Operation Excellence Director

Sears Manufacturing - Davenport, IA

Full-time - Senior

Davenport, IA

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

The Operational Excellence Director leads the organization's efforts to drive operational efficiencies and optimize business processes. Oversees the design, development and implementation of strategies, processes, and systems aimed at optimizing business operations, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, improving quality, and promoting a culture of collaboration and alignment (from shop floor to C-suite). More importantly, the objective is to transform and leave each function and site better prepared to execute great improvement projects on their own. The role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership, financial and cross-functional business acumen, and understanding of methodologies like Lean, Six Sigma, Planning and Inventory Management, and other process management frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Support the strategic planning process, develop, and implement roadmaps for operational excellence aligned with the organization's goals.
• Lead governance and management systems to ensure corporate targets are achieved and transformational goals are attained and sustained.
• Identify and develop Operational Excellence short and long-term strategies and execution plans.
• Develop relationships with key leaders in the different business units.
• Analyze current business processes, identify inefficiencies, and develop solutions to streamline operations and collaboration.
• Lead the development, planning, and execution of the Production System across departments (e.g., Toyota Production System).
• Stay updated on industry trends and best practices; drive innovation and adoption of new tools and techniques to maintain a competitive advantage.
• Identify, design, and implement improvement projects to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall operational performance.
• Ensure the thorough documentation of any newly developed approaches, methodologies, and results.
• Help shape the agenda to support implementation across the global manufacturing network.
• Lead change management efforts to ensure successful adoption and sustainability of new processes and systems.
• Manage and lead operational excellence projects simultaneously from initiation to completion.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, and budgets.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure alignment and support.
• Develop training, support materials, and engage with stakeholders at all levels to gain buy-in for operational excellence initiatives.
• Identification and management of risk and dependencies associated with the portfolio of operational improvement projects underway.
• Influence and mentor leaders by demonstrating world-class operational expertise as well as collaborative leadership behaviors.
• Development of an operational excellence curriculum that includes both field-based and classroom-based training.
• Support in training teams (at all levels).
• Foster a culture of operational excellence by advocating for best practices and continuous learning.
• Promote a mindset of efficiency, accountability, and collaboration throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with different departments (e.g., manufacturing, supply chain, IT, finance, product engineering, order fulfillment, production planning, etc.) to identify and address operational challenges.
• Function as a liaison between teams and senior management to align project goals with business objectives.
• Support establishing and monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and effectiveness of improvement initiatives.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.
• Prepare and present reports and dashboards to senior management on project status, outcomes, and ROI.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Master's degree or MBA is preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in operations, manufacturing, project management, process improvement or similar field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Prior experience in operational consulting and implementation of TPS in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Lean, Continuous Improvement, Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt, Mix Model Manufacturing, PMP, Scrum, APICS CPIM (Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) or other related certifications.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to see the big picture.
• Proficiency with financial statements, including P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement.
• Strong leadership skills and demonstrated ability to establish followership through action and influence bias for action and urgency in driving results.
• Experience with change management and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong project management skills and the ability to lead multiple initiatives concurrently.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and people skills.

Benefits

• Full-time role, typically in a corporate or manufacturing environment.
• Potential travel depending on the nature of the projects and locations involved.