Operational Excellence Lead

Carrier•Charlotte, NC

1d•$96,000 - $192,000•Onsite

About The Position

Carrier Operations is looking for a high performance & goal oriented professional to lead Lean initiatives throughout our CHVAC Charlotte factory through the full value stream (suppliers, internal operations and customers). Support the transformation of the operation to the Carrier Excellence (Cx) standards via a structured process and series of activities and events. This position provides great visibility to each Site within BU’s as well as divisional WHQ. Success will be defined by the successful transformation of sites, and improvement in the relevant KPI’s. You must be an expert in Lean including Cell Design, Manufacturing Standard Work, Material Presentation, and Lean Logistics. You will be running projects as well as coaching others and developing standards. This position will report to the Carrier Excellence Manager, and be responsible for, but not limited to, the following: This role is individual-contributor focused, reports directly to site operational leadership, and requires an on-site presence in Charlotte, NC with minimal to no travel.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree.
7+ years of experience in manufacturing operations with progressive technical or leadership responsibilities.
3+ years of experience in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence, including demonstrated experience leading and facilitating cross-functional Kaizen events.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related discipline.
Active Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification (or equivalent recognized Lean certification, such as Gemba Academy or internal enterprise programs).
Prior experience in high-volume manufacturing (e.g., Automotive) OR high-customization / job-shop manufacturing environments.
Deep expertise in Manufacturing Standard Work, Cell Design, Integrated Production & Logistics, PFEP (Plan For Every Part), and Third-Party Logistics integration.
Demonstrated ability to self-direct, execute with speed, and communicate effectively across all organizational tiers.
Commitment to obtaining Carrier Excellence (Cx) Practitioner certification within the first 1.5 years of employment

Responsibilities

Drive sustainable operational improvements and guide site leadership in translating business goals into actionable Lean Macro Plans.
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on plant layout optimization, material flow, cell design, and logistics (including 3PL process alignment).
Partner with cross-functional teams to support high-priority growth initiatives for data center manufacturing lines.
Personally plan, lead, and facilitate Kaizen events and value-stream mapping activities from end-to-end.
Maintain a robust pipeline of Productivity Improvement Projects (PIP) to deliver year-over-year cost savings and positive changes in key metrics (lead time, schedule stability, inventory, and Plan For Every Part/PFEP).
Coach and mentor site resources to expand the internal network of event leaders and remove project-level execution barriers.
Articulate technical concepts, productivity strategies, and operational results effectively to shop-floor operators, functional managers, and executive leadership.
Perform workplace audits, conduct risk assessments, and establish standard work in alignment with Carrier Excellence (Cx) guidelines.