Regional Manufacturing Excellence Lead

Ball Corporation; Kettering; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Ball Corporation is seeking a Manufacturing Excellence leader to deploy a lean-based management system across EMEA plants, lead regional teams, and drive standardization, cost reduction, quality, and service improvements.

You will partner with regional and site leaders to manage multiple improvement projects end to end, coach teams, and ensure the long-term sustainment of lean thinking through training and change management.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience deploying Lean methodologies in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience managing and leading others, ideally in a matrix organization.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead initiatives end to end.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results through influence rather than direct authority.
• Solid working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies.
• Understanding of financial statements and manufacturing cost drivers.
• Experience with coaching, training, and capability development.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to adapt messaging from shop floor to senior leadership.
• High level of computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Fluency in English

Responsibilities

• Lead and support Manufacturing Excellence Managers in deploying a standardized Lean-Based Management System across EMEA plants.
• Define and execute deployment strategies, planning, training, coaching, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Facilitate change management and ensure effective adoption and long-term sustainment of Lean thinking.
• Identify, clarify, and remove barriers to operational excellence within manufacturing plants and regional production groups.
• Lead multiple strategic and operational improvement projects from identification and analysis through implementation and sustainable execution.
• Deliver measurable manufacturing cost savings and efficiency improvements.
• Drive the continuous evolution of the Manufacturing Excellence Model to improve competitiveness in cost, quality, and service.
• Partner with leadership to define, scope, launch, and deliver initiatives aligned with organizational priorities.
• Make complex decisions and recommendations with limited direction, using sound judgment and initiative.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the regional manufacturing organization.
• Proactively manage risk and communicate project progress, results, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Facilitate knowledge sharing, best practice exchange, and benchmarking within the region and across Continuous Improvement networks.

Skills

Lean management

Leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication

Excel & PowerPoint

Lean Six Sigma

English fluency

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Further your career at Ball, a world leader in manufacturing sustainable aluminium packaging. Achieve extraordinary things when you join our team, and make a difference in your professional development, the community, and around the globe!

Ball is thrilled to receive Newsweek's 2023 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplace award! As a sustainable product leader, we have over 16,000 global team members. From endlessly recyclable aluminum cans, and cups, to aerosol bottles, our goal is to contribute to a better community, society, and world.

Position Overview

This role is responsible for leading and managing Plant-based Manufacturing Excellence Managers across the EMEA region to deploy and sustain a lean-based Manufacturing Excellence model. The position focuses on driving standardization, operational excellence, and measurable value creation across manufacturing sites while supporting regional and site leadership in achieving cost, quality, and service objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support Manufacturing Excellence Managers in deploying a standardized Lean-Based Management System across EMEA plants

• Define and execute deployment strategies, planning, training, coaching, and continuous improvement initiatives

• Facilitate change management and ensure effective adoption and long-term sustainment of Lean thinking

• Identify, clarify, and remove barriers to operational excellence within manufacturing plants and regional production groups

• Lead multiple strategic and operational improvement projects from identification and analysis through implementation and sustainable execution

• Deliver measurable manufacturing cost savings and efficiency improvements

• Drive the continuous evolution of the Manufacturing Excellence Model to improve competitiveness in cost, quality, and service

• Partner with leadership to define, scope, launch, and deliver initiatives aligned with organizational priorities

• Make complex decisions and recommendations with limited direction, using sound judgment and initiative

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the regional manufacturing organization

• Proactively manage risk and communicate project progress, results, challenges, and lessons learned

• Facilitate knowledge sharing, best practice exchange, and benchmarking within the region and across Continuous Improvement networks

Experience & Skills Required

• Minimum of 5 years experience deploying Lean methodologies in a manufacturing environment

• Proven experience managing and leading others, ideally in a matrix organization

• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead initiatives end to end

• Demonstrated ability to deliver results through influence rather than direct authority

• Solid working knowledge of Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies

• Understanding of financial statements and manufacturing cost drivers

• Experience with coaching, training, and capability development

• Strong communication skills with the ability to adapt messaging from shop floor to senior leadership

• High level of computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

• Fluency in English

Ball Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, faith, ability, or orientation. When you join Ball you belong to a team of over 16,000 members worldwide. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminium cans, cups to aerosol bottles solutions that enable our customers to contribute to a better world.

Each of us has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion which is the foundation of our culture of belonging. Everyone at Ball is making a difference by doing what we love. Because what we create may change, but what we will always make is a difference.

Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.