Process Improvement Team Lead – IFPC Program
About The Position
Leidos' Defense Systems Sector is seeking a Process Improvement Team Lead to support the Indirect Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) Program in Huntsville, Alabama. The IFPC system is a next-generation, ground-based defense capability designed to counter evolving aerial threats, including unmanned aircraft systems, cruise missiles, and rockets. As the program transitions from development into production, the IFPC organization is expanding its capabilities to improve execution, delivery performance, affordability, and mission readiness. The Process Improvement Team Lead will establish and lead a structured program-level improvement capability focused on identifying execution constraints, improving cross-functional processes, and implementing sustainable solutions. The selected candidate will work across Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Contracts, and Logistics to improve the processes used to plan, execute, measure, and deliver IFPC program commitments. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires the ability to translate complex program challenges into practical, measurable improvements while building alignment across a matrixed organization.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree and 8 or more years of relevant experience, or a Master’s degree and 6 or more years of relevant experience. Additional relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
- Demonstrated experience leading process improvement, operational excellence, program execution, manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, quality, or related initiatives.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams within a matrixed organization.
- Demonstrated ability to identify root causes, develop corrective actions, and implement sustainable process changes.
- Experience developing performance metrics, dashboards, process maps, standard work, and executive-level presentations.
- Strong analytical, organizational, facilitation, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to influence stakeholders and drive actions without direct authority over all participating organizations.
- Experience managing multiple improvement initiatives with competing priorities and deadlines.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior leaders.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Project or similar planning and analysis tools.
- Ability to work primarily on-site in Huntsville, Alabama.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
Nice To Haves
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement certification.
- Project Management Professional certification.
- Experience supporting Department of Defense acquisition, missile, weapon system, aerospace, or complex hardware programs.
- Experience supporting the transition of a product from development into low-rate or full-rate production.
- Experience with Kaizen events, value-stream mapping, standard work, cause-and-effect analysis, control plans, and corrective action systems.
- Demonstrated success implementing improvements that produced measurable cost, schedule, quality, or delivery results.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense Secret security clearance.
Responsibilities
- Lead a cross-functional process improvement team supporting IFPC program execution, production readiness, delivery, and sustainment objectives.
- Develop and maintain a prioritized improvement roadmap aligned with program cost, schedule, technical, quality, and delivery commitments.
- Facilitate structured problem-solving activities to identify root causes, remove execution barriers, and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Evaluate current-state processes and develop improved future-state workflows, roles, responsibilities, decision points, and performance measures.
- Partner with functional and program leaders to improve coordination across Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Contracts, and Logistics.
- Establish metrics and dashboards that measure process performance, improvement effectiveness, cycle time, quality, cost, schedule, and delivery outcomes.
- Lead recurring improvement reviews and communicate progress, risks, decisions, and unresolved constraints to program leadership.
- Support the development and standardization of program management processes, business rhythms, operating procedures, templates, and execution tools.
- Identify opportunities to improve production planning, material flow, configuration control, change implementation, corrective action closure, and delivery readiness.
- Coordinate improvement initiatives with Manufacturing while respecting Manufacturing’s ownership of factory operations and execution.
- Support risk and opportunity management by identifying systemic execution risks and developing measurable mitigation plans.
- Ensure completed improvements are documented, adopted, measured, and sustained by the responsible process owners.
Benefits
- Limited telework may be considered based on program requirements.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
