Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic
Natasha Schwartzwald

Natasha Schwartzwald

Tijeras

Summary

Results-driven Lean Operations Leader with over 15 years of experience in continuous improvement and operational efficiency. Proven track record in developing and managing high-performing teams that deliver measurable outcomes, while fostering a positive organizational culture focused on growth and collaboration. Core competencies include process optimization, team leadership, and strategic planning, aimed at transforming operational performance.

Overview

21
21
years of professional experience

Work History

Manager, Operations Engineering

Sandia National Laboratories
01.2021 - Current
  • Develop vision and bring strategy to action to enable Sandia’s commitment to operational and business excellence both within Sandia and across the Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE).
  • Deploy resources to lead teams through enterprise-level complex problem-solving, manage the Unleash Excellence Program, and provide the infrastructure to the workforce of continuous improvement tools, methods, and training to deliver results.
  • Partner closely with 10 of 12 Divisions to guide their journey toward operational excellence by coaching improvements on their Management Operating Systems (MOS).
  • Mentor ~30 individuals per year across Divisions to improving their structured improvement activity skills.
  • Train ~100 individuals across the Labs on structured improvement activities, leading to an average cost impact of $100K per year.
  • Lead ~35 projects per year through structured improvement activity methods for quantifiable results of ~$1M per year to streamline processes that affect everyone at the Labs, and provide expertise to improve speed and flow of National Security Programs.
  • Partner with 4-5 Labs’ Objectives and/or Milestones and Cross-NSE strategic teams to improve outcomes and cross-site coordination for a more effective Labs and NSE.
  • Capture improvement successes of ~$50M per year in cost impacts and 440K in labor.
  • Lead a team of 20 idea managers across the Labs to disposition ~1,000 crowdsourced ideas on how to improve Labs’ processes per year at a disposition rate of ~80%.
  • Celebrate and award ~20 teams per year on their impact of improvements.
  • Analyze and gather from across the Labs the top next ~10 systemic improvements to be championed and worked at the Labs-level.

Lean Process Engineer / Lean Leader

Sandia National Laboratories
02.2014 - 01.2021
  • Supported the engineering and deployment of the Laboratory Operating System tools and infrastructure.
  • Labs-level change agent, applying problem-solving expertise to resolve complex and systemic problems.
  • Brought clarity by developing executive-level briefings for presentation to audiences such as Senior Leadership Team (SLT), New Product Introduction (NPI) Steering Committee, Sandia Field Office (SFO), Board of Managers and National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
  • Provide project management, lean expertise, and change management approaches to design the split of the business operations (10600) and project management (10400) organizations.
  • Partnered with Kansas City NSC to institutionalize the use of Design/Production Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (D/P FMEA) to 24 of the 28 W80-4 PRTs by offering training, facilitation, standard templates, rigor/consistency reviews, and conveying value of the tool.
  • Led the deployment of Tiered Accountability to over 1000 organizations with an internal team of three and a coalition with representation from each division to develop standards, publish and communicate value, report metrics, and provide supporting infrastructure and training.

Center Business Administrator

Sandia National Laboratories
09.2013 - 02.2014

Project Controls Lead for Space Mission Program

Sandia National Laboratories
11.2009 - 09.2013
  • Led a team of 4 project controls analysts to accurately develop cost estimates and baselines, report cost variances and manage budget changes on a $60M/year SPP Mission program.
  • Streamlined and standardized business management processes across the program using lean methodologies to produce more efficient results in a shorter amount of time and allow for cross-training and backfill opportunities.
  • Directly supported and embedded with the Mission customer, gaining empathy and understanding for mission needs as well as the skills needed to translate business needs to mission needs.
  • Acquired skills for critical decision-making, mentoring, workload management, delegating responsibilities, and challenging team members to work more effectively and efficiently.

Quality Manager

Fugro Earthdata
Frederick
01.2008 - 12.2009

Quality Engineer

Aascent Stair & Rail
Westminster
01.2006 - 12.2007

Operations/Assistant Manager

Sherwin-Williams
Leesburg
01.2004 - 12.2006

Education

Leadership & Management Certificate -

Harvard Business School Online

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt -

Sandia National Labs

Masters - Business Admin

Mount St. Mary’s University

Bachelor of Arts - Economics

Hood College

Skills

  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Team leadership
  • Operational excellence
  • Process improvement
  • Lean methodologies
  • Change management

Timeline

Manager, Operations Engineering

Sandia National Laboratories
01.2021 - Current

Lean Process Engineer / Lean Leader

Sandia National Laboratories
02.2014 - 01.2021

Center Business Administrator

Sandia National Laboratories
09.2013 - 02.2014

Project Controls Lead for Space Mission Program

Sandia National Laboratories
11.2009 - 09.2013

Quality Manager

Fugro Earthdata
01.2008 - 12.2009

Quality Engineer

Aascent Stair & Rail
01.2006 - 12.2007

Operations/Assistant Manager

Sherwin-Williams
01.2004 - 12.2006

Leadership & Management Certificate -

Harvard Business School Online

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt -

Sandia National Labs

Masters - Business Admin

Mount St. Mary’s University

Bachelor of Arts - Economics

Hood College

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Natasha Schwartzwald