$500 million Global Manufacturer, Wilmington, NC 

(download PDF>>)   Director_Global_Six_Sigma-2

We’re looking for an experienced Six Sigma leader with broad business acumen, global perspective and experience, and the ability to drive, facilitate and sustain change in a fast-paced, highly entrepreneurial environment.

The selected individual will become our client’s Director, Global Six Sigma, and leverage her or his outstanding leadership, communications and technical skills to create significant and lasting impact and value at all levels of this organization.

And yes, it’s going to take an ambitious, determined and committed “A-player” to reap the rewards of success in this demanding role.  But what business transformation worthy of that designation wouldn’t be a major problem-solving opportunity, and a challenge of such caliber that it rigorously tests the mettle of even the best Six Sigma pros in today’s competitive manufacturing world?

Could you be up to this challenge?   

The Position
If you’re the right person for this position it’s going to be pretty obvious to us both that you’ve already done a lot of this once or twice before.  Negotiated, developed and set company-wide improvement objectives and goals. Led the corporate and site-level strategy and tactical teams. Championed and facilitated DMAIC and DFSS initiatives. Developed and led the Black Belt project teams. Built and tracked metrics, and then improved, rebuilt and retracked them again.  Trained, coached, counseled. And demonstrated that you, individually and together with the teams you led, could deliver the goods.

So, why then, might this position interest an expert like you?  Why could this be the right “next step” in building your career? And why must you take a closer look?

Here’s Why

Company Background

Our client is a leading global Tier Two supplier to the automotive industry, as well as a supplier to USA broader industrial and medical markets.  With revenues of approximately $500 million and over 2500 employees worldwide, the company has five manufacturing facilities in the US, two in the UK, and one in France.  China is next.  A private company, our client is owned by a major New York-based private equity firm which also holds controlling or significant minority interests in companies around the world that generate over $60 billion in annual revenues.

Conclusions -

1. You experience top management visibility and impact opportunity in a business that’s a size you can really get your hands around
2. You do hands-on international management in Europe and Asia
3. You receive exposure to private equity management issues and build direct understanding of how private investor-owned business leadership works
4. You have a shot at career growth opportunities here and also within other portfolio companies

Real-World Six Sigma Commitment

This company is about Six Sigma Quality in everything it does. Perfection is the target.  They understand that conformity and consistency are critical to their customers.  Every associate is involved in the pursuit of Quality and continually strives for excellence and ways to pass cost savings to the customer.  Manufacturing Excellence is delivered through:

• Philosophy of Lean Enterprise
• Focus on process efficiencies through Six Sigma techniques
• Real-time data for real-time decision making
• Cost-down and cost-out culture throughout the organization

Conclusions  –

1. You already have the core corporate support you need for your Six Sigma success
2. You won’t need to reinvent the Six Sigma wheel; build on the foundation, and make it even better, and take it to the next level
3. You’ll  develop the business skill sets and senses to drive Lean Six Sigma at broader and deeper operational and executive levels

Opportunity

“Best people” is where it all begins. Our client’s commitment to quality, innovation, sales and service begins with their people (possible you?). Attracting and retaining talent is key to the company’s success, and because they want only the best, they deliver exactly that in return:  competitive compensation, a healthy benefit package, additional opportunity for rewards, and always career growth possibilities.

Conclusions  –  Please draw your own.  And if you are indeed among the best-in-class Six Sigma practitioners today, perhaps an image of your possible next step on the career ladder is already forming in your mind.

Some Additional Details

The position of Director, Six Sigma reports to a company Vice President who is personally very strong and hands-on in continuous improvement, and also holds other major operational responsibilities within the business. He in turn, works directly for the CEO, who has also been personally and directly (Gemba level) involved in Six Sigma and Lean throughout his career.  You’ll be in good company.

The position is based on the Southeastern Coast of the US in a college town which is also known for its attractive seaside resort areas. Lifestyle is appropriate to the setting with scenic beaches and seafood abounding, and with ample cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities available as well.

Travel should amount to no more than 50%, and a good portion of that would be considered local (not necessarily over night).

Requirements

You’ll need to be a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt from a recognized program, with at least a BS/BA in Engineering from a top university (an MBA would weigh strongly in your favor).

We’d like to see a minimum of 10 years Six Sigma operations improvement leadership experience with proven results, leading major change initiatives (multiple Black Belts, multiple locations, globally).

You must also show a few years of hands-on operations (manufacturing)  or plant management experience at some point in your career.  While some consulting background could be beneficial, our ideal candidate will most likely have built the bulk of his or her expertise while excelling as an internal agent of change.

Finally, you should genuinely believe in change, continuous improvement and growth, both professionally and personally.

Connect with Us

Please connect with me in whatever way is most convenient for you. We share no information about you with anyone outside our firm until we’ve agreed on this with you.

No resume?  That’s OK.  If you feel very strongly that you meet all our criteria, let’s talk first.  Call me… 

And, lastly, if you know someone who is absolutely the perfect candidate for this outstanding position, please let them know about the opportunity, or refer them to me in total confidence.

Adam Zak, CEO,  Adam Zak Executive Search

az@LeanRecruiter.com  http://LeanRecruiter.com

+1 (847) 304-5301 direct

Adam Zak Executive Search – Executive Recruiters for the Lean Enterprise

Take a personal stand.  Live your values.  Help transform health care.  Today!    (register and apply here)

No, not in Washington, D.C.  In northern Iowa.  Where what you’ll do isn’t just about adding value. It’s about truly making a critical difference by using your passion for Lean and your dedication to process excellence.  In a place where you can become the driving force for improving the quality of people’s lives. Saving those lives.  Every day. Why not take a closer look? 

