Reporting to the VP Operations, the Lean Leader will be a key team member responsible for driving company-wide initiatives addressing core lean and quality objectives to support broader improvement objectives. They will support team members within the facility in developing and executing Lean operations plans to reduce in-process inventory, lead time, cycle time and to improve process quality. They will drive measurable, sustainable improvements in direct labour and variable cost productivity with a positive impact on the capacity of the teams and the facility. They will be responsible for developing a culture of lean through team member training and program development. Essential Responsibilities • Lead the education, support and use of Lean tools to identify and eliminate waste within the transactional flow • Promote 6 Sigma Lean integration by promoting the strength of both methods to achieve business goals • Work with Lean council to develop culture and cost saving initiatives for the facility • Partner with functional leads to meet business targets aligned with site metrics • Define and develop new processes throughout the facility • Train team members in Lean tools including but not limited to: Value Stream Mapping, Takt Time, 5S, 7 Types of Waste, Standard Work, Visual Management, Changeover Reduction, Flow, and Pull • Yearly creation of the Lean Roadmap & Vision for Welland Facility • Ensure product management, customer service and sales team are regularly updated with key improvements • Lead and be a team member on multiple projects simultaneously within stringent time constraints, using discretion and independent judgment with the ability to maintain a good working relationship with all co-workers, stakeholders and clients Qualifications / Requirements • Bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a preference in Engineering • 5+ years of lean manufacturing experience • Proven ability to train and coach new team members to build a culture of Lean • Experience successfully leading and directing employees who are not direct reports • Solid Lean, continuous improvement and root cause analysis background with prior process improvement assignments • Certified Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma • Familiarity with product Quality and Reliability methodologies including, FMEA, Causal Effects Analysis, 8D, 5 Whys etc. • Excellent written/oral communication and interpersonal skills, customer focused, enthusiastic Desired Characteristics • Team player with proven mentoring and coaching abilities, demonstrated ability to motivate, inspire others and drive change within the organization to meet team goals/objectives • Proven facilitation and team leading skills with the ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization • Ability to work effectively across functions, prior experience of developing and leading a team or significant multidisciplinary project • Strong analytical skills with ability to identify and explain critical issues • Self-directed with the ability to work autonomously and collaboratively with a focus on results • Strong project management and organizational skills with the ability to monitor project progress through visual management and analytical tools, ensuring milestone completion, timeline adherence, and on-time delivery of key business initiatives • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while effectively balancing priorities, stakeholder expectations and resource requirements Competencies • Lead end-to-end project execution using formal project tracking frameworks and continuous improvement methodologies • Ensure all projects have complete documentation, clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and measurable success criteria • Create and maintain Gantt charts, project schedules, milestone trackers and critical path analyses for all major initiatives • Utilize visual management tools, dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor project progress and drive accountability • Identify project risks, barriers and resource constraints, implementing mitigation plans to ensure successful execution • Provide regular project updates to leadership and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with business objectives and expected outcomes • Evaluate project results against established performance metrics and ensure timely completion and sustainable benefits realization