Operational Excellence Manager

Leonardo UK Ltd; Easter Howgate; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in Aerospace and Defence is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager in Edinburgh. This role involves optimizing manufacturing processes using Lean and 6 Sigma principles. Key responsibilities include process analysis, training staff, and leading continuous improvement projects. Candidates should have proven experience, a relevant degree, and strong problem-solving skills. Competitive benefits and flexible working options are provided.

Benefits

Generous leave and flexi-days

Award-winning pension scheme

Mental health support

Free online courses

£500 for flexible benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Operational Excellence Manager or similar role.
• Understanding of lean & 6 Sigma manufacturing principles.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyse current processes to find areas of waste.
• Train staff on lean and 6 Sigma principles.
• Lead continuous improvement projects.

Skills

Operational Excellence

Lean Manufacturing

Problem-solving

Team Management

Statistical Analysis

Education

BSc in Business Administration, Engineering or related field

Certification in Lean Six Sigma

Job description

Job Description:

Your impact

An exciting opportunity for an Operational Excellence Manager has arisen, working in the Operations function, within Leonardo. This role is based at our Edinburgh.

The Operational Excellence Manager, working at site level will provide leadership and vision to optimize Operations Manufacturing through use of Process Excellence and Lean and 6 Sigma practices, Operational Excellence Managers role will require broad experience across the lifecycle phases of New Product Introduction (NPI), Delivery (sustaining), In service (customer), whilst collaborating with the Operations team. The ideal Role holder will have a broad and/or deep knowledge and experience of Business Operations. In support of the Operations VP as well as working in co-ordination with the Head of Operational Excellence

As an Operational Excellence Manager, you will join the team to drive lean culture across operations manufacturing enabling world class production of Leonardo products by focusing on optimizing manufacturing and business processes to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality, often using lean and 6 Sigma principles like 5S, Kaizen, Value stream mapping and kanban.

Duties and responsibilities to include:

• Process optimisation: analyse current manufacturing, business support and logistics processes to identify areas of waste, reduce cycle times & inefficiencies
• Implement lean manufacturing techniques to optimise manufacturing flow, material handling, data flow and waste (via e.g. 5S, Kaizen, Value stream mapping and kanban)
• Train staff on lean manufacturing, 6 sigma principles and best practices
• Monitor data identifying performance gaps and the effectiveness of lean strategies and adjust as necessary
• Analyse current operational processes and performance, implementing solutions for improvement as required
• Collaborate with production teams to implement process improvements
• Develop standardised work instructions to ensure consistency and efficiency of manufacturing, workflows and lean projects
• Lead continuous improvement projects, Kaizen events and optimisations
• Assist in root cause analysis to identify and address production issues
• Document process changes and results for future reference and ongoing improvement
• Ensuring that all lean improvements and implementations adhere to safety regulations and quality requirements.
• Training, Coaching & Supporting.
• Create a culture which improves manufacturing efficiency by generating innovative ideas and solutions also ensuring capacity analysis, simulation planning workflow, space requirements, and equipment layout
• Promoting a culture of best practice sharing and knowledge exploitation
• Mentor, coach and develop members of the team to develop overall capability, lean training materials and programs
• Conduct root cause analysis to determine metrics, troubleshoot manufacturing/business issues, material flow, project plans, production capacity, facility design and create process documentation

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience as an Operational Excellence Manager or similar role and evidence of implementation
• Understanding of lean & 6 Sigma manufacturing principles and ability to implement them
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Experience with statistical analysis and process improvement tools
• BSc degree in Business Administration, Engineering or related field
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma is a strong advantage

This is not an exhaustive list, and we are keen to hear from you even if you might not have experience in all the above. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to learn.

Security Clearance

This role is subject to pre-employment screening in line with the UK Government’s Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). An additional range of Personnel Security Controls referred to as National Security Vetting (NSV) may apply, this could include meeting the eligibility requirements for The Security Check (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV). For more information and guidance please visit: https://careers.uk.leonardo.com/gb/en/security-and-vetting

Why join us

At Leonardo, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We offer a comprehensive, company-funded benefits package that supports your wellbeing, career development, and work–life balance. Whether you're looking to grow professionally, care for your health, or plan for the future, we’re here to help you thrive.

• Time to Recharge: Enjoy generous leave with the opportunity to accrue up to 12 additional flexi-days each year.
• Secure your Future: Benefit from our award-winning pension scheme with up to 15% employer contribution.
• Your Wellbeing Matters: Free access to mental health support, financial advice, and employee-led networks championing inclusion and diversity (Enable, Pride, Equalise, Armed Forces, Carers, Wellbeing and Ethnicity).
• Rewarding Performance: All employees at management level and below are eligible for our bonus scheme.
• Never Stop Learning: Free access to 4,000+ online courses via Coursera and LinkedIn Learning.
• Refer a friend: Receive a financial reward through our referral programme.
• Tailored Perks: Spend up to £500 annually on flexible benefits including private healthcare, dental, family cover, tech & lifestyle discounts, gym memberships and more.
• Flexible working: Flexible hours with hybrid working options. For part time opportunities, please talk to us about what might be possible for this role.

For a full list of our company benefits please visit our website.

Leonardo is a global leader in Aerospace, Defence, and Security. Headquartered in Italy, we employ over 53,000 people worldwide including 8,500 across 9 sites in the UK. Our employees are not just part of a team—they are key contributors to shaping innovation, advancing technology, and enhancing global safety.

At Leonardo we are committed to building an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming workplace. We believe that a diverse workforce sparks creativity, drives innovation, and leads to better outcomes for our people and our customers. If you have any accessibility requirements to support you during the recruitment process, just let us know.

Be part of something bigger - apply now!

Primary Location:

GB - Edinburgh

Contract Type:

Employee-Permanent

Hybrid Working:

Onsite