Director, Operational Excellence

Position Summary

The Director of Operational Excellence is responsible for leading enterprise-wide transformation by deploying the company's Operational Excellence (OpEx) Model through capability building, structured change management, and hands-on operational improvement.

This role is a primary changeagent for the organization, accountable for shifting mindsets, behaviors, and ways of working across all levels of the enterprise. Approximately 50% of the role is dedicated to the development and delivery of training and learning experiences, while the remaining scope focuses on embedding change, enabling leaders, and driving sustained operational and financial performance improvement.

Success in this role is defined not only by performance results, but by adoption, sustainment, and cultural integration of Operational Excellence principles.

This role requires up to 75% of travel, primarily domestic with occasional international travel.

Key Responsibilities

1. Change Leadership and Change Management (Core Accountability)

• Serve as a visible and credible changeagent, leading and reinforcing enterprise transformation initiatives across multiple sites and functions.
• Apply structured change management principles to ensure awareness, buyin, adoption, and sustainment of Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Partner with leaders to assess readiness for change, identify resistance points, and create targeted change and communication strategies.
• Coach executives, site leaders, and managers on their role as sponsors of change, reinforcing accountability and leadership behaviors.
• Embed change management practices into training, deployments, and improvement initiatives so change becomes repeatable and scalable.
• Measure change effectiveness through adoption metrics, leadership behaviors, maturity assessments, and performance outcomes.

2. Training Content Development and Learning Architecture

• Design, develop, and continuously improve comprehensive Operational Excellence training curricula that integrate tools, behaviors, and change leadership.
• Create role-based learning paths for frontline employees, supervisors, managers, and senior leaders, ensuring relevance and practical application.
• Translate OpEx standards, methodologies, and expectations into clear, engaging, and actionable training content.
• Develop training materials including facilitator guides, participant workbooks, case studies, simulations, and digital learning assets.
• Partner with Digital / IT teams to leverage learning platforms and analytics to increase reach, consistency, and effectiveness.
• Continuously evaluate and improve training effectiveness based on feedback, knowledge transfer, behavior change, and business impact.

3. Training Delivery, Facilitation and Coaching

• Facilitate inperson and virtual training, workshops, and transformation events across global operations.
• Deliver learning experiences to all organizational levels, from shop-floor associates to senior executives.
• Lead immersive, application-based workshops such as Value Stream Design, problem-solving events, and leadership sessions.
• Provide ongoing coaching to leaders and practitioners to reinforce learning, support behavior change, and sustain improvements.
• Model a "people-first" learning mindset that reinforces trust, engagement, and accountability.

4. Operational Excellence Deployment & Performance Transformation

• Lead and support OpEx deployments from assessment through implementation and sustainment.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams during Kaizen Events, and implementation of improvement initiatives.
• Apply advanced problem-solving methodologies (A3, 5-Why, root cause analysis, countermeasures, sustainment plans).
• Support sites in defining meaningful KPIs and leading indicators tied to OpEx maturity and change adoption.

Leadership and Capability Expectations

• Recognized change leader with the ability to influence without authority.
• Strong executive presence and credibility with senior leaders and site leadership.
• Able to balance empathy with accountability in challenging transformation environments.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and unstructured environments.
• Data-driven, results-oriented, and disciplined in followthrough and sustainment.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and storytelling skills to support change narratives.

Candidate Qualifications

• 10-15 years of progressive leadership experience in Operational Excellence, Plant Management, or large-scale transformation roles.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise or multi-site change initiatives, not just improvement tools deployment.
• Extensive experience designing and delivering training and building organizational capability at scale.
• Strong grounding in Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence methodologies.
• Hands-on experience driving changes across manufacturing and transactional environments.
• Familiarity with digital manufacturing and operational systems (ERP, MES, MRP, QMS, CMMS, etc.).
• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field; MBA preferred.
• Lean / Six Sigma or equivalent certifications strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into execution through people and process.
• Willing and able to travel up to 75%.
• Location is negotiable, large airport or Dover manufacturing location preferred.