Operational Excellence Specialist

ALSTOM Gruppe; Derby; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the rail industry seeks an Operational Excellence Specialist to enhance maintenance processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives. This role involves working closely with global teams to implement best practices and new technologies, ensuring safer and more efficient operations. Ideal candidates will have a degree in a relevant field and a strong background in operational improvement, with excellent communication skills and a willingness to travel.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package

Investment in personal development

Dynamic working environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience in operational improvement within rail or manufacturing settings.
• History of implementing change across multiple sites.
• Familiarity with predictive maintenance technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement projects for train maintenance teams.
• Evaluate operations and embed global best practices.
• Facilitate workshops and mentor teams in lean methods.

Skills

Lean principles

Continuous improvement tools

Structured problem-solving

Excellent communication skills

Education

Degree in Engineering, Business, or Industrial Operations

Job description

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Operational Excellence Specialist

Date: 21 May 2025

Company: Alstom

Operational Excellence Specialist

Location: Europe

Appointment Basis: Permanent

At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, more than 80 000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars.

Could you be the full- time Operational Excellence Specialist we’re looking for, based in the UK or Europe? You’ll play a key role in improving how we maintain and manage our fleets by making our processes safer, smarter, and more efficient – while helping shape the future of service delivery at Alstom.

Your future role

In this role, you’ll report into the Services team and work closely with depots across the globe. You’ll help teams simplify and improve the way they work by leading change initiatives, introducing new technologies, and supporting better decision- making through smart processes and tools.

• Lead and support continuous improvement projects that help Alstom’s train maintenance teams work more safely, reliably, and cost- effectively.
• Visit sites to evaluate operations and help embed global best practices, including standard tools, systems, and behaviours.
• Guide the rollout of new ways of working, such as central control hubs, smart diagnostics, tablet technology, and predictive maintenance tools.
• Facilitate workshops, lead problem- solving activities, and mentor depot teams in using lean improvement methods.
• Identify and resolve root causes of recurring problems using structured improvement tools.
• Support the delivery of training, guidance, and cultural change to help teams embrace and sustain improvements.
• Work alongside cross- functional and international teams to drive performance across maintenance contracts.
• Stay connected with technology teams to ensure solutions are scalable, practical, and in line with Alstom’s strategic goals.

All about you

We value passion and attitude over experience. That’s why we don’t expect you to have every single skill. Instead, we’ve listed some that we think will help you succeed and grow in this role:

• A degree or equivalent in Engineering, Business, Industrial Operations, or a related field.
• Significant experience in operational improvement, maintenance, or production within rail, industrial, or manufacturing settings.
• Strong knowledge of lean principles, continuous improvement tools, and structured problem- solving ( e. g., Six Sigma, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping).
• A history of implementing change and achieving results across multiple sites or countries.
• Comfortable leading workshops, coaching teams, and influencing across different business levels.
• Familiarity with modern maintenance technologies and systems ( e. g., predictive tools, tablets, control centres).
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships in a global organisation.
• Willingness to travel regularly ( more than 30%).

Desirable
Lean Six Sigma certification ( Green or Black Belt), or experience in project/ change management.

Things you’ll enjoy

Join us on a life-long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career. You’ll also:

• Enjoy stability, challenges and a long-term career free from boring daily routines
• Work with colleagues and customers based all over the world
• Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues
• Contribute to innovative projects
• Utilise our agile working environment
• Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries
• Benefit from our investment in your development, through award-winning learning
• Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive benefits (pension, life ins., medical).

Equal opportunity statement:

Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law.

As a “disability confident leader accredited employer”, we will interview all disabled job applicants who match the essential criteria of the job description or specification. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.