by leveraging cutting-edge AI practices to enhance the organization's competitive edge in healthcare.

  • Work across General Management, Marketing, Customer Engagement, Market Access, Novartis Patient Support, and Medical to drive AI-led innovation, ensuring AI is leveraged effectively to enhance business performance.

  • As a core member of the AI Functional Working Group (FWG) the AI lead is accountable to the Head of AI Strategy and Innovation to ensure functional AI opportunities are aligned with the US strategy, and executed in alignment and coordination with AI governance.

  • Lead efforts in function to identify key processes, partner on process mapping (within the function and BPE) and identification of opportunities to drive future efficiency, effectiveness and technology opportunities


Requirements:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Information Management, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field.


Additional qualifications are as follows:

  • Ten plus years of experience in AI strategy, digital transformation, data science, or product management, with a focus on AI adoption within large, matrixed organizations

  • Deep knowledge of AI and data technologies (e.g., machine learning, NLP, predictive analytics) and their application in commercial, medical, and operational functions

  • Deep understanding of the functional area landscape, including strong focus on strategic insights, decision science, and/or analytics within the respective domain

  • Proven leadership experience in driving AI adoption, managing cross-functional teams, and influencing senior stakeholders to align AI initiatives with business goals

  • Experience in AI governance, ethics, and compliance, ensuring responsible AI deployment that aligns with regulatory and industry standards

  • Track record of building and scaling functional AI excellence, fostering collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and capability-building within an organization

  • Exceptional communication and executive presence, with the ability to engage and influence senior leadership, present AI insights, and drive strategic decision-making

  • Passion for innovation and continuous learning, staying ahead of AI advancements, emerging trends, and best practices to drive long-term AI transformation

The pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between $194,600.00 to $361,400.00 a year; however, while salary ranges are effective from 1/1/26 through 12/31/26, fluctuations in the job market may necessitate adjustments to pay ranges during this period. Further, final pay determinations will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to geographical location, experience level, knowledge, skills and abilities. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, including a sign-on bonus, restricted stock units, and discretionary awards in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, the employee will be in an "at-will position" and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.


EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.


Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to tas.nacomms@novartis.com call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.
https://www.novartis.com/careers/careers-research/notice-all-applicants-us-job-openings


Salary Range

$194,600.00 - $361,400.00


Skills Desired

Budget Management, Business Acumen, Digital capabilities, Effective use of technology, Operational Excellence Projects, Performance Management, Project Management, Risk Management, Service Delivery Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Leadership, Strategic Planning, Talent Development

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