Program Director, Heartbeat

Job description

Job Description SummaryThe Heartbeat Program Director leads the design, governance, and execution of GE HealthCare’s Heartbeat Business System (HBS), ensuring enterprise strategy is translated into measurable results through Hoshin Kanri and cross-functional improvement priorities. The role owns program management, KPI governance, operating rhythms, resource alignment, and executive reporting to drive accountability against annual and long-term business goals. As a dedicated member of the Office of Heartbeat, the Director coordinates planning, performance reviews, and capability-building activities while embedding Lean practices such as standard work, daily management, problem solving, and continuous improvement. Success requires strong executive influence, deep program leadership experience in complex matrix organizations, and the ability to drive cultural and operational transformation that improves business performance, EBITDA, and free cash flow. Job DescriptionYour Challenge The Heartbeat Program Director is responsible for the program management, design, and disciplined execution of GE HealthCare’s proprietary Heartbeat Business System (HBS). Serving as the dedicated Program Director for the HBS team within the Office of Heartbeat, this role owns the operating architecture that turns enterprise strategy into coordinated, measurable action across cross-functional Improvement Priority (IP) teams. This role is critical to ensure the Heartbeat Business System is developed, deployed, and sustained in direct alignment with the company’s 2030 goals. The Program Director orchestrates strategic planning, the rolling program calendar, resource and budget alignment, and the governance rhythms that hold the enterprise accountable to annual targets. Success requires strong leadership presence with senior executives, deep program management capability in a global matrix environment, and a working understanding of business processes within the medical equipment industry. The role is remotely based in the United States. Your Responsibilities Our Heartbeat Business System is based on Lean thinking and practices and will be an integral part of the way we run, change, and act in our business for the long-term. The Heartbeat Program Director is the connective tissue of that system — ensuring the HBS program, the IP team portfolio, the capability-building program, and the KPI governance model operate as one coherent whole rather than as separate initiatives. The Program Director will lead the mechanics and cadence of the Office of Heartbeat: maintaining the 18-month rolling calendar (6+12) with IP leaders and Communications, running weekly IP coordination, managing the Hoshin Kanri targets and bowler performance, and preparing the monthly L0 KPI reviews with KPI owners and executive leadership. They will manage timelines, help set the annual budgets, and align resources so the enterprise delivers on commitments. The goal is to positively impact results and culture by institutionalizing the routines of the business system — standard work, visual management, daily management, consistent problem-solving methods, and rigorous follow-through on Hoshin Kanri / strategic priorities. As a key member of the Office of Heartbeat team, the Program Director will help strengthen and develop the evolving Heartbeat Business System, and will drive the significant change management required to embed it throughout the organization. Expectations Hoshin Kanri & Program Leadership Serve as the dedicated Program Director for the HBS Hoshin Kanri team, owning the end-to-end program plan, milestones, risks, and escalation path 100% Office of Heartbeat member and contributor — fully dedicated to the development and deployment of the Heartbeat Business System Own HK TTI and bowler management, ensuring targets, actuals, countermeasures, and gap-closure plans are current, visible, and acted upon Maintain the 18-month rolling calendar (6+12) in partnership with IP leaders and Comms, sequencing events, reviews, and deliverables Manage program timelines, help set the annual budgets, and align resources across IP teams to deliver on the annual targets Own development of executive-ready Heartbeat progress and impact materials for the Leadership Team, Board, and senior governance forums into concise, decision-making narratives Operating Rhythm & Coordination Lead weekly IP coordination sessions with IP leaders — driving standard agendas, clear commitments, and closed-loop follow-up Run weekly huddles with Office of Heartbeat leadership regarding program management status Own weekly HBS team cadence with Office of Heartbeat leadership, including standard work, visuals, and pre-reads Coordinate across segments, regions, and functions in a matrix environment to secure alignment and remove barriers to execution KPI Governance & Performance Management Lead monthly L0 agenda creation with the GEHC Chief of Staff and coordinate EHS and Patient Safety moments with owners Serve as a KPI governance member, contributing to definitions, standards, thresholds, and review cadence Translate performance data into actionable countermeasures and hold the rhythm that verifies results Capability Building Support Bootcamp program-level management — visuals, dashboards, cohort planning, and assigning leaders to teach Support the development and activities of the Heartbeat Business System, including bootcamps, leader coaching, and training on Heartbeat fundamentals Install the Heartbeat fundamentals into how we run the business: standard work, daily management system, problem solving, kaizen, value stream mapping, and action planning Leadership, Culture, & Change Management Demonstrate and commit to servant leadership and partnership with peers and leaders Align behaviors and practices to our shared Cultural Operating Principles and Heartbeat Behaviors Collaborate with the Change Management team to ensure effective adoption of HBS and Heartbeat Behaviors Development and deployment of the Heartbeat Business System will result in improved EBITDA and Free Cash Flow Qualifications BS or BA Degree; Master’s Degree preferred Minimum 10 years of experience in program/project management, General Management, or a lean/operational leadership role Minimum 7 years of experience leading complex, cross-functional programs in a global matrix environment Demonstrated experience with Lean practices including Hoshin Kanri, problem solving, daily management system, standard work, and value stream mapping Experience preparing and presenting executive-level performance reviews (KPI decks, bowlers, operating reviews) to senior leadership Working knowledge of business processes within the medical equipment or other regulated industry Experience leveraging AI-enabled tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, or similar platforms to accelerate the way the work is done, and continuously learning new ways of using the emerging technologies Able to travel 10% of the time Desired Characteristics Ideally built and/or designed an organizational management system, or the program office that runs one Ideally developed the playbook and standard work for the core processes of an organizational business system Excellent time, program, and project management skills — brings order and structure quickly to initiatives and other critical, high-visibility programs Ability to accurately assess key business metrics and situations from a general manager’s or executive leader’s perspective Deep actual experience with lean principles and practices; credible with practitioners and executives alike Strong facilitation and ability to influence without authority across segments, regions, and functions High attention to detail in visual management, dashboards, and program documentation, without losing the strategic thread Proven ability to hold senior leaders accountable to commitments with candor and respect Growth mindset with hands-on approach; comfortable at the genb