AniCura is a leading provider of veterinary care in Europe. Our company was born out of the philosophy that sharing resources can create opportunities for better veterinary care and outcomes.
Our services include a wide range of high-quality medical services covering preventive and basic health care as well as specialized care, including advanced diagnostics, internal medicine, intensive care, surgery, and orthopaedics. We also provide rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and dietary advice and offers selected pet food and care products.
AniCura’s network includes 500 clinics across 17 countries in Europe, providing over 4.5 million high-quality pet consultations each year. AniCura has been part of Mars Veterinary Health since 2018. Mars Veterinary Health comprises a network of more than 3,000 clinics worldwide taking care of more than 25 million pets every year. Together, we are able to provide the highest standards in pet care and achieve our collective purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
For more information, please visit our website www.anicuragroup.com
Summary of the Role
* Job Title: Operational Excellence Senior Manager
* Department: Central Operations
* Reporting Line: Director Operational Excellence MVH Europe
* Location: Amsterdam. Madrid, Munich. Solihull
* Contract: Full-time
About MVH Europe
Mars Veterinary Health (MVH) Europe is a family of leading veterinary care providers committed to creating a better world for pets. Our network includes trusted brands such as AniCura and Linnaeus, operating over 500 animal hospitals and clinics across 19 European countries. Together, our teams deliver high-quality, modern veterinary care for companion animals, ensuring peace of mind for pet owners through excellent access and patient safety.
AniCura, our largest brand in Europe, provides care to over three million patients each year through 12,500 dedicated professionals. Linnaeus, operating primarily in the UK and Ireland, is home to over 6,000 Associates empowered to deliver exceptional care through a culture of collaboration, clinical excellence, and continuous development.
At MVH Europe, we prioritize a culture of accountability, inclusion, and wellbeing. We believe our purpose — to make A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS — starts with building a better world for our people. Operational excellence plays a critical role in enabling scalable growth, consistent quality, and sustainable performance across our clinics and regions.
Role Overview
The Operational Excellence Senior Manager is responsible for designing, embedding, and scaling best-in-class operational excellence frameworks, processes, and tools across MVH Europe.
Acting as a central enabler of continuous improvement, this role ensures strong alignment between operational standards, process management, and business outcomes across clinics, area teams, and central functions.
The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on execution, supporting clinics in improving efficiency, quality of care, and overall performance.
Operating as a cross-functional change agent, the Operational Excellence Senior Manager supports standardisation, digital transformation, and new ways of working, ensuring solutions are scalable, repeatable, and effectively adopted across regions.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Excellence Frameworks & Process Architecture
· Lead the design and deployment of end-to-end process architecture and the Operational Excellence playbook across MVH Europe.
· Define standards, tools, governance models, and methodologies that support consistent operational performance at scale.
Continuous Improvement & Lean Coaching
* Coach Area and Practice Managers in lean methodologies and continuous improvement techniques.
* Build operational capability across regions by embedding structured problem-solving and performance improvement mindsets.
Standardisation, Automation & Performance Improvement
* Identify opportunities for process standardisation, automation, and efficiency improvements.
* Ensure successful rollout and adoption of improvements across clinics and regions.
Performance Management & KPI Tracking
* Monitor process adherence and operational performance through KPI tracking and root cause analysis.
* Drive data-informed improvement actions that enhance quality, efficiency, capacity, and consistency.
Change Management & Best Practice Scaling
* Support change initiatives in clinics and ensure new ways of working are embedded effectively.
* Identify, test, and scale best practices from high-performing clinics across the group.
Education & Professional Qualifications
* Minimum: Bachelor’s degree
* Preferred:
- Experience in the health industry, preferably within veterinary care, human healthcare, or dental services
- Lean, Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
Knowledge / Experience
* 5+ years of experience in operational improvement, continuous improvement, or lean transformation roles.
* Demonstrated experience coaching leaders and teams in operational excellence methodologies.
* Strong knowledge of process mapping, standardisation, and KPI systems.
* Strong process management experience, including ownership of end-to-end processes and governance models.
* Proven ability to work cross-functionally in complex, multi-site, multi-country environments.
* Strong communication, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
* Ability to work independently and influence without formal authority
Key Competencies
* Drives Results
* Priority setting
* Action Oriented
* Influencing without authority
* Creates Collaborative Relationships
* Process Management
Our Offer
* Join a purpose-driven company, where we’re striving to shape the future of veterinary care, together.
* An industry competitive salary and benefits package.
* A stimulating work environment with good opportunities for personal development.
* Freedom to take responsibility and the opportunity to influence.
* Hybrid working in an international, digital work environment.
* Learning and development opportunities.
* The opportunity to cuddle our beloved 4-legged friends in our offices.
* We are always open for a conversation to discuss your individual needs.
Interested?
Please contact Christina Scimeca, Group Corporate Recruitment Partner, who is happy to tell you more about this opportunity and the recruitment process. Or apply by submitting your resume through clicking the apply button below.
MVHE is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds.
Internal Candidates/Associates: If you are interested in this position, please reach out to the Corporate Recruiter to understand the internal recruitment process.