Operational Director – Continuous Improvement

Elkay Manufacturing•Lanark, IL

41d

About The Position

The Operational Director – Continuous Improvement, reporting to the VP - Continuous Improvement, will lead operational excellence initiatives across Zurn Elkay Water Solutions’ Drinking Water Lanark manufacturing plant. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on implementation of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies to drive performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and associate engagement. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in manufacturing operations leadership and a proven track record of embedding a culture of continuous improvement and sustainable results.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, with at least 5 years in a continuous improvement or operational excellence capacity.
Proven track record implementing Lean methodologies and driving measurable operational improvement.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, and plant performance systems.
Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, engage teams, and drive cultural change.
Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a site-wide continuous improvement roadmap, integrating Lean principles and methodologies (e.g., Kaizen, VDM, 5S, TPM, SMED) into all levels of the organization.
Partner closely with the Plant Manager and functional leaders to align daily execution with strategic business goals.
Champion a culture of operational excellence through coaching, training, and mentoring of leaders and associates on Lean tools, problem-solving, and waste elimination.
Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to improve production flow, increase equipment uptime, and optimize resource utilization.
Lead major improvement initiatives and capital projects aimed at improving manufacturing efficiency, process standardization, and operational reliability.
Serve as a key member of the Drinking Water Operations leadership team, sharing best practices and standardizing processes across multiple manufacturing sites.