Lean Continuous Improvement Leader

WeAreTechWomen; Crawley; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension scheme and life cover

24/7 Employee Assistance Programme

24 hours p.a. paid volunteering

Gym membership discounts

Job summary

Thales UK is seeking a Lean Leader for Crawley Manufacturing to embed Lean Continuous Improvement into daily operations, coaching teams and driving measurable results across quality, delivery, and cost. This hands-on role partners with production, engineering, APRU managers, and senior leaders to shift culture toward Lean agility and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Lean manufacturing, strong problem solving, and proficiency with Lean tools and

Qualifications

• Must have hands-on Lean manufacturing experience and solid Lean tool knowledge (Lean Six Sigma, Green Belt, etc.).
• Strong problem solving and analytical abilities with daily application.
• Fluency with Lean tools: VSM, 5S, flow improvement, visual management.
• Ability to lead and influence across all levels, from shop floor to cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead transformation activities to raise efficiency and margins.
• Coach and develop the Industry team for process optimisation.
• Analyse and plan improvements aligned with the organizational strategy.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Problem solving

Lean tools

Visual Management

Cross-functional leadership

Low-volume manufacturing

ERP/MES systems

Data analytics

Tools

Oracle

iObeya

PowerBI

Minitab

MES systems

Job description

Location: Crawley, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

ARE YOU THE VOICE OF LEAN?

LEAN LEADER – Crawley Manufacturing | Thales UK

We don't want someone who talks about continuous improvement. We want someone who lives it - on the shop floor, with the teams, every day. Thales UK builds technology that matters. As our Lean Leader in Crawley, your mission is to make our manufacturing operations sharper, faster, and better - for good.

THE ROLE

You'll be the go-to expert for Lean Continuous Improvement (LCI) across our Glasgow site. That means embedding robust problem solving (PDCA) and Lean thinking into daily operations, not just running workshops. You'll coach teams, lead transformations, and drive measurable results across Quality (FPTY), Delivery (OTDIF) and Cost (UPC).

This is a hands-on, high-visibility role. You'll work directly with Site Production, Engineering, Our Autonomous Production and Repair Unit (APRU) Managers, Head of Industry and the UK Head of Lean Continuous Improvement - and your fingerprints will be on the culture, not just the metrics.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Proven experience in Lean manufacturing and strong knowledge of Lean tools and practises in general - Lean Six Sigma, Green Belt, Back Belt - or equivalent hard-won experience
• Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills
• Real fluency and expertise in Lean tools: VSM, 5S, Flow improvement techniques, Visual Management
• Problem solving frameworks as daily habits, not slide content
• Proven success in low-volume, bespoke manufacturing environments
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence at every level, from production cells to cross-functional teams including stakeholders at all levels.
• A builder's mindset: you leave capability behind, not dependency
• Experience with Oracle, iObeya, PowerBI, Minitab or MES systems? Even better.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and execute transformation activities that elevate efficiency and margins
• Train, coach and develop the Industry team for process optimisation
• Analyse and plan improvements aligned to Group strategy "Thales Towards 2030"
• Facilitate a cultural shift towards Lean agility and operational excellence
• Ensure Lean Continuous Improvement implementation with a structured, measurable approach
• Strategically plan and coordinate all Lean activities across your APRU and site

HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED

• Delivery (OTDIF), Quality (FPTY) and Cost (UPC) improvements
• Advancement of Lean maturity on-site
• Deployment of the Thales Industry Operating Model (TIOM)
• Lean certification targets achieved within 24 months
• Proactive Lean activity engagement across all functions

What we can offer you

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme and life cover
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• 24 hours p.a. paid volunteering
• Gym membership discounts and employee discount schemes

SECURITY CLEARANCE

This role will require SC Clearance. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant will undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance. Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance.

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years. In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

For further details of the evidence required to apply for Baseline and Security Clearance please refer to the National Security Vetting (NSV) Agency - United Kingdom Security Vetting - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Thales is an equal opportunities employer. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our success.

At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities.