Operational Excellence Director

Viant•Chicago, IL

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As the Director of Operational Excellence of our Advanced Metals Solutions (AMS) you will be responsible for driving continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and fostering a culture of innovation across Viant. This role reports into a central Center of Excellence and will work within the Advanced Metal Solutions business unit and across all related functions to lead Operational Excellence and continuous improvement activities. The AMS unit is comprised of 7 sites located across the Midwest and East Coast. The ideal candidate will have experience leading operational excellence functions across multiple sites and ideally have experience with metals machining, turning, and drawing manufacturing processes. This role is half strategic, half tactical. Strategic elements include identifying and implementing Lean methodologies to drive savings and operational efficiencies, developing talent throughout the network, and leading events to achieve Viant’s strategic goals. Tactical elements include leading kaizens, acting as an expert problem-solver, and solving business-critical needs as they arise. This is not a corporate training role; it is hands-on. Individuals who succeed in this role act as a player-coach, able to seamlessly switch between coaching, facilitating, and doing.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field required.
8+ years of experience in Operational Excellence, process improvement, or operations leadership, preferably within a manufacturing or highly regulated environment.
Experience in highly regulated manufacturing environments required; medical device experience preferred.
Candidates from aerospace, defense, automotive, or similar regulated industries will also be considered.
Trainer-level competency in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar problem-solving methodologies, with demonstrated enterprise-level execution experience.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills, including proficiency in data analysis and performance metrics.
Exceptional communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with strong active listening and interpretation abilities.
Proven ability to influence, align, and build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree and/or relevant certifications preferred.
Preferred experience with metals manufacturing processes, including machining, turning, drawing, sheet metal fabrication, and automation-driven production environments.
Proven track record of leading large-scale change management, transformation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Experience leading enterprise-wide transformation initiatives beyond traditional Lean deployment.
Demonstrated experience implementing automation, standard work, and technology-based solutions in operational environments.

Responsibilities

Lead Operational Excellence initiatives across a multi-site manufacturing network, partnering with site leadership to identify, prioritize, and execute transformational improvement opportunities
Identify and deliver multi-year road map of savings to achieve annual savings target
Work with business unit and functional leaders to identify and implement operational improvements including OEE, tiered daily management, and leader standard work
Facilitating kaizens spanning multiple sites, functions, and programs to deliver transformational business results including technology adoption and culture change
Develop and upskill all individuals in the OpEx network, ranging from individual coaching to identifying and facilitating enterprise-wide trainings through external training partners
Influence OpEx at all levels within the organization, driving adoption of best practices and continuous improvement
Develop Operational Excellence capability throughout the network through coaching, mentoring, and capability-building initiatives.