Excellence Manager

Title: Excellence Manager
Location: Canaan, CT
Job Type: FTE/Permanent

Position Overview:
The role is responsible for leading the deployment of strategy, ensuring alignment through Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and supporting the leadership team in setting strategic goals and creating the site master plan. The position also involves partnering with plant leadership and business unit managers to co-develop and implement excellence plans and budgets, while coaching and mentoring the leadership team on continuous improvement, safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

Key Tasks and Strategic Accountability:

• Lead strategy deployment (SD) and ensure strategic alignment through cascading KPIs, top-down and bottom-up.
• Partner with leadership to co-develop and implement excellence plans and budgets for the site.
• Coach the leadership team in continuous improvement methodologies, including external and internal benchmarking.
• Develop and grow capability in safety, quality, and reliability through component teams.
• Coordinate and deploy continuous improvement (CI) components and methodologies, ensuring alignment with long-term objectives.
• Teach, coach, and demonstrate proficiency in continuous improvement concepts and methodologies, including strategy development and deployment (SDD).
• Lead focused improvement teams to drive cost optimization, eliminating losses, and ensuring continuous improvement.
• Oversee the governance of the improvement process and the management of the site's loss landscape.
• Manage CI budgets and resources, ensuring priorities are aligned with strategic goals.

Technical Expertise:

• Experience implementing Lean and Six Sigma systems.
• Strong knowledge of operational excellence and customer-centricity.
• Proven track record in project or program management.
• Experience working in multi-site or multi-cultural environments.
• Ability to align projects with business results and organizational goals.

Personal Specifications:

• Ability to influence without authority and lead cross-functional teams.
• Strong leadership and critical thinking skills.
• Able to manage complexity and diversity in a fast-paced environment.
• Financial competence and ability to manage budgets.
• Results-oriented with a focus on achieving business objectives.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of manufacturing or leadership experience in a plant setting.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience operating a production system.
• Certification or recognition as a production system practitioner is preferred.