Operational Excellence Coach

Forterra; England; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Forterra is seeking an organised Operational Excellence Coach to drive continuous improvement across manufacturing operations. You will mentor teams, implement lean practices, and promote Six Sigma and Kaizen to boost productivity, quality and sustainability.

The role focuses on enabling teams to reach their potential, leading Kaizen events, standardising processes and training on lean tools. You will work with Quality, Engineering and Supply Chain to sustain improvements and deliver measurable

Qualifications

• Six Sigma Black Belt certification or Master Black Belt advantageous.
• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or related field required.
• Operational Excellence Coach experience in manufacturing preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and 5S essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives and Kaizen events to drive process optimization.
• Mentor and coach teams in lean methodologies and effective problem solving.
• Standardise processes across production lines to reduce variability and boost efficiency.
• Monitor KPIs and report progress toward operational excellence goals to leadership.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

5S

Problem solving

Leadership

Coaching

Education

Six Sigma Black Belt

Engineering/Manufacturing/Operations Management degree

Job description

We are looking for an organised Operational Excellence to join our Operational Excellence Team.

About the role

The Operational Excellence Coach will drive continuous improvement across manufacturing operations by mentoring teams, implementing best practices, and promoting the adoption of lean manufacturing principles. This role is focused on enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring the highest standards of productivity, quality, and sustainability, and fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration. The Operational Excellence Coach empowers teams to achieve their full potential, while contributing to the overall success and growth of the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Safety and Compliance:

• Ensure that all improvements and operational practices align with safety regulations and compliance standards.
• Promote a strong safety culture within teams and ensure that safety protocols are adhered to in all continuous improvement activities.

Continuous Improvement Leadership:

• Facilitate the implementation of continuous improvement initiatives, driving process optimization, efficiency, and waste reduction across manufacturing teams.
• Lead problem-solving sessions and Kaizen events, guiding teams in applying lean principles (e.g., 5S, Six Sigma) to improve processes and resolve issues.

Coaching and Development:

• Mentor and coach teams at all levels to adopt best practices, lean methodologies, and effective problem-solving techniques.
• Build capabilities within teams by providing training on operational excellence tools, fostering a culture of self-sufficiency in continuous improvement.

Process Optimization:

• Support the identification of key performance indicators (KPIs) for manufacturing operations and ensure their alignment with business objectives.
• Assist in standardising processes across production lines to improve consistency, reduce variability, and drive efficiency.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting:

• Monitor and analyse operational performance to ensure continuous improvement goals are being met.
• Provide regular updates and insights on progress toward operational excellence goals, including recommendations for improvement to senior leadership.

Collaboration and Cross-Functional Support:

• Work closely with cross-functional teams (e.g., Quality, Engineering, R&D, Supply Chain) to ensure alignment between manufacturing and other business functions.
• Share knowledge and best practices across teams and sites, promoting collaboration and ensuring alignment with the overall business strategy.

Sustainability and Cost Efficiency:

• Support efforts to improve sustainability by identifying opportunities for resource optimisation, waste reduction, and energy conservation.
• Promote cost‑saving initiatives without compromising quality, safety, or productivity, ensuring maximum efficiency across manufacturing processes.

Change Management:

• Lead and support the implementation of change management initiatives related to new processes, systems, or technologies.
• Encourage the adoption of new tools and technologies to continuously enhance manufacturing capabilities.

Knowledge Sharing and Best Practices:

• Actively contribute to the knowledge-sharing process by capturing lessons learned from improvement projects and disseminating them across teams.
• Identify and implement industry best practices to elevate the organisation’s manufacturing processes and maintain competitive advantage.

About you

We are looking for someone who has:

• Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to align manufacturing operations and improvement initiatives with overall business objectives.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical abilities, focused on identifying root causes and driving effective solutions to foster continuous improvement in manufacturing processes.
• A certificate in Six Sigma certification (Black Belt or Master Black Belt)
• Certificate in other process improvement methodologies (e.g. Kaizen, TQM) degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or related field.
• Demonstrated success as a Operational Excellence Coach, driving initiatives to improve operational efficiency and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement across manufacturing teams.
• In-depth knowledge and hands‑on- experience with Lean, Six Sigma, and other process optimisation methodologies, consistently delivering measurable improvements in performance, quality and productivity.
• Strong leadership and coaching abilities, with proven capacity to mentor and guide teams through Lean transformations, adopting collaboration and achieving sustainable results.

We don’t expect you to tick every box. If you bring the mindset, curiosity and drive to make an impact, we’d love to hear from you.