Operational Excellence Director

Viant•Fort Wayne, IN

20h

About The Position

The Director of Operational Excellence, AMS drives continuous improvement, Lean transformation, and operational performance across Viant's Advanced Metal Solutions network of seven manufacturing sites. Reporting to the Center of Excellence, this hands-on leader partners with site teams to deliver cost savings, improve efficiency, develop talent, and support strategic business objectives. The role combines strategy and execution, leading Lean initiatives, kaizen events, and problem-solving efforts while building a culture of operational excellence. The successful candidate brings multi-site manufacturing experience, preferably in metal machining, turning, or drawing environments, and operates as a player-coach who can lead, coach, facilitate, and execute. This is a hands-on role, not a corporate training position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
At least 8 years of experience in operational excellence, process improvement, or operations leadership, preferably in a manufacturing or regulated environment.
Proven track record leading large-scale change management, transformation, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Trainer-level competency in Lean, Six Sigma, or similar problem-solving methodologies, with demonstrated enterprise-level execution experience.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and project management skills, with proficiency in data analysis and performance metrics.
Demonstrated experience implementing automation, standard work, and technology in operational settings.
Exceptional communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, including active listening and interpretation abilities, and the capacity to influence and build alignment across all organizational levels.
Willingness and ability to travel approximately 20–50%.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or relevant certification.
Multi-site manufacturing experience, preferably in metal machining, turning, or drawing environments.

Responsibilities

Identify and deliver a multi-year savings roadmap to achieve annual savings targets.
Work with business unit and functional leaders to identify and implement operational improvements, including OEE, tiered daily management, and leader standard work.
Facilitate kaizens spanning multiple sites, functions, and programs to deliver transformational business results, including technology adoption and culture change.
Develop and upskill individuals in the OpEx network through individual coaching and by identifying and facilitating enterprise-wide trainings through external training partners.
Influence OpEx at all organizational levels, driving adoption of best practices and continuous improvement.