Managing Director, Continuous Improvement
Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt
United Airlines Chicago & San Francisco

Background
Not all that long ago Jim Womack, co-author of “Lean Thinking”, received a phone call from a senior executive working directly for the CEO of a major international airline. This executive wanted to apply Lean Thinking to air travel and asked what Jim thought about their “lean” idea. Jim responded as he always does, “You should start with value from the standpoint of the traveler. Does this proposal make the passenger better off and will the passenger be willing to pay for it?”

Now most of us don’t often get invitations to advise airline CEOs on how to “Lean” their organizations. But, what if… How would you respond?

Consider this an invitation.

If you are the Lean Six Sigma Sensei we’re searching for, you’ll agree that asking passengers what they truly value, and uncovering where the waste lies preventing the provision of this value, makes a lot of sense. And you’re probably a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt who has demonstrated an ability to rethink operating methods and create systems, processes and procedures to drive enterprise-wide transformation successfully.

Talk with us about this outstanding and highly visible career opportunity. And maybe someday you’ll be co-writing “Lean Air Travel” with Jim Womack…

Our client is instantly recognizable as one of the premium global brands in international travel services. The company’s portfolio of products offers the right service to the right customer at the right price. Our client operates more than 3,700 flights a day to 200+ domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, DC. With key global air rights and partnerships in Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America, the company is one of the largest international carriers based in the US. Our client’s 57,000 employees reside across the US and around the world.

With leadership support and direction from the very top (Chairman & CEO), our client’s organization has committed to continuous improvements in costs, revenues and operations to sustain and enhance a competitive margin and regain its reputation for delighting customers. The company is investing in people, processes and infrastructure, and rebuilding accountability for a sustainable, long-term, high-performing organizational culture.

Can you help drive this transformation?

Position Overview
The Managing Director, Continuous Improvement is accountable for leading, mentoring and training CI teams to build a culture of continuous improvement across the company. The position will report to VP Continuous Improvement and is responsible for working with division leadership and champions to implement Lean Six Sigma principles emloying a common approach. This is a high visibility role, with potential to advance into senior leadership positions within the organization.

The Managing Director (MD) will cultivate a culture in which employees actively participate in CI activities, accept accountability for projects and earn reward for success. The MD will select projects which ensure effective application of Lean Six Sigma tools and alignment with business vision and strategy. He/she must have a demonstrated leadership ability to be innovative and forward thinking and challenge the status quo. Our MD will be a “Change Agent”, an ‘outside-the-box’ thinker, successful at utilizing proven LSS methodologies.

Our new MD will be strategic and broad-thinking, yet hands-on capable in tactical, detail-oriented business process/CI initiatives. The MD will develop tactical implementation plans and monitor progress of execution, including development and deployment of success metrics to surface division issues. The MD will apply specific analytical tools and techniques as needed (full or partial DMAIC process, Lean Six Sigma tools). The MD will provide problem solving support to assist implementation teams and CI consultants in resolving issues. He/she must leverage LSS expertise to drive step-change transformations and support incremental change efforts, providing oversight to specific projects, and leading efforts where required. In addition, the MD will be responsible for mentoring Black Belts across the organization to ensure effective completion of projects.

Position Responsibilities
· Develop Continuous Improvement (CI) program and deployment elements pertaining to organizational capability, training curriculum, program governance, roles and responsibilities definition, and deployment effectiveness.

· Develop CI effort by actively enhancing the capability and success of the organization.

· Contribute to the development and codification of standard Lean Six Sigma methods.

· Coach Black Belts through Six Sigma DMAIC and exercise considerable judgment in directing Black Belts on execution of Lean Six Sigma engagements.

· Coach teams using Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

· Deliver just-in-time training of Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies to Black Belts, Green Belts, business teams/leaders. Participate in classroom training as appropriate.

· Partner with business leadership to develop KPIs and reporting through a balanced scorecard.

· Facilitate Black Belts, Green Belts and business teams through project tollgate reviews.

· Work with business teams to identify opportunities for improvement. Direct and oversee the rollout of these activities.

Qualifications
10+ years as a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with 4+ years in roles of progressive leadership required. Master Black Belt preferred.
Advanced degree in Engineering, Business or related discipline required.
Specific Skills

Proven experience in Lean Six Sigma methods and processes with demonstrated ability to expertly apply and mentor Lean Six Sigma methodology to solve process challenges (e.g., DMAIC approach, SIPOC, value stream mapping, 5S, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis, statistical analysis, other Lean Six Sigma concepts).

Able to teach and apply Lean Six Sigma toolkit at all levels of the organization, including mentoring of other trained Black/Green Belts.

Experience with managing the development and delivery of Lean Six Sigma projects in both transactional and manufacturing settings.

Demonstrated ability to meet critical deadlines, managing upward as well as across organizational teams.

Ability to identify target areas for CI by assisting leaders in ensuring project objectives align with annual Divisional objectives at all levels.

Professional communication skills, including the ability to present findings and recommendations to senior management.

Strong interpersonal skills, with ability to influence and coach for results at all organizational levels; ability to constructively engage, negotiate, resolve conflict and influence leaders; ability to build strong counseling relationships with senior leaders.

Advanced business acumen with operational and business level problem solving ability.

Ability to manage cross-functional teams.

Self-confident, flexible, with a positive attitude and demonstrated strong influencing skills.

Willingness/ability to travel as required from position based in Chicago