Operational Excellence Lead

Symmetry Search & Staffing Solutions; Trafford; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Symmetry Search & Staffing Solutions is hiring an Operational Excellence Lead to drive Lean deployment in a global technology and manufacturing group. Based from Trafford Park, Manchester, you will focus on 2 days on site weekly and lead Kaizen events to deliver rapid improvements.

You will assess current performance, establish baselines, develop a Lean roadmap and engage stakeholders to embed sustainable Lean ways of working and tangible benefits across the business.

Qualifications

• Strong experience planning and facilitating Kaizen events / workshops.
• Solid understanding of Lean principles and structured problem-solving methodologies.
• Experience establishing baselines, KPIs and measurable improvement benefits.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and facilitation skills.
• Highly organised and able to work independently, managing multiple improvement initiatives.
• A data-driven approach to identifying and prioritising opportunities.
• Experience coaching teams and embedding sustainable improvements.

Responsibilities

• Owns the pipeline of Kaizen events, planning and facilitating workshops to deliver rapid, measurable improvements.
• Ensures each initiative yields outputs, actions and quantified benefits.
• Works with stakeholders across the business to embed Lean practices and sustain improvements.

Skills

Lean principles

Kaizen events

Structured problem solving

Stakeholder engagement

Data-driven decisions

Independent working

Coaching teams

KPI benchmarking

Job description

Operational Excellence Lead with strong Lean deployment and Kaizen skills required on a permanent basis by a global technology and manufacturing organisation, based flexibly from Trafford Park, Manchester (2 days / week on site).

This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of the deployment of Lean principles across a key business area, driving meaningful improvements through Kaizen events and structured continuous improvement activity.

You will assess current-state performance, establish baseline measures, identify improvement opportunities and develop a Lean deployment roadmap. A key part of the role will be owning the pipeline of Kaizen events, planning and facilitating workshops, and ensuring each initiative delivers clear outputs, measurable actions and quantified benefits.

Working independently and collaboratively with stakeholders across the business, you will act as a trusted partner in identifying and delivering improvements, helping to build a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring Lean practices and Kaizen outcomes are embedded and sustainable.

To be considered for this opportunity applicants must have the following:

• Strong experience planning and facilitating Kaizen events / workshops
• A solid understanding of Lean principles and structured problem-solving methodologies
• Experience establishing baselines, KPIs and measurable improvement benefits
• Strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and facilitation skills
• Highly organised and able to work independently, managing multiple improvement initiatives
• A data-driven approach to identifying and prioritising opportunities
• Experience coaching teams and embedding sustainable improvements

This is an excellent opportunity for a Lean / Operational Excellence professional to take a high-visibility role driving measurable business improvement, while helping shape and embed the wider Lean strategy across the organisation.

You will be responsible for managing the pipeline of Kaizen events aligned to business priorities, planning and delivering workshops to achieve rapid, measurable improvements, and ensuring outcomes are translated into tangible business benefits. You will work closely with stakeholders at all levels, using data to identify opportunities, facilitate structured problem-solving and embed sustainable Lean ways of working across the business.

This is a permanent role offering a basic salary between £55,000 - 64,000 + bonus + excellent benefits.