Director of Operations Excellence -USA

About the role

Job Summary: Director of Operations Excellence - USA for ThyssenKrupp OnlineMetals, LLC, in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

Responsibilities

• Work with plant managers and operations employees to improve current process efficiency, material flow, labor productivity, quality, safety, and space utilization.
• Measure and monitor performance to identify performance, customer service, and competitive weaknesses.
• Develop solutions using improvement and analysis methods, including strategic planning, operations research, Value Stream Mapping, Lean Thinking, Six Sigma, facility and work cell design, product slotting, IT systems integration, benchmarking, and financial analysis.
• Recommend expenditures, specify equipment, source vendors, and support contracting for capital projects.
• Document processes and practices and ensure integration systems and equipment.
• Manage multiple projects and improvement initiatives across multiple facilities, including tracking status and results.
• Lead meetings with plant personnel to understand current processes and challenges, to encourage input, jointly develop solution options, provide training, and manage change.
• Share best practice documentation, tools and key learning, and develop team members.

Requirements

• Master degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field of study, or foreign equivalent degree +3 years of experience in an Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, or Engineering Leadership role.
• Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related engineering field of study, or foreign equivalent degree +5 years of experience in an Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Quality Engineering, or Engineering Leadership role.
• Must have 3 years of work experience with each of the following:
• Lead Operational Excellence initiatives by applying Lean methodologies, including Kaizen facilitation, Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), and continuous flow deployment to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Design, implement, and sustain Standard Work and Leader Standard Work, supported by 5S, visual management systems, and tiered accountability processes to ensure consistent execution.
• Develop and optimize pull systems using Kanban, takt time analysis, and WIP controls to improve flow, balance workloads, and meet customer demand.
• Drive structured problem-solving through A3 thinking, PDCA cycles, and root cause analysis methods (5 Whys, Ishikawa) to eliminate recurring issues.
• Utilize data-driven decision making, including process capability analysis, bottleneck analysis, SMED, and throughput optimization to enhance operational performance.
• Embed quality at the source by implementing poka-yoke and error-proofing techniques within production and quality management systems.

Qualifications

Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead and motivate teams.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

Benefits

We offer competitive company benefits to eligible positions, such as: Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance, Life Insurance and Disability, Voluntary Wellness Programs, 401(k) or RRSP programs with Company Match, Paid Vacation and Holidays, Tuition Reimbursement, and more!

Pay

$151,466 to $165,183 per year.

Schedule

Flexible schedule with the option to work from home one day per week.

Contact

To apply, visit our official careers website at https://jobs.thyssenkrupp.com/en. Email maria.nguyen@thyssenkrupp-materials.com with any questions.

EEO

Equal Opportunity Employer, Including People With Disabilities And Veterans.