Why You Want this Position

• You relish an opportunity to combine your professional career objectives with meaningful work that also reflects your personal values and beliefs (respect for people).
• You are personally and professionally obsessed with safety, quality and excellence.
•  You want the excitement of working with talented, visionary teams in one of the most highly-respected professions, within an innovative health care organization that “gets it” about process excellence.
• You thrive in a fast-paced yet collegial environment, where your daily decisions make a direct, clearly visible impact on the operational effectiveness of your organization, and beyond.
• Your mother tells you she always wished you’d gone to medical school…

Introduction

Our client is a faith-based, not-for-profit community health care system that offers comprehensive health care services for people residing throughout northern Iowa and southern Minnesota. Their mission is to continue the healing ministry of the Church, promoting the well-being of people in the communities they serve by living the values of Compassion, Respect, Excellence, Stewardship, and Concern for those who are poor. Our client adds value in the communities it serves by striving to provide each individual with the best personalized care and healing experience in the nation.

Our client launched its Lean Process Excellence journey approximately three years ago. Slowly at first, and now more quickly and deeply with each passing day, the Process Excellence team is converting the skeptics, broadening the buy-in, and demonstrating measurable results with their systemic approach to Lean transformation.  The CEO is 100% onboard, as are key directors and community leaders (mayor, city council members).  It is, indeed, a partnership with a broad group of committed stakeholders who are passionate about delivering better health care outcomes in a compassionate way.

And at the moment, there are simply too many transformational opportunities just waiting to be addressed. Hence the need for this Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist.  

The position will be based in a comfortable, warm and welcoming community in central northern Iowa, about equidistant from Minneapolis, MN and Des Moines, IA.  It reports to the Director of Process Excellence and is considered a highly-collaborative individual contributor role.  It is also a highly visible (CEO level) position, one with exceptional growth potential in an industry critical to America’s future.   

The Role

As a Lean Senior Continuous Improvement Specialist  on the Process Excellence Team, you will assist in guiding our client’s Lean/TPS initiatives.  You will be internal coach and mentor to a wide cross-section of medical/clinical and support staff at every point within the organization. From Hoshin planning and deployment events, to nursing station and laboratory value stream mapping and problem-solving activities, you will be there.

What You Bring to the Table

• You have demonstrated deep-dive, hands-on Gemba problem solving and coaching expertise, as well as 30k-foot strategic-level Lean Hoshin perspective and sophistication.
• You offer a proven track record driving operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives, focused on safety, quality, customer satisfaction and cost, utilizing Lean Thinking (Toyota Production System) methodologies.
• You have successfully managed something (plant, focus factory, operational group, etc.) where you also drove a Lean transformation resulting in sustained improvement and positive culture change.
• You have outstanding communications skills.  This enables you to interact with senior management executives and influence their decision-making, as well as to effectively partner with the other exceptionally talented people broadly across this organization.

Travel  -  Generally limited to local communities within the hospital network. Unusual to be away from home overnight, except for Lean conferences, benchmarking visits, and maybe a trip to the Shingo Prize Awards Conference.

Compensation  -  Competitive, based on your qualifications;  consisting of base salary, sign-on bonus, partial relocation assistance.

Connect with Us    -  Please connect with me in whatever way is most convenient for you. We share no information about you with anyone outside our firm until we’ve agreed on this with you. If you don’t have a resume, that’s fine. Let’s talk first.

Adam Zak, Principal  -  Adam Zak Executive Search

Architectural/Engineered Building Products & Components

Four-Season Outdoor Paradise, Warroad, Northern Minnesota

Adam Zak helps companies along their LEAN journey by recruiting exceptionally talented managers and executives who know how to make LEAN happen. 

But sometimes, it’s not just about your skill at managing a certain number of people, your comfort level in a specific sized organization, or the depth and breadth of your LEAN expertise that’s important. Lifestyle and family values considerations are critical to long-term success, and small-town living is not for everyone. 

I’m conducting an executive search for an exceptionally talented Operations Director, someone who can lead a business of over 2000 team members, 6 direct reports, and manufacturing volume of $300 million+.  Someone who is a LEAN Leader and understands how to drive continuous improvement in a LEAN Enterprise.

Our client is one of the top building products manufacturers in North America.  The company is privately held and managed by a family with roots going back many score years in this northern Minnesota community. Position reports to VP Operations and is responsible for well over half of the company’s North American production volume, a critical role at the very least.  Director Operations holds full responsibility for all manufacturing and manufacturing support activities and results, including business planning and execution, people development, quality, LEAN continuous improvement, customer relationships and local, regional and community relations.

Our ideal candidate will demonstrate a seasoned and stable career growth path with sustained performance over time in ever more challenging manufacturing and operations environments.  And, more importantly than any one professional qualification, we seek an individual committed to building a career for the long-term with one of the most recognized and people-focused brand name companies in North American manufacturing and service today.

PS.  Other excellent opportunities available with this rapidly expanding, highly-profitable client organization – in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, manufacturing engineering, maintenance, engineering, operational excellence/continuous improvement – experience with Toyota Production System (LEAN Manufacturing, LEAN Operations, LEAN Enterprise, LeanSigma…) highly desirable!

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