Lean Manager (Vulcanic)

Spirax Group • Cary, IL

18h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Lean Manager (Vulcanic) position, part of Electrical Thermal Solutions (ETS) within Spirax Group, is responsible for driving Continuous Improvement (CI) and developing the Operational Excellence (OpEx) framework across the Americas. This role will be instrumental in embedding Lean principles, identifying opportunities for process improvement, and achieving measurable gains in operational performance across manufacturing sites. The company, composed of Chromalox, Durex Industries, Vulcanic, and Thermocoax businesses, specializes in electrical process heating and temperature management solutions. Durex Industries, with over 40 years of expertise, serves diverse sectors including process industries, life sciences, plastics processing, food and packaging, aerospace, defense, and security, offering innovative bespoke solutions.

Requirements

• Strong working knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles and tools (e.g., SMED, 5S, VSM, root cause analysis, standard work).
• Demonstrated ability to identify and implement process improvements in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading CI workshops and engaging cross-functional teams.
• Ability to operate at a GOLD level within CI standards, with a mindset for continuous development.
• Hands-on, practical approach with the ability to work both strategically and on the shop floor.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual preferred (Spanish, French, German).

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and deployment of the Operational Excellence framework across Americas sites, ensuring alignment with global standards.
• Apply strong Lean principles to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste, and improve process performance.
• Deliver and support GOLD-level Continuous Improvement activities in line with internal CI standards, with ongoing development toward higher levels.
• Facilitate and lead CI workshops (e.g., Kaizen, value stream mapping, root cause problem solving) to drive sustainable improvements.
• Identify, prioritize, and execute process improvement initiatives across manufacturing and support functions.
• Provide hands-on support to sites, including the ability to lead or support changeover (SMED) improvement exercises where required.
• Coach and train site teams in Lean tools and CI methodologies to build internal capability.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineering, operations, quality, supply chain) to deliver end-to-end improvements.
• Support standardization and best practice sharing across sites.
• Own the CI savings delivery for the ETS Americas, track and validate savings against forecasted targets.
• Participate in weekly meetings with the Manufacturing Engineering Manager to review CI Updates and OPEX Maturity.

Benefits

• Opportunity to progress to higher levels within the CI framework through training and practical application.
• Exposure to global Operational Excellence initiatives and best practices.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed