Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX)

Eaton Corporation•Lincoln, IL

3d•$130,000 - $190,000•Onsite

About The Position

Eaton’s Electrical Sector - Residential & Wiring Devices Division is hiring an Operational Excellence (OPEX) Manager for its manufacturing facility in Lincoln, Illinois. This highly visible plant leadership role champions the Eaton Continuous Improvement System (ECIS), Eaton Business System (EBS), Lean, and Six Sigma to establish a culture of problem solving, operational discipline, and sustainable performance improvement. The OPEX Manager partners with plant leaders to shape the site’s continuous improvement roadmap, strengthen daily management systems, develop talent, and improve business results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement. The role leads and sustains the site’s continuous improvement strategy and governance, drives Operational Assessment preparation and follow-up, and develops employees and leaders through coaching, training, Kaizen events, Rapid Improvement Events, and Six Sigma projects. It also analyzes operating metrics, identifies performance gaps, leads cost-out and productivity initiatives, and helps teams translate business priorities into practical operating routines and measurable results. The expected annual salary range is $130,000–$190,000, and the role is eligible for a variable incentive program. Relocation assistance is available to candidates currently residing in the United States. Eaton does not provide employment immigration sponsorship or support for this position.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
At least 7 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, or another cross-functional discipline in a manufacturing environment.
At least 3 years of experience in continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence.
At least 3 years of experience leading people, projects, and cross-functional teams.
Strong understanding of Lean management systems and their connection to business strategy, daily operations, and waste elimination.
Broad knowledge of Lean tools and principles, including value stream mapping, 5S/workplace organization, continuous flow manufacturing, set-up reduction, TPM, error proofing, pull systems, and standardized work.
Proven analytical, facilitation, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to turn data into action.
Ability to prioritize multiple time-critical tasks and maintain momentum across several improvement initiatives.
Ability to lead, influence, and develop cross-functional process improvement teams at all organizational levels, serving as both a strategic partner and hands-on shop-floor coach.
Ability to use structured problem-solving methods, including 8D and statistical analysis, to identify root causes, validate solutions, and prevent recurrence.
Must not require employment immigration sponsorship or support from Eaton for this position.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Project management experience or PMP certification.
Experience or certification in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), set-up reduction, structured problem solving, Kaizen, or Lean material flow.

Responsibilities

Champion ECIS, EBS, Lean, and Six Sigma to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, working capital, and customer satisfaction.
Partner with the plant leadership team to develop, deploy, and sustain the site’s continuous improvement strategy, governance process, and annual improvement priorities.
Build a culture of structured problem solving through leader standard work, daily accountability, visual management, process checks, Gemba walks, and disciplined follow-up.
Serve as the site expert and champion for the Eaton Business System, connecting business priorities to practical operating routines and improvement actions.
Lead Operational Assessment preparation, execution, and follow-up by identifying gaps, developing action plans, and sustaining progress.
Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools to eliminate waste, improve flow, reduce variation, and strengthen performance across manufacturing and functional processes.
Coach, train, and mentor employees and leaders through Kaizen events, Rapid Improvement Events, Six Sigma projects, benchmarking, leader standard work deployment, and capability-building activities.
Analyze operational metrics, identify performance gaps, and recommend data-driven action plans that improve results and sustain accountability.
Lead site cost-out and productivity initiatives to achieve annual savings commitments and support long-term financial performance.
Influence and engage cross-functional teams by turning complex improvement opportunities into clear priorities, practical actions, and measurable outcomes.