Lead, Operational Excellence

Barry-Wehmiller

. Lead the design, deployment, and sustainment of Lean manufacturing and Operational Excellence strategies across one or multiple sites .

Posted 9/15/2026full-timeAkron • Ohio • United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence, with a strong focus on continuous improvement, safety integration, and data-driven decision-making. Proven ability to lead teams, facilitate training, and implement effective management systems across multiple sites.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Lean Six Sigma Black BeltLean Principles and ToolsContinuous Improvement InitiativesData-Driven Decision-MakingChange Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Kaizen FacilitationValue Stream MappingRoot Cause AnalysisPDCA Problem SolvingDMAIC MethodologyKPI TrackingStandard Work DocumentationVisual Controls ImplementationDaily Management SystemsSafety Integration

Soft Skills

Influencing LeadersStrong CommunicationFacilitation SkillsPersonal AccountabilityStrategic Thinking

Certifications & Qualifications

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Industry Keywords

Manufacturing OperationsOperational ExcellenceHigh-Mix / Low-Volume ManufacturingRegulated ManufacturingSafety Management

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the design, deployment, and sustainment of Lean manufacturing and Operational Excellence strategies across one or multiple sites
Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities aligned with safety, quality, cost, delivery, and culture goals
Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and rapid improvement events
Coach teams on A3, root cause analysis, PDCA, and DMAIC problem solving
Establish and maintain standard work for leaders and team members
Implement daily management systems, visual controls, and tiered accountability meetings
Track KPIs with operations leaders and close performance gaps
Document, standardize, and sustain improvements
Coach operations leadership and front-line leaders
Build continuous improvement capability and promote ownership, accountability, and continuous learning
Partner with safety, quality, engineering, supply chain, people, and finance teams on end-to-end process improvements
Support capital investments, layout changes, capacity expansions, and automation initiatives
Develop and deliver Lean and Operational Excellence training
Mentor continuous improvement champions and future leaders
Create sustainability plans for long-term adoption
Champion safety and partner with EHS and operations to identify and eliminate safety risks
Integrate safety into standard work, Kaizen events, value stream maps, and problem-solving efforts
Promote proactive hazard identification, near-miss reporting, and employee safety ownership
Support safety Gemba processes, incident investigations, and root cause analysis
Follow safety guidelines and maintain a clean, organized work area

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
5–10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence roles
Proven experience leading Lean or CI initiatives in a manufacturing environment
Strong knowledge of Lean principles and tools
Demonstrated ability to influence leaders and drive change in complex environments
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification
Experience supporting multi-site operations
Background in high-mix / low-volume or regulated manufacturing environments
Experience integrating CI efforts with safety and quality systems
Change leadership and influencing skills
Data-driven decision-making
Strong facilitation and communication skills
Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution
High level of personal accountability and integrity
Must follow all safety guidelines, including wearing required PPE, and maintain a clean, organized work area
E-Verify is used; applicants may be subject to pre-employment screening

Benefits

Comp & perks

Reasonable accommodations during the interview process
Equal opportunity employment
Potential pre-employment screening, including drug screening, reference checks, employment verifications, background screening and/or skills assessments