Full Job Description
We're looking for an **Operational Excellence Leader** who is energized by improving how work gets done. In this role, you'll help our manufacturing teams perform at their best by strengthening processes, eliminating waste, and building a culture where safety, quality, and continuous improvement are part of everyday thinking.
If you love coaching teams, solving problems, and seeing measurable results from your work, this is a role where you'll thrive.
**What You'll Do**
**Drive Operational Excellence**
- Lead the deployment of Lean and continuous improvement strategies across one or more manufacturing sites.
- Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities that move the needle on safety, quality, cost, delivery, and team engagement.
- Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and rapid improvement workshops.
- Coach teams in structured problem solving using A3 thinking, root cause analysis, PDCA, and DMAIC.
**Strengthen Daily Performance**
- Build and maintain leader and team member standard work.
- Implement visual controls, daily management systems, and tiered accountability routines.
- Partner with operations leaders to track KPIs, close performance gaps, and sustain improvements.
**Lead Change & Build Capability**
- Serve as a trusted advisor to operations and front-line leaders.
- Influence without authority to drive adoption of new processes and overcome resistance.
- Build CI capability across the organization through coaching, training, and mentoring.
**Collaborate Across the Business**
- Work closely with safety, quality, engineering, supply chain, people, and finance teams to deliver end-to-end improvements.
- Support major initiatives such as capital projects, layout redesigns, capacity expansions, and automation.
- Ensure improvements align with compliance, safety, and quality standards.
**Champion Safety**
- Integrate safety into all CI activities, including standard work, Kaizen events, and value stream maps.
- Partner with EHS to proactively identify risks and implement engineered and process-based solutions.
- Support safety Gemba walks, incident investigations, and systemic root cause analysis.
- Model safe behaviors and maintain a clean, organized work area.
**Qualifications & Experience:**
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
- 5-10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence.
- Proven success leading Lean or CI initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong knowledge of Lean principles, tools, and performance management systems.
- Ability to influence leaders and drive change in complex environments.
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
- Experience supporting multi-site operations.
- Background in high-mix/low-volume or regulated manufacturing environments is a plus.
- Experience integrating CI with safety and quality systems.
**Who You Are**
- A change leader who builds trust and inspires action.
- A data-driven problem solver with strong facilitation skills.
- Someone who balances strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
- A coach who enjoys developing others and building capability.
- A leader with high personal accountability and integrity.
**How Success Is Measured**
- Improvements in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
- Sustained adoption of standard work and daily management systems.
- Increased problem-solving capability across the organization.
- Strong engagement and ownership of continuous improvement by leaders and teams.
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At Barry-Wehmiller we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. We know that our differences often can bring about innovation, excellence and meaningful work-therefore, people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.