Lean Business Development Manager
About The Position
We are seeking a dynamic and influential Lean Business Development Manager to lead the strategic direction and execution of Lean initiatives across the Toyota Material Handling North America enterprise, dealer network and customer base. In this role, you will guide a team of Toyota Lean Management/Raymond Lean Management (TLM/RLM) Consultants while directly partnering with customers to drive meaningful business transformation through the principles of the Toyota Production System. You will serve as a trusted advisor and thought leader—coaching leaders, building capability, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This role requires a balance of strategic vision and hands-on engagement, with the ability to translate complex Lean concepts into practical, sustainable solutions across diverse industries. Success in this role requires strong leadership presence, the ability to build trust at all levels, and a passion for developing people while driving measurable business outcomes.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree
- 15 + years of leadership experience in operations, supply chain, production control, quality management, or engineering within a Lean-focused organization
- Deep experience working within a Toyota Production System or the Lean Management environment
- Demonstrated ability to lead and sustain Lean culture transformation at an organizational level
- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and coach executive-level stakeholders
- Advanced knowledge and application of Lean principles, including continuous improvement methodologies and structured problem-solving approaches
- Exceptional strategic thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
Nice To Haves
- Proven ability to develop and mentor high-performing teams
- Experience serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and customers
- Demonstrated success leading large-scale, complex transformation initiatives
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and drive engagement across all levels of an organization
- Ability to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable strategies
- Passion for continuous improvement and developing people
Responsibilities
- Set and execute the strategic direction for Toyota Lean Management initiatives in alignment with organizational priorities.
- Lead and develop a team of Consultants, ensuring alignment, capability building, and consistent delivery of high-quality outcomes.
- Present to large, diverse audiences, influencing stakeholders across all organizational levels to drive alignment and adoption of Lean initiatives.
- Partner directly with customers to guide their Lean journey, applying Lean Management principles to improve processes and eliminate waste.
- Facilitate process discovery workshops, value stream mapping sessions, and improvement initiatives to identify and implement sustainable solutions.
- Deliver Lean training and coaching through both classroom instruction and hands-on engagement at customer sites.
- Build strong relationships with customer leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and long-term success.
- Develop tailored strategies and proposals to support customer transformation and business improvement initiatives.
- Ensure all customer deliverables are accurate, consistent, and completed on time.
- Lead multiple complex projects and initiatives simultaneously, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
- Apply structured problem-solving methodologies and coach others in continuous improvement practices.
- Travel up to 50% domestically to support customer engagement and program delivery.
- On rare occasions some international travel is expected.
Benefits
- Competitive Salary
- Corporate Bonus
- Generous Paid Time Off and 13 Paid Holidays
- Affordable Medical plans and no-cost Dental & Vision options
- 100% 401(k) match up to 6%
- Company-Paid Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability
- Tuition Assistance Program
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with access to mental health care, legal support, and financial guidance
- Recognition and Kaizen (continuous improvement) Reward Programs
- Meaningful opportunities for personal and professional development
- Best in class work culture!
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
