Lean Project Manager

Purpose:

The Operational Excellence Manager will play a critical leadership role in driving continuous improvement initiatives across multiple manufacturing facilities. This position is responsible for developing and implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and Operational Excellence strategies that improve safety, quality, productivity, delivery performance, and inventory management.

This role is highly hands on and collaborative, working cross-functionally with operations, engineering, supply chain, quality, and plant leadership teams to identify improvement opportunities, eliminate waste, standardize processes, and build sustainable operational capabilities. The ideal candidate is an analytical thinker with strong leadership skills who can also execute effectively on the plant floor.

A key component of this position includes supporting operational expansion initiatives, including travel to domestic and international facilities—particularly our Leon, Mexico location—to help implement new manufacturing processes, establish new product lines, and support organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead cost and operational excellence projects aimed at improving safety, quality, productivity, and delivery.
• Drive the Lean/Six Sigma culture within the organization by promoting continuous improvement practices.
• Identify and execute waste-reduction initiatives to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
• Lead cross-functional teams using Lean methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kanban, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
• Train and develop teams to enhance their understanding and application of Lean principles.
• Partner with various departments to support growth, capacity expansion, and optimization strategies.
• Utilize proficiency in continuous improvement frameworks and Lean methodologies/tools like 5S, VSM, and Six Sigma to achieve operational excellence.
• Leverage experience with ERP systems and process mapping to optimize business processes.
• Manage projects and change initiatives with a hands-on approach, ensuring the delivery of measurable results.
• Travel 25-40% to support strategic initiatives and drive Lean/Six Sigma projects across different locations.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Conduct detailed assessments of manufacturing and operational workflows to identify bottlenecks, waste, inefficiencies, and opportunities for standardization and improvement.
• Develop, implement, and sustain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), visual management systems, and process controls aligned with Lean/Six Sigma principles.
• Analyze operational data and establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness and sustainability of improvement initiatives.
• Present project progress, business impact, and performance results to plant leadership and executive stakeholders.
• Collaborate with leadership teams to prioritize continuous improvement opportunities, support capital expenditure planning, and allocate project resources effectively.
• Lead implementation teams responsible for achieving measurable improvements in cost reduction, productivity, safety, quality, inventory management, and customer delivery performance.
• Support the development and expansion of manufacturing processes, materials capabilities, and operational scalability across the organization.
• Facilitate change management efforts by building organizational engagement, accountability, and adoption of Operational Excellence practices.
• Ensure continuous improvement initiatives are aligned with company goals, operational strategies, and long-term growth objectives.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Operations Management.

PREFERRED EDUCATION:Master’s degree in Engineering or Operations Management.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:- 5-8 years as a Lean / Six Sigma Manager or in similar process improvement roles.

• Experience in operations leadership, process optimization, or lean management.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Operational Excellence, Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, Operations Leadership, or Process Optimization within a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean/Six Sigma initiatives that delivered measurable operati…