Global Operational Excellence Leader

About the role

Aurorium is the materials innovation partner that helps global manufacturers harness the power of possibility making the world a better place. Their specialty ingredients and high-performance materials enhance quality of life, support health and wellness, and enable customers to deliver value-added solutions. Key industries served include healthcare, personal & home care, mobility, infrastructure, and specialty paper & packaging. A Responsible Care® company, Aurorium follows the highest regulatory standards across all manufacturing facilities. The company’s global integrated supply chain offers the customer product consistency, easy access, supply security, and reasonable turnaround on delivery. Aurorium is committed to operating at the highest levels of manufacturing consistency, quality control, and safety.

The Global Operational Excellence Leader owns the implementation of the organization’s continuous improvement strategy across all regions and business units. The role serves as a Lean and Continuous Improvement enabler and facilitator, partnering with leaders and teams across the organization to identify opportunities, address root causes, facilitate cross-functional improvement, and translate opportunities into practical, sustainable solutions. A key focus is developing and sustaining a consistent Lean and Continuous Improvement framework across the organization, establishing common methodologies, tools, and approaches while facilitating multi-site alignment, standardization, and sharing of successful practices across locations and functions. In addition to enabling continuous improvement across the organization, the role has clear ownership and accountability for selected strategic improvement projects, bringing together cross-functional teams, addressing barriers, and driving initiatives through implementation and measurable, sustainable results.

Location: Role can be based at one of our locations — Zeeland, MI; Greensboro, NC; Denham Springs, LA; or Pasadena, TX.

Responsibilities

• Root Cause & Continuous Improvement Facilitation — Lead and facilitate cross-functional structured problem solving, root cause analysis, Kaizen events, and Lean improvement initiatives to eliminate waste, address constraints, improve performance, and implement sustainable solutions aligned to SQDCP (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, People) targets.
• Lean Capability Development & Certification — Build organizational capability in Lean and Continuous Improvement through training, coaching, facilitation, and hands-on support. Own Lean/Six Sigma certification programs and ensure quality project execution.
• Strategic Improvement Project Delivery — Lead selected strategic improvement initiatives from planning through implementation, establishing objectives, milestones, ownership, success measures, and cross-functional engagement to deliver measurable business results.
• Cross-Functional Process Improvement & Change Enablement — Partner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, IT, Commercial, and other functions to improve end-to-end processes, simplify ways of working, and successfully implement and sustain operational and organizational changes.
• Performance & Data Analytics — Oversee key performance indicators (KPIs), analytic tools, data governance, and performance dashboards to track progress and guide decisions.
• Compliance
  • Complies with company Health, Safety and Environmental policies, procedures, and arrangements
  • Reports all Health, Safety and Environmental accidents, incidents and near misses promptly
  • Acts in a safe and responsible manner at all times
• Problem Solving and Innovation
  • Active participation in continuous improvement activities
  • Participates in problem-solving
  • Takes responsibility and ownership for own learning and development in the spirit of continuous improvement of both self and the business
  • Assists in the training, mentoring, and assessment of other team members
  • Exercises autonomy and judgement subject to overall direction or guidance

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering required.
• Professional Qualifications: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification required.
• Relevant