Leader, Operational Excellence

Barry-Wehmiller

. Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing operations in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team member engagement .

Posted 9/24/2026full-timeAkron • Ohio • United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies, with a strong focus on safety, quality, and operational excellence. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, drive change, and mentor future leaders in a manufacturing environment.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Lean ManufacturingContinuous ImprovementLean Six Sigma Black BeltData-Driven Decision-MakingChange Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Lean PrinciplesKaizen FacilitationValue Stream MappingRoot Cause AnalysisPDCADMAICKPI TrackingStandard Work DocumentationVisual ControlsOperational Excellence

Soft Skills

Influencing SkillsFacilitation SkillsCommunication SkillsPersonal AccountabilityStrategic Thinking

Tools & Technologies

Daily Management SystemsSafety Gemba ProcessesIncident Investigation ToolsAutomation Initiatives

Certifications & Qualifications

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Industry Keywords

Manufacturing OperationsHigh-Mix / Low-Volume ManufacturingRegulated ManufacturingSafety StandardsQuality Standards

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Drive continuous improvement across manufacturing operations in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team member engagement
Lead deployment of Lean manufacturing and Operational Excellence strategies across one or multiple sites
Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities aligned with business goals
Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and rapid improvement events
Coach teams on A3, root cause analysis, PDCA, and DMAIC
Establish and maintain standard work, daily management systems, visual controls, and tiered accountability meetings
Track KPIs and close performance gaps with operations leaders
Document, standardize, and sustain improvements
Advise and coach operations leadership and front-line leaders
Build continuous improvement capability and manage resistance to change
Partner cross-functionally with safety, quality, engineering, supply chain, people, and finance
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 operational leaders to identify and eliminate safety risks
Integrate safety into standard work, Kaizen events, value stream maps, and problem-solving efforts
Promote hazard identification, near-miss reporting, and employee ownership of safety
Support safety Gemba processes, incident investigations, and root cause analysis
Work in alignment with compliance, safety, and quality standards

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
Follow all safety guidelines, including wearing required PPE, and maintain a clean, organized work area
Applicants may be subject to pre-employment screening

Benefits

Comp & perks

Reasonable accommodations during the interview process
Equal opportunity employer
Pre-employment screening may include drug screening, reference checks, employment verifications, background screening and/or skills assessments