Director, Continuous Improvement

Assist with development of Corporate Improvement strategies and carry out transformation and strategy deployment within business area. Based on Corporate Continuous Improvement strategies, develop lean strategy applicable to the business to enable execution. Influence and coach senior management and their teams on Business transformation, cultural change, engagement, Lean tool adoption, and empowerment, with a passionate approach to results. Drive results through the use of common metrics and data in various areas of the organization including those with environments of ambiguity. Provide coaching, training, and lead management workshops on principles of continuous improvement, cultural transformation, and leadership mindset. Demonstrated ability to coach VP and SVP levels of Executive Management on Transformation.

50-75% domestic and international travel

What You’ll do as a Director Continuous Improvement

• ◆Organize senior management CI/lean steering committee and activities to set direction for business transformation and provide guidance to execute. Ensures that all local steering committees are supported and operate effectively.
• ◆Collaborate with business leaders to facilitate and lead cultural and strategic changes across functional departmental boundaries within designated business area.
• ◆Advise and counsel leadership by providing strategic direction in prioritizing CI opportunities and ensuring that CI initiatives align with the business strategy.
• ◆Develop and implement a team-based learning environment along with the appropriate structure to sustain improvements.
• ◆Create and implement transformation plans across the organization based on Corporate Continuous Improvement strategy, and local business strategy, and directly manage CI initiatives and programs.
• ◆Drive Continuous Improvement implementation to achieve cost reductions, cycle time improvements, and quality improvements through effective Lean tool management, benchmarking, Key Performance Indicator development, and scorecard development and monitoring for various functions within the organization.
• ◆Develops and leads team to apply structured, technical problem solving methodologies such as DMAIC, six sigma green belt/black belt, statistical data analysis, etc. to confirm root causes of problems, in alignment with strategic needs.
• ◆Assesses, coaches, and provides constructive feedback to teams to strengthen competencies within the enterprise.
• ◆Implement methods to identify Continuous Improvement opportunities within the organization through the use of key metrics, analysis, accountability, and standardization.
• ◆Provides advice and consultation as a transformation subject matter expert on best practices, significant projects, and/or special Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• ◆Drives team to implement corrective and preventative actions to solve root causes and prevent recurrence, reduce variation, and drive improvement in quality and other key KPIs.
• ◆Prepares budgets, schedules, and other financial reports for successful strategy deployment.
• ◆Hires, trains, develops, coaches, and provides team member guidance and supervision in the event of having direct report(s).
• ◆Maintain professional and technical knowledge through benchmarking world-class organizations and personal Continuous Improvement and Business Transformation related training.
• ◆Drives and coaches use of project management principles including establishing and tracking timelines, identifying, and mitigating risks, communicating across teams at all levels.
• ◆Other assigned duties.

• ✓Bachelor’s Degree (Engineering, Supply Chain and Logistics, or other Technical Field)
• ✓Minimum 15 years of demonstrated qualified Improvement experience in a leadership role.
• ✓One successful enterprise transformation required with experience in deploying lean culture in an organization.
• ✓Minimum 8 years’ experience leading and managing a Continuous Improvement team.
• ✓Demonstrated impact that translates to clear, bottom line performance results with step-function change with ability to produce $3 million in cost savings.
• ✓Strong analytical skills and understanding of problem-solving techniques. Proficiency in analyzing business needs, determining appropriate solutions and/or opportunities, and deploying them.
• ✓Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence, communicate, motivate, instill confidence, and persuade in difficult or complex situations.
• ✓Demonstrated impact using improvement tools: For example, Toyota Productions System and methodologies such as: A3 Development and Management, Process Flow Mapping, 5S/Visual Factory, TPM, QCO-SMED, Standard Work, Process Problem Solving, Built In Quality, Just In Time, Kaizen/Continuous Improvement, Chaku-chaku lines, karikuri devices, DMAIC, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, statistical data analysis, etc.
• ✓Lean certification from a recognized independent technical organization.
• ✓Experience with improvement leadership in large functional areas i.e., Field Service, R&D, Plant Operations, Administrative Operations, etc.
• ✓Experience delivering training, coaching, and developing all levels: executive to hourly employees.