Eurofins Scientific is an international life sciences company which provides a unique range of analytical testing services to clients across multiple industries. The Group performs more than 400 million tests each year within its 800 laboratories across 47 countries with more than 45.000 staff (expected 4.5 billion Euros revenue in 2019).

Permanent Improvement Programmes (PIP) is the internal consulting team of the Eurofins Group based in Brussels. The team’s primary mission is to support Eurofins’ ambitious four year plan to profitably grow revenues to EUR 5 billion by 2020. Our team defines, governs and implements programmes to ensure harmonisation, standardisation and optimisation of relevant Eurofins operations.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

Eurofins is currently looking for new talents to join their driven, highly skilled and diverse team of consultants.project managers in the scope of the Chief of Operations Food and Environment (COO).

The Business Analyst / Project Manager independently owns and manages Permanent Improvement Programmes (PIP) projects that deliver final end-products. He/She ensures full project and stakeholder management (including top Eurofins management, other group supporting functions like purchasing or sales and marketing, operational leaders from Eurofins network, etc.). He/She supports the team to deliver the other projects showing interdependencies with his/her assignment.

What we offer:

• Being part of the COO’s office and involved in strategic projects for Eurofins & exposure to group leaders;
• Integration in a fast growing international company with a dynamic working environment and a good team spirit where personal development and growth are encouraged;
• Extensive on-the-job coaching & training with clear areas of responsibility;
• An attractive salary package with extra-legal benefits.

 1. Definition, alignment and standardisation of key concepts and processes at Eurofins

Given its strong growth and increasing geographic span, Eurofins has launched a company-wide initiative to structure, document and converge concepts and processes along Eurofins' main functional areas, including Finance, IT, Sales & Marketing, and Operations. A significant effort has already been made to define key concepts and their relationships in Key Group Documents, describing the current Eurofins business model and the aspired future state. These documents will have a significant and structuring impact on future business processes and on the development requirements for Eurofins' IT system landscape.

As part of this initiative, the PIP team governs the programme and actively supports best practice and Eurofins key concepts document owners in identifying the needs for alignment and codification.

 2. Definition and development of standard laboratories and processes for specific applications

Given its capabilities portfolio and its international presence, Eurofins is permanently driving towards operational best practices identification and implementation. Standardisation and harmonisation of processes and laboratories infrastructure across the group is a key objective. Tools for this will be:

• The steering of local expert networks;
• The documentation of the operational best practices as part of blueprints for standardised processes and laboratories.

A blueprint is a detailed documentation of aligned and clearly defined best practice processes, laboratory layouts, infrastructure and IT requirements, equipment, organisational set-up, etc. The PIP team supports the business experts and process optimisation teams to ensure coordination of the programme, alignment with the group priorities and consistency in the approach and documentation. Once the blueprints are defined and piloted, the PIP team will support their implementation at greenfield sites or by reengineering existing or newly acquired labs.

3. Development of methodologies and standards in performance and cost management

Design and implementation of KPI set and performance evaluation tools is a key requirement to better understand and compare the operational performance of Eurofins laboratories, identify opportunities for improvement and drive towards excellence.

The PIP team supports the definition, development and implementation of:

• Tools and processes for performance measurement and benchmarking (e.g. KPI system);
• Standardised operational performance reporting (laboratories production performance);
• Production of cost calculation models (using activity-based costing methodology);
• Laboratories benchmarking methodologies (e.g. financials calculation, productivity measure, production cost analysis, instrument utilisation, etc.).

The actual assignment(s) are depending on priorities set by the group management, available resources and skillsets of participants and can therefore change over time.

• Experience: 0 to 5 years in business consulting or operational business improvement / reengineering roles with project management experience.
• Education: Scientific or business degree from top University. Excellent student track record.
• Languages: Excellent English, oral and written, is a must. Other languages are highly appreciated.
• Personal skills:
  • Strong interpersonal skills (e.g. oral and written communication, presentation skills) as this role will interface a lot with local resources and experts to understand and document processes. Proven change management and influencing skills.
  • Ability to define concepts, align them with key stakeholders in different countries and describe them clearly and concisely.
  • Curious, team player.
  • Strong problem-solver with "can-do" mentality, able to both pragmatically define solutions and capture and understand all relevant details when necessary.
  • Proven ability to independently set-up, manage and drive a clearly defined project.
• Technical knowledge IT: MS Office products, Access DB a plus.

In a fast growing group, successful leaders are frequently being offered increased areas of responsibility (subject to geographic mobility).

The Permanent Improvement Programmes are led by a diverse and international team working closely with upper management. This is a great position to get the foot in the door of a company where entrepreneurship is valued and internal movements are possible around the world.