Senior Manager - Lean Six Sigma

Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, On-Site (Chicago, IL)

About the role

As a senior leader in operational excellence, this role integrates Lean system design with advanced Six Sigma methodologies to address complex, cross-functional operational challenges. The Senior Manager establishes practical standards for production, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving while developing leaders and teams to sustain results over time. This role partners closely with business unit leadership, functional leaders, and Lean Six Sigma practitioners to ensure disciplined governance of improvement initiatives and alignment with enterprise goals. Success requires strong analytical acumen, executive-level influence, and a results-oriented, collaborative leadership approach.

Responsibilities

• Support and advance a unified enterprise Lean and Six Sigma strategy aligned with S&C’s operational and business objectives. Define and reinforce the operational excellence framework by integrating Lean system design with Six Sigma methodologies to improve productivity, reduce waste, and elevate quality performance across value streams.
• Serve as a senior subject matter expert and mentor in Lean and Six Sigma. Build organizational capability by coaching Black Belts, Green Belts, and senior leaders. Design and deliver training that strengthens problem-solving capability, supports leadership development, and embeds a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identify, prioritize, lead, and govern a portfolio of high-impact initiatives with measurable impact on cost, quality, safety, and delivery. Apply advanced Lean Six Sigma tools to address root causes of complex business-critical challenges. Lead efforts to reduce cost of poor quality and optimize end-to-end operational performance.
• Own and execute a phased Lean and Six Sigma deployment roadmap. Ensure alignment between foundational tools and advanced initiatives to drive sustainable improvement and long-term transformation. Establish governance, standard work, and execution rigor to support consistent and scalable deployment.
• Conduct in-depth value stream and process assessments. Partner with functional leaders and business unit leaders to implement improvements using structured methodologies such as DMAIC and Kaizen facilitation. Embed improvements into standard operating procedures to ensure performance sustainability and scalability.
• Lead Value Stream level and cross-functional change management. Engage senior leaders and cross-functional teams to drive understanding, ownership, and adoption of Lean and Six Sigma initiatives. Communicate with clarity and consistency to enable alignment, reduce resistance, and accelerate transformation.
• Leverage advanced analysis and performance data to identify trends, measure effectiveness of initiatives, and uncover improvement opportunities. Develop and present executive-ready insights and reports. Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure benefits realization and sustainment.
• Act as a trusted advisor, enterprise change agent, and thought leader in operational excellence. Build strong relationships across functions and organizational levels, translating complex concepts into practical application, and fostering collaboration to accelerate results.
• Ensure Lean and Six Sigma activities comply with company policies, brand standards, and regulatory requirements. Drive standardization of tools, training, and governance to support consistent enterprise-wide implementation and operational discipline.

Requirements

• 5+ years of manufacturing experience, with at least 5 years of leading continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise or multi-site Lean Six Sigma initiatives with executive engagement.
• Proven portfolio of completed Lean Six Sigma projects with multi-million dollar cumulative savings in large organizations (at least $350M).
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to evaluate cost, savings, and ROI of improvement initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency in statistical analysis and data-driven decision-making.
• Proven experience in assessing processes and developing continuous improvement plans, aligning with organizational objectives, and ensuring budgetary alignment to optimize resources and drive results.
• Strong leadership skills with an ability to lead, guide, motivate, and delegate to deliver results, build teams and capabilities, embrace change, drive decisions and results, embrace culture and inclusion, and exhibit integrity.
• Demonstrated success coaching and mentoring, and developing Lean Six Sigma practitioners and leaders.
• Strong proficiency in statistical analysis, with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Solid business acumen, entrepreneurial approach, and analytical skills with the ability to use and analyze data to drive informed decisions, problem-solve complex issues, and leverage data and learnings to drive improvement and profitable growth.
• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal, listening, and presentation) with the ability to engage audiences from executive leadership to production floor team members.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust, navigate conflict, and foster collaboration across diverse teams.
• Demonstrated organizational, planning, and project management skills, creatively problem-solving manufacturing and supply chain related issues and juggling a heavy volume of diverse strategic projects.
• Ability to apply practical fit-for-purpose solutions without unnecessary complexity or cost.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.
• MBA or Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field (preferred).

Physical Requirements

• Sitting: Continuously required to remain in a stationary position and perform desk-based tasks for hours at a time.
• Walking: Occasionally required to walk moderate distances.
• Communication: Continuously required to talk and hear or otherwise, in person and by phone/conference calls.
• Observation / Eyesight: Frequently required to observe details at close range, including depth perception, peripheral vision, and the ability to differentiate between colors.
• Lifting: Occasionally required to solo lift supplies weighing from 5 to 20 pounds and some operation of hand carts.
• Travel: Infrequently required to travel overnight, domestically and internationally, and work extended hours when necessary.
• Environmental and Hazardous Conditions: Continuously working indoors in an air-conditioned office/manufacturing environment.

Pay

The estimated annual base salary range for this position is $154,968 - $205,332. Individual pay within this salary range is determined by several compensable factors, including performance, knowledge, job-related skills and experience, and relevant education or training. This role is also eligible for S&C’s annual incentive plan (AIP), subject to eligibility criteria.

Benefits

• Health and Welfare Benefits: Medical & Prescription, Dental, Vision, Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Group Life Insurance, optional Supplemental Life and AD&D Insurance, Wellbeing Resources including Employee Assistance Program and Family Forming Benefits (i.e., Adoption and Fertility support).
• Leave Benefits: Vacation Time, Sick Time, Paid Holidays and Company Shutdown days, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Other Leaves, Paid Parental Time, and Military Leave.
• Retirement Benefits: 401(k) Retirement Savings and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (KSOP) offering traditional and Roth 401(k) options and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) component; KSOP participants can receive annual ESOP company contributions of over 11% of eligible earnings (3% Core, up to 3.5% Match, Variable Periodic).

About the team

In Production Operations/QA, we are responsible for maintaining S&C's longstanding reputation for quality products. While constantly integrating the latest technology into S&C's processes and adhering to the highest standards of quality, our work solidifies the trust our customers have in S&C that our equipment will be integral to solving tomorrow's energy challenges. We strive for continuous improvement in everything we do, knowing that our work impacts our customers, team members, and our world.