Director, Operational Excellence

our team • Overland Park, KS

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operational Excellence is responsible for developing and deploying the operational excellence strategy across the business to drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and growth objectives. This role leads and supports segment-wide continuous improvement initiatives, manufacturing transformation programs, cost productivity efforts, and business system deployment to improve organizational capability and performance. Reporting to the VP Operations for the HVAC Segment, the Director of Operational Excellence partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Commercial leaders to identify opportunities, remove operational constraints, standardize processes, and improve end-to-end business performance. The role will lead strategic initiatives focused on Lean transformation, capacity optimization, productivity improvement, digital enablement, and operational scalability.

Requirements

• 10+ years of progressive manufacturing or operational leadership experience.
• 5+ years leading Operational Excellence, Continuous Improvement, Lean, or Business Transformation initiatives.
• Demonstrated success driving measurable operational improvements across multiple sites or business units.
• Experience leading large-scale change management and transformation programs.
• Strong understanding of project management principles and the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously
• Excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Proven knowledge of process improvement methodologies, including CI practices, Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma
• Strong problem solving and analytical skills, with ability to identify issues, propose solutions, and effectively implement changes
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate with cross-function teams at all levels (production to management) and present data and recommendations verbally and in written form to management
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or related field

Nice To Haves

• Plant Management experience
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification
• MBA or advanced degree
• Experience in HVAC, industrial manufacturing, engineered products, or complex assembly environments
• Experience with facility expansions, operational start-ups, acquisitions, or manufacturing transfers
• Strong understanding of ERP systems, manufacturing analytics, and digital transformation tools
• Experience in a fast‑paced or high‑growth environment.

Responsibilities

• Partner with site leadership teams to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Support manufacturing footprint optimization, capacity planning, and operational readiness initiatives.
• Lead efforts to improve factory flow, labor productivity, machine utilization, inventory management, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
• Drive implementation of best practices across multiple facilities and business units.
• Develop and implement a multi-year Operational Excellence roadmap aligned with company growth and profitability objectives.
• Establish operational excellence standards, frameworks, and governance processes across manufacturing and business operations.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify strategic improvement opportunities and prioritize transformation initiatives.
• Champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making.
• Lead enterprise-wide Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and problem-solving initiatives.
• Drive standard work implementation, visual management systems, value stream mapping, and waste elimination activities.
• Facilitate rapid improvement events and cross-functional improvement workshops.
• Establish sustainable systems that deliver measurable improvements in productivity, throughput, inventory, lead time, and quality.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs and business performance metrics.
• Develop executive-level scorecards and communicate progress against strategic objectives.
• Identify performance gaps and coordinate corrective actions with functional leaders.
• Ensure improvement projects deliver measurable and sustainable financial results.
• Analyze business processes and identify opportunities for simplification, automation, and standardization.
• Lead digital transformation projects that improve operational visibility, decision-making, and execution.
• Drive implementation of operational dashboards and KPI management systems.
• Ensure continuous improvement principles extend beyond manufacturing into supply chain, engineering, and administrative functions.
• Lead organizational change efforts associated with transformational initiatives.
• Coach and mentor site leaders, managers, and improvement practitioners.
• Develop internal Operational Excellence capabilities through training and leadership development programs.
• Build a network of operational excellence champions throughout the organization.
• Develop and manage productivity pipelines that support annual operating plans.
• Quantify financial benefits of continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support capital planning and investment decisions through business case development and ROI analysis.
• Ensure operational improvement initiatives contribute to margin expansion and working capital improvement.

Benefits

• Generous and flexible paid time off including paid personal time off, caregiver, parental, and volunteer leave
• Competitive health insurance plans and 401(k) match, with benefits starting day one
• Competitive and performance-based compensation packages and bonus plans
• Educational assistance, leadership development programs, and recognition programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director