Sr. Lean Manager - The Toro Company

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of a school/employment or any other visa, now or in the future.

About Us

The Toro Company is a Minnesota-based company founded in 1914. We provide world-class equipment to maintain environments, from residential lawns to venues like St Andrews Links and Target Field. With over 100 years of operation, we emphasize community engagement and operational excellence, offering a global footprint and a passion for beautifying landscapes.

Responsibilities

• Define, develop, and deploy consistent Lean business practices in support of The Toro Company Business System (TBS), our Lean enterprise system.
• Promote and guide teams driving transformational change in TBS implementation, including Strategy Deployment, Visual Management, Daily Management, and Material Flow, using tools such as Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Cell Design, Continuous Flow, Plan for Every Part, Changeover reduction, TPM, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Collaborate with leadership teams to develop long-range strategic and annual plans for continuous improvement, focusing on metrics like safety, quality, delivery, cost, cash, employee engagement, and growth.
• Establish and evolve operating principles, communication strategies, and reporting for visibility into Lean efforts.
• Lead TBS maturity assessment development, deployment, and gap closure plans with leadership and external practitioners.
• Develop and deploy Lean training to foster a culture of continuous improvement across all organizational levels.
• Implement training plans to cascade Lean principles throughout the organization, ensuring open communication and employee involvement.
• Provide coaching and mentoring to Lean and Continuous Improvement practitioners across the enterprise.
• Offer project management and leadership support for complex, cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives.
• Communicate Lean Enterprise initiatives, project status, and customer needs to leadership teams regularly.
• Actively participate in the Corporate Lean Enterprise Team to share best practices and support other Lean Managers.
• Stay current with Lean concepts and technologies through continuing education and benchmarking.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS).
• 10+ years of Lean/Continuous Improvement experience in Manufacturing and/or Distribution environments.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean tools: Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Standard Work, Kaizen, Visual Management, Root Cause Analysis, TPM, and Changeover reduction.
• Proven experience deploying and sustaining Lean systems.
• Demonstrated leadership in driving transformation.
• Project/Program Management experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% (domestic & international).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree (MBA, Engineering, Operations, etc.).
• Lean Six Sigma certification.
• Functional/Technical exposure in Service Parts, Welding, Painting, Assembly, Injection Molding, Extrusion, Operations Leadership, or Materials Management.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with an annual pay range of $150,000 - $175,000, plus eligibility for an incentive program based on individual and organizational performance.
• Affordable, top-tier medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Casual dress code ("Dress for your day").
• Onsite café serving breakfast and lunch, with attached Caribou Coffee.
• Complimentary use of onsite fitness facility and access to mental health and financial wellness resources.
• 20 hours of paid volunteer time.
• Summer Hours: Flexible schedule allowing early departure by noon on Fridays.
• Hybrid work schedule (collaboration in-office and remote work part-time).
• Early pay access via the DailyPay app.