Associate Lean Director, EMEA

Johnson Controls; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global technology and manufacturing firm is seeking an Associate Lean Director in Birmingham to support Lean implementation across teams. The candidate will lead problem-solving and continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic goals. Key qualifications include a bachelor's degree in a related field, extensive experience in Continuous Improvement, and strong communication skills. This role may involve travel requirements of 25-50%.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Continuous Improvement.
• Proven track record of delivering business and customer results.
• Strong communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Lean implementation at the team level.
• Work closely with executive leadership to drive initiatives.
• Coach and develop Lean Practitioners and Process Owners.

Skills

Continuous Improvement

Leadership

Communication

Analytical Skills

Facilitation

Risk Management

Coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Quality, Engineering, or a related field

Tools

Lean methodologies

Six Sigma

Job description

What will you do

The Associate Lean Director, EMEA Leader supports Lean implementation at the team level, facilitating problem‑solving, standard work, and continuous improvement. This role works closely with Lean Leaders to build Lean capability. They are the engine of continuous improvement, identifying inefficiencies, solving problems, and contributing to the culture of Lean.

Strategic Leadership

Resource for the organization to lead Regional‑based problem‑solving engagements

Policy Deployment

Cascade strategic goals from the top of the organization down to individual contributors, ensuring everyone understands their role in achieving the company's vision.

Governance

Oversee Lean Business system, Lean methodologies, tools and associated process improvement standard work. Establish Lean governance structures, performance dashboards & sustainment mechanisms.

C-Suite Collaboration

Work closely with the executive leadership team, facilitating effective communication and collaboration to drive strategic initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement

Serve as a liaison between the executive team, regional leadership and key stakeholders, ensuring transparent and effective communication.

Continuous Improvement

Champion a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging Lean methodologies to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Risk Management

Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring the organization's long‑term sustainability and success.

Mentorship & Training

Coach and develop Lean Practitioners, Process Owners, and other leaders within the organization, fostering a culture of growth and development.

How you will do it

• Solve challenges by helping with global synergy opportunities, best practice sharing implementation.

• Work closely with local leadership to implement and deliver improvements in process performance.

• Mentor other project leaders to accelerate results and improve the culture of continuous improvement.

• Identify key process improvement opportunities and lead process standardization.

• Conduct training sessions and workshops to promote Lean methodologies.

• Facilitate workshops and training sessions, balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application.

• Foster innovation by introducing new CI techniques, methodologies, and tools, sharing insights broadly across CI Team.

What we look for

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Quality, Engineering, or a related field.

• Extensive experience in Continuous Improvement.

• Experience leading business transformation projects - track record of delivering tangible, recognized business & customer results.

• Demonstrated leadership capability, strong business acumen, ability to align change management approach to business needs.

• Strong communication and presentation skills. Ability to establish rapport with leaders, customers and peers.

• Proven analytical and systems‑thinking: design & deployment of end‑to‑end solutions that exceed requirements.

• Excellent facilitation and strategic thinking skills.

• Experience in leading, training, and coaching Lean and Six Sigma methods & tools.

• Demonstrated capability in team building, coaching, and effective collaboration.

• Proactive risk management and issue resolution skills with appropriate escalation practices.

• Travel Requirements: 25‑50%