The Director of Manufacturing Excellence & Strategy is the enterprise steward of Manufacturing Excellence (ManEx), responsible for defining, deploying, and sustaining a standardized, world-class continuous improvement system across all manufacturing sites. This role ensures ManEx is embedded into how the business operates-linking safety, quality, service, cost, and people capability into an integrated performance system that delivers sustainable results at scale.
Accountabilities:- Own the enterprise Manufacturing Excellence strategy, roadmap, and governance model across all manufacturing sites
- Translate business strategy into standardized operating systems, tooling, and behaviors that improve performance and capability
- Build and sustain a continuous improvement culture through leader enablement, coaching, and capability development
- Ensure ManEx drives measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Cost, Service, and Engagement
- Develop a strong pipeline of CI leaders and change agents across operations
Key Metrics & Financial Targets:- ManEx maturity progression by site and function
- Year-over-year improvement in: OEE / productivity, Loss reduction, Cost savings / waste reduction, Safety and Quality leading indicators
- % of leaders and teams trained and certified in ManEx methodologies
- Sustainability of gains (standard work adherence, audit results)
Own:- Enterprise ManEx framework, standards, and roadmap
- CI methodology selection and deployment (Lean, Six Sigma, problem-solving)
- Capability model and certification pathways
- Standard work, loss analysis, and governance mechanisms
Influence:- Site leadership teams on prioritization, resourcing, and adoption
- Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and People Ops on integrated improvement initiatives
- Capital planning and project prioritization tied to performance losses
Veto:- Non-standard CI approaches that conflict with enterprise ManEx framework
- Initiatives that undermine standardization or sustainability
Critical Relationships:- SVP Manufacturing & Site Directors / GMs and Site Leadership Teams
- Engineering & Operational Technology, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, People Operations / L&D, External ManEx and CI partners
Skills Needed To Be Successful:- 10+ years in manufacturing operations and/or continuous improvement leadership
- Proven experience deploying CI systems across multiple sites
- Strong Lean / Six Sigma expertise (certification preferred)
- Deep understanding of manufacturing KPIs (OEE, losses, flow, safety, quality)
- Exceptional change leadership, coaching, and facilitation skills
Compensation:Compensation offered to prospective Team Members has taken internal equity into consideration and can vary depending on a positions' location. The final agreed upon wage may vary based on the job-related knowledge, skills, and experience of the individual.
- Competitive annual salary of $167,000 - $209,000 in Chicago, IL
- Bonus plan designed to recognize company performance and individual contributions
- Comprehensive health and welfare benefits
- Company matching 401(k) contributions
- Paid time off including annual leave, paid sick time and holidays
- Extensive opportunities for training, development, and career growth
