Manager - Operational Excellence
Magna International•Grand Rapids, MI
•Hybrid
About The Position
The Operational Improvement Manager/Director will lead and drive continuous improvement initiatives across five divisions in North America & Brazil. This role is responsible for enhancing operational efficiency, optimizing processes, and ensuring alignment with corporate standards and strategic objectives. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and change management, capable of influencing cross-functional teams and delivering measurable results.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- 7+ years of experience in operational excellence or process improvement roles.
- Proven track record of leading multi-site improvement initiatives.
- Proficiency in problem-solving techniques (PDCA, A3, 5Why).
- Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to travel up to 50% across North America.
Nice To Haves
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute a regional operational improvement roadmap aligned with corporate goals.
- Act as the primary liaison between divisional leadership and corporate Operational Excellence teams.
- Identify inefficiencies and implement best practices across manufacturing, supply chain, and support functions.
- Facilitate Kaizen workshops and Gemba walks.
- Promote Implementation of 5S, TPM, and visual management systems.
- Promote standardization and waste elimination.
- Lead Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and other Lean initiatives.
- Identify, lead, and monitor CI projects delivering measurable cost savings.
- Train employees in problem-solving methodologies (PDCA, A3, 5Why).
- Support departments in prioritizing top improvement projects.
- Preliminary review with Division Operational Capex for new projects.
- Ensure compliance with Lean Line Design Checklist and submit proposals for approval.
- Review Operational KPIs and monitor progress across all divisions.
- Prepare and present performance reports to senior leadership.
- Drive cultural adoption of continuous improvement methodologies.
- Train and mentor divisional teams on Lean and Six Sigma principles.
- Work closely with divisional leaders to prioritize improvement projects.
- Ensure standardization of processes across all divisions.
Benefits
- Engaging and dynamic environment
- Support and resources for employee success
- Exciting, varied responsibilities
- Wide range of development prospects
- Unique career paths
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
