Lean Manager

James Hardie•Cleburne, TX

4d•$114,000 - $135,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the North American Lean Leader, the Central Lean Manager is responsible for leading and supporting Lean transformation across multiple North American manufacturing sites. This role partners directly with plant leadership teams to build Lean capability, strengthen daily management practices, improve operational performance, and create sustainable systems that enable safe, predictable, and profitable growth. The Central Lean Manager serves as a coach, change leader, and strategic business partner who helps sites embed the Hardie Manufacturing Operating System (HMOS) into daily work. This position may be based at a plant location or at the corporate office in Chicago. Travel is expected to range from 25% to 75%, depending on location and business needs.

Requirements

7+ years of progressive experience in Lean, Six Sigma, continuous improvement, operational excellence, or manufacturing leadership, including at least 5 years leading cross-functional improvement initiatives or transformation efforts in a manufacturing environment.
Strong practical application of Lean principles, including daily management, standard work, visual management, 5S, Kaizen, structured problem solving, and strategy deployment.
Demonstrated ability to coach, influence, and build capability across all levels of the organization, from frontline operators to senior leadership, within a complex, matrixed environment.
Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to drive alignment across functions, sites, and stakeholders.
Strong analytical and business acumen, with the ability to connect continuous improvement activities to operational and financial performance.
Proven ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, prioritize effectively, and deliver results in dynamic, resource-constrained environments.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, supply chain, or a related field preferred; advanced degree (e.g., MBA or Master’s) is a plus.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent transformation experience preferred.
Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations and leading Lean maturity assessments, Daily Management Systems, and leader/operator standard work is desirable.

Nice To Haves

advanced degree (e.g., MBA or Master’s) is a plus.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or equivalent transformation experience preferred.
Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations and leading Lean maturity assessments, Daily Management Systems, and leader/operator standard work is desirable.

Responsibilities

Partner with plant and functional leaders to translate business priorities into targeted Lean roadmaps.
Deploy HMOS standards, routines, and systems across sites.
Align Lean initiatives to measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and engagement.
Use data and observation to prioritize high-impact improvement opportunities.
Coach sites on Daily Management Systems, including tiered meetings, visual management, and escalation routines.
Strengthen operator and leader standard work to improve consistency and sustain results.
Reinforce use of gemba walks, layered verification, and coaching routines.
Ensure Lean systems are practical, visible, and owned by site leadership.
Lead and coach Kaizen (VOO) events that address critical business challenges.
Manage the improvement funnel from opportunity identification through sustainment.
Build capability in structured problem solving (PDCA, root cause analysis, A3, 5 Whys).
Deliver measurable results with clear ownership and follow-up actions.
Teach and mentor leaders and teams in Lean principles and HMOS standards.
Develop leader capability in proactive process management and coaching.
Build self-sufficiency at sites to sustain improvements independently.
Facilitate learning through hands-on coaching, training, and workshops.
Lead change through stakeholder alignment, engagement, and clear communication.
Remove barriers and address systemic issues to drive adoption.
Establish sustainment mechanisms to maintain standards and performance.
Share and adapt best practices across sites.
Measure and report Lean impact using operational and financial metrics.
Link improvement activity to key outcomes (safety, quality, cost, productivity, etc.).
Support planning processes by identifying Lean-driven opportunities.
Track leading and lagging indicators to assess adoption and effectiveness.