Director Continuous Improvement & Automation - Shelton, CT

Hubbell Inc.•Shelton, CT

60d

About The Position

Reporting directly to the Vice President of Segment Operations, the Director of Automation & Continuous Improvement leads the strategic development, coordination, and execution of continuous improvement initiatives across all sites. This hands-on role drives operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing, process optimization, and footprint rationalization. The role also includes leadership in automation strategy and long-term operational planning, ensuring scalable, data-driven improvements that align with enterprise goals. This position can be based at any Hubbell corporate location including: Greenville, SC; Shelton, CT or Manchester, NH.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related field required.
10+ years of manufacturing experience, with 5+ years in Lean Manufacturing.
Experience in automation implementation, including robotics, PLCs, and smart sensors.
Strong strategic thinking and planning capabilities.
Time study and labor standards experience.
Proficiency in CAD, Visio, and MS Office; SAP experience preferred.
Excellent communication, leadership, and change management skills.
Willingness to travel up to 75%.

Responsibilities

Lead and manage a cross-functional Continuous Improvement team, embedding Lean Manufacturing principles across operations.
Develop and execute automation strategies to enhance productivity, reduce manual processes, and improve quality and consistency.
Partner with engineering and IT to identify, evaluate, and implement smart manufacturing technologies, including robotics, machine learning, and IoT solutions.
Drive strategic planning initiatives that align CI efforts with long-term business goals, including capacity planning, technology roadmaps, and investment prioritization.
Lead footprint rationalization projects using a stage-gate process, incorporating automation and digital transformation opportunities.
Identify, plan, and execute CI actions that reduce cost, cycle time, and lead time while increasing safety, quality, and repeatability.
Conduct time studies and establish engineering labor standards and routings.
Prepare and maintain standard work documentation for both manual and automated processes.
Facilitate Kaizen events and monitor 90-day sustainment of improvements.
Implement balanced visual management programs, including digital dashboards and real-time performance tracking.
Train employees on CI techniques, including Lean, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and automation best practices.
Collaborate with leadership to develop KPIs and performance metrics that support strategic CI goals.
Support plant-wide safety initiatives and ensure compliance with automation safety standards.
Additional duties as assigned.