Executive Director, Business Systems, Mfg & Supply Chain

The Executive Director, Lean Operations & Transformation is a senior operational leader responsible for driving enterprise-level Lean/80/20 transformation across a network of manufacturing plants.  The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, capable of influencing at all levels of the organization. This role leads a team of 15–20 Lean and Continuous Improvement professionals and is accountable for embedding a culture of operational excellence, waste elimination, innovation, and sustainable performance improvement across GPS manufacturing sites.

Key Responsibilities:

Lean Strategy & Deployment

• Architect and execute a multi-year business operating model roadmap aligned with corporate strategy and product line objectives, using 80/20 prioritization to focus on the highest-impact value streams and customer segments.

• Integrate Lean into strategic planning processes, including Hoshin Kanri, Policy Deployment, and 80/20-based Value Stream Design to ensure resources are directed toward the most critical drivers of performance.

• Standardize and scale Lean maturity assessments and Lean audits across the network.

• Assists in the selection, development, target setting and performance management of lean change agents within the plants.  Allocate resources effectively to support plant-level and enterprise-wide initiatives.

• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture focused on results and continuous learning.

Advanced Lean Activities

• Lean Product & Process Development (LPPD): Collaborate with R&D and Engineering to apply Lean principles early in the product lifecycle to reduce time-to-market and improve manufacturability.

• Daily Management Systems (DMS): Institutionalize tiered accountability systems, visual management, and Leader Standard Work (LSW) to drive daily performance and problem-solving.

• Kaizen Leadership: Facilitate and sponsor enterprise-level Kaizen events, including Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), 3P (Production Preparation Process), and cross-functional value stream transformations.

• Lean Six Sigma Integration: Oversee integration of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies such as DMAIC, SPC, and FMEA to address complex process variation and drive breakthrough improvements.

• Lean Digitalization: Champion the use of digital Lean tools such as real-time dashboards, digital Gemba boards, and AI/ML-enabled root cause analysis and digital twins for process simulation and optimization.

• Lean in Indirect Functions: Extend Lean practices into support functions (e.g., HR, Finance, IT, Supply Chain) using tools like Process Mapping, Swimlane Diagrams, and RACI Matrices to eliminate waste and improve service delivery.

• Obeya Room Management: Establish and lead Obeya rooms for cross-functional alignment, strategic tracking, and rapid decision-making.

Cultural Transformation & Capability Building

• Lead the cultural shift from reactive to proactive operations through coaching, training, and modeling of Lean leadership behaviors.

• Build internal Lean capability through structured academies, certification programs, and hands-on coaching and use of appropriate lean methodologies and tools.

• Develop and mentor a diverse pipeline of Lean leaders and change agents across the organization.

Performance Management & Innovation

• Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement through Lean initiatives.

• Identifies waste and opportunities for the business to improve in (among others by using Lean principles and methodologies), as well as reporting and celebrating past successes in these areas from a business perspective.

• Identify and scale best practices across the network, including automation, Industry 4.0 technologies, and advanced analytics.  Create and deploy a technology roadmap, that may include 3D printing, digitization, google glasses, etc.

• Partner with Finance to quantify Lean savings and ensure alignment with financial goals.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Impact

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on operational strategy and Lean maturity.

• Represent the company in industry forums and benchmarking consortia to stay ahead of emerging trends.

• Promote community engagement and social responsibility through site-level initiatives and partnerships.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced de