Business Improvement Specialist

Balfour Beatty; Leatherhead; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working options

30 days extra holiday? (illustrative)

Pension and incentive plans

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc is hiring a Business Improvement Specialist to drive continuous improvement across Major Projects and Highways, including the M25 DBFO scheme. The role focuses on productivity, safety, and efficient delivery through process improvements and lean methodologies.

You will analyse current practices, map processes, and implement practical improvements, including standard work and demand-driven changes, while engaging with project teams and supply chain partners.

Qualifications

• Understanding of lean principles and its tools/techniques.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to present data effectively.
• Ability to work on own initiative and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Analyse current practices to identify improvements and educate teams on new processes.
• Support, manage and deliver continuous improvement projects across Major Projects and Highways.
• Map processes, identify inefficiencies, and implement standard work and poka-yoke to reduce waste.
• Lead root cause analysis and time/motion studies to boost productivity and safety.
• Promote best practices and drive engagement across the business.

Skills

Lean principles

Data presentation

Analytical thinking

Cost awareness

Initiative

Education

Degree in business/engineering preferred

Tools

Lean tools

Job description

About the role

Balfour Beatty has an exciting opportunity for a Business Improvement Specialist to join our growing team.

Base location can be ether South Mimms, Leatherhead or Dartford

This role will be to support, manage and deliver continuous improvement and efficiency projects across Major Projects and Highways. This role will be specifically to support the Highways Connect Plus Services M25 DBFO scheme. The improvement projects will focus on process improvements that drive productivity, improve safety, and create effective and efficient ways of delivery.

What you'll be doing

• Within area of responsibility analyse current work practices to identify areas for improvement and educate as to how to improve business and deliverable processes. Devise and test solutions and roll out new ways of working
• Participate in the delivery and management of our Rhythm of the Business process for project delivery (SIC, CP & TMR) go/no goes
• Perform workplace audits and streamlining processes within area of responsibility
• Process mapping, value stream mapping, identifying inefficiencies in productivity with a particular focus on layouts, sequencing and programme improvements
• Recommend to management changes that can cut waste from operating procedures
• Deploy appropriate methodologies to problem solving and support teams to solve problems. Ensure the escalation process for problem solving is effective
• Demonstrate performance excellence behaviours within the business and champion performance excellence
• Support the business in establishing "best practice" methods and share with the wider industry
• Implement standard work, visual factory and error proofing (poka yoke)
• Undertake continuous training and development of the project team and supply chain partners
• Perform root cause analysis to identify potential issues and create innovative solutions to resolve problems
• Carry out time and motion studies to support productivity improvements
• Monitor the completion of tasks and ensure good performance and record on appropriate systems
• Consistently promote high standards through personal example and roll out through the team so that each member of the team understands the standards and behaviours expected of them
• Conduct risk assessments of processes and tasks for the project
• Improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost and efficiency wherever possible
• Serve as a facilitator of continuous improvement implementation and employee involvement
• Communicate effectively with various levels within the business to educate in lean methodologies and how recommended changes can cut waste from operating procedures, influencing and motivating both proactively and reactively
• Ensure that process improvement initiatives are aligned to business requirements
• Support the building of a culture of engagement across the business to provide a highly energised team which is flexible to meet the changing needs of the business

Who we're looking for

Skills and Attributes

• Understand lean principles its tools and techniques
• Awareness of ISO9001, 44001 and 18404 would be an advantage
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to present data effectively
• Analytical and Problem-solving skills
• Understanding of cost and financial impacts
• Ability to work on own initiative

Qualifications and Experience Levels

• Relevant business/commercial or manufacturing/engineering degree preferred, however not a requirement
• Experience of applying Lean Tools and Techniques within a working construction environment. Continuous improvement and problem solving, process improvement and Poka Yoke (error proofing) techniques
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent qualification
• Substantial process improvement experience with a demonstratable knowledge

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK's most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You'll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more...

About us

Balfour Beatty's Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We're making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we've got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier-free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We're looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]