Career Opportunities: Operational Excellence Manager Sr (31555) - Gojo

Role Objective

This role is responsible for driving a step change in operational effectiveness and efficiency in supply chain by building operational excellence capability and by partnering with functional leaders to define and execute improvement and cost reduction initiatives across the GOJO Supply Chain network. This role will own and support the portfolio of continuous improvement initiatives, activities, and high-value projects for the manufacturing and distribution sites.  It includes analyzing, improving and overseeing the organization’s supply chain systems and processes, and designing and implementing programs to improve efficiency and costs. This role has both operational and strategic focus driving local efficiency while also working across the network to share and implement best practices. The role will support building a culture of continuous improvement across the sites, lead and participate in process improvement events, facilitate Kaizens, model lean leadership behaviors, and embed OpEx practices into everyday ways of working. It requires engagement with all levels of leadership in the prioritization and coordination of continuous improvement and operational excellence activities across the enterprise.

This is a highly visible role with significant exposure to senior leadership on a regular basis and requires an ability to build relationships with colleagues at all levels of the organization. The role requires demonstrated leadership and passion around continuous improvement, as well as strong communication, facilitation, analytical and project management capabilities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Identifies breakthrough process improvements and champions efforts to build capability throughout the organization. Provides frontline support that ensures process transformation will be successful with positive financial results.
• Identifies key opportunities and gaps in the core business processes; aligns resources to these priorities; ensures appropriate charters and improvement methodologies, tools and techniques are being leveraged to drive improvements
• Leads and manages Six Sigma and Lean initiatives/projects across boundaries and influences others to achieve enterprise goals. Moves swiftly from concept to action with a bias for execution. 
• Develop & utilize enterprise level business metrics and track ongoing performance of projects to ensure they are delivering value
• Provides analysis, input, and support for the development of the Opex strategy and annual budget process.
• Manages a team that is responsible for facilitating all aspects of continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing plants and DCs: technical training, increasing throughput, decreasing downtime/stops, improving work process inefficiencies, managing and improving systems, eliminating other wastes, driving cost reduction, etc.
• Owns the development, maintenance, training and roll-out of critical Daily Management Systems
• Builds Operator capability through the development and training of Standard Operating Procedures, Work Instructions and One-Point Lessons.
• Lead/participate in department, line, team or other functional unit meetings to clarify/define project or process modification opportunities.
• Develops and maintains critical standards tied to optimally running the production facility.
• Supports the establishment of site level continuous improvement framework and strategic deployment plan to meet business objectives and build a culture of Operational Excellence.
• Delivers enterprise cost reductions to achieve Operational Excellence goals. Identifies and prioritizes site and functional improvement opportunities to drive these cost savings and eliminate waste.
• Analyzes financial and operational data, as well as operating systems and makes recommendations for investigation and action areas for projects. Assist in the development of a systematic approach for project identification and prioritization.
• Ensures projects are integrated and aligned with other business activities, capex/opex budgets, improvement projects and business strategy and coordinated with the appropriate project/process owners to accomplish the project goals
• Supports new manufacturing technology introduction, operations modeling and risk management activities as needed
• Leads/Facilitates Cross functional CI, Kaizen and Root Cause Analysis (RCA) events as needed
• Influence, train, coach and mentor others in the use the use of continuous improvement methods (Lean, Six Sigma, Process Re-engineering, and other methodologies) and project management practices.
• Acts as a change agent for cultural adoption of continuous improvement
• Develops a proactive partnership with all levels of the organization, vendors and suppliers to implement improvement solutions in assigned areas.
• Advocates for future operational improvements by partnering with and challenging the business and leadership in system thinking and new ideas
• Research "best in class" operations processes and identify opportunities to enhance competitive advantage through the implementation of continuous improvement strategies
• Seek and employ resources; consultants, contractors, education experts, etc., to assist in resolution of issues beyond GOJO resource capabilities.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, supply chain management or engineering preferred
• Certifications: Master Black Belt, Black Belt or equivalent in Six Sigma or Lean strongly desired
• Minimum eight (8) years' work experience in a manufacturing environment required, specifically targeted towards Continuous Improvement projects
• Demonstrated ability and passion to lead the deployment and implementation of change management programs
• Other proficiencies and skills needed: presentation skills to senior leadership, MS Office Suite, Minitab, Visio, Process Mapping & Organizational flow understanding

Supervision/Coordination

Routinely called upon to train and direct in team and project settings. May directly supervise Operational Excellence Project Managers and Engineers.

Role Type

Travel Requirements