Lean Excellence Manager

Valmont Industries, Inc. • Columbus, NE

23h • Onsite

About The Position

This developmental position supports Valmont’s Lean transformation across Operations and may provide a path toward a future site leadership role. Reporting to the direction of the Sr. Plant Manager, the position leads indirectly through influence and relationships, coaching and training managers, supervisors, and office and shop-floor team members in Lean tools, processes, Kaizen events, and related performance metrics. The manager champions Lean methodologies to improve operations, measure results, and sustain continuous improvement, while building organizational trust and credibility in those methods.

The role includes identifying and prioritizing site transformation opportunities, supporting strategic deployment, facilitating improvement events, and helping teams use problem-solving methods and visual management. The position works in a factory environment and moves among manufacturing and shipping areas. It supports a multi-site, four-shift, seven-day operation and may require long days. Domestic travel of up to 10–15% of the year is required.

Requirements

• Preferred bachelor's degree with 6 or more years of relevant experience, or associate degree with 8 or more years of relevant experience, or 10 or more years of relevant experience.
• Solid understanding of Lean principles and methodology.
• Demonstrated experience effectively managing others while facilitating and delivering business results.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Internet Explorer.
• Effective facilitation skills for interacting with all levels of the organization.
• Data-driven decision-making skills.
• Ability to respectfully challenge the status quo.
• Ability to travel domestically up to 10–15% of the year.
• Ability to work in a factory setting and move around manufacturing and shipping areas.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods; talk and listen in person and by phone; use hands and fingers to handle or feel items; and reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to work in an environment with manufacturing-site hazards, including noise, fumes, extreme heat or cold, dust, welding arc, chemicals, fire, smoke, unstable debris, and confined spaces.
• Ability to support a multi-site, four-shift, seven-day operation, including long days.

Nice To Haves

• Facilitation or coaching experience at TPM events, Standard Work events, SMED events, root cause analyses, and manufacturing or administrative value-stream improvement projects.
• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
• Advanced degree.
• Professional Lean certification and commitment to continuous Lean learning.

Responsibilities

• Identify, prioritize, and facilitate execution of a Site Transformation Plan using Value Stream Mapping, critical KPIs, the Lean Assessment Tool, and Strategy Deployment.
• Drive the strategic vision within the business.
• Identify participants for improvement opportunities.
• Provide relevant training and execution leadership.
• Lead and facilitate improvement opportunity events and identify ownership of action plans.
• Ensure improvement opportunity events are sustained.
• Provide specified communication, including visual management, throughout improvement opportunity events.
• Assist with and facilitate the use of sound problem-solving methodology to generate action items for strategy deployment targets.
• Support SQDC to Valmont standards.
• Assist with execution and evaluation of the Lean assessment.
• Schedule, support, and summarize or report Lean Steering Committee meetings.
• Identify barriers to achieving results and communicate them directly to leadership.
• Implement an operations-wide 5S program.
• Facilitate celebration and communication of successful improvement opportunities.
• Coach and train managers, supervisors, and office and shop-floor team members in Lean tools and processes.
• Travel domestically up to 10–15% of the year.
• Perform other professional job duties as required.

Benefits

• Healthcare coverage, including medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Employer-paid life insurance.
• Employer-paid short-term and long-term disability, including maternity leave.
• Work Life Support.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year.
• Voluntary programs such as tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, and mortgage services.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree