Operational Excellence Manager

Job Responsibilities

• Partner with site leadership to develop and execute operational excellence strategies aligned with business goals.
• Lead continuous improvement projects focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost reduction.
• Facilitate Lean Manufacturing initiatives including Kaizen events, 5S programs, standard work development, and process optimization.
• Train, coach, and mentor employees at all levels on continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Develop and maintain value stream maps and identify opportunities to improve flow and eliminate waste.
• Support changeover reduction, process standardization, and production efficiency improvements.
• Support workplace organization initiatives throughout manufacturing, warehousing, quality, maintenance, and office areas.
• Support Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) activities and equipment reliability improvement efforts.
• Track and report continuous improvement metrics and project results to leadership.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams to identify and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Support ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and other quality and environmental management systems.
• Simplify processes, procedures, and work instructions to improve operational performance.
• Lead and develop Continuous Improvement team members, including assigning work, providing coaching, and supporting professional development.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of leadership experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading continuous improvement, operational excellence, or Lean Manufacturing initiatives.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, Kaizen, and 5S methodologies.
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to engage employees at all organizational levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.

Preferred

• Automotive manufacturing experience (Tier 1 or Tier 2 preferred).
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related technical field.
• Experience with Six Sigma, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Layered Process Audits (LPA), and Training Within Industry (TWI).
• Experience facilitating training programs and improvement workshops.