HR Continuous Improvement Partner

AAM - American Axle & Manufacturing; Porto; On-site; EUR 80,000 - 107,000; Full time

Job summary

GKN Automotive Portugal Limitada seeks an HR Continuous Improvement Partner to drive Lean, Six Sigma and digitalisation across HR processes in Porto or Detroit. You will collaborate with HR CoEs and business partners to design, implement and sustain process improvements that enhance efficiency and the employee experience.

The role requires stakeholder management, change leadership, and a data-driven approach to deliver measurable benefits within a global HR transformation program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Organisational Development, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• Significant equivalent professional experience in HR Transformation, Continuous Improvement, Business Process Excellence, HR Operations, Shared Services, or Change Management.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional process improvement initiatives with measurable business outcomes.
• Practical application of continuous improvement methodologies within a complex organisational environment.

Responsibilities

• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, policies, systems, and service delivery models.
• Facilitate process reviews and mapping activities to eliminate waste, duplication, bottlenecks, and non-value-added activities.
• Lead and support continuous improvement projects across the employee lifecycle.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, and other improvement methodologies to drive measurable business outcomes.
• Establish standardised processes and promote best practice across the HR function.
• Monitor process performance and implement corrective actions where required.
• Support the design and delivery of HR transformation initiatives and programmes.
• Partner with project teams to embed sustainable process improvements within transformation activities.
• Ensure alignment between improvement initiatives and broader HR strategy and objectives.
• Contribute to business case development and benefits realisation activities.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, AI, and digital tools to improve efficiency and employee experience.
• Partner with HR stakeholders to implement process automation and system enhancements.
• Support testing, deployment, and adoption of new HR technologies and solutions.
• Promote innovative ways of working using digital tools and emerging technologies.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across HR and the broader organisation.
• Facilitate workshops, problem-solving sessions, and improvement events.
• Influence and coach leaders and teams on continuous improvement principles, methodologies and opportunities for cost-savings initiatives.

Skills

English (fluent)

Analytical thinking

Change leadership

Collaboration

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR / Business / Organisational Development / IS

Job description

Job Posting Title

HR Continuous Improvement Partner

Legal Entity

GKN Automotive Portugal Limitada (Portugal)

Job Description Summary

The Continuous Improvement Partner plays a critical role within the HR Transformation function, driving the identification, design, implementation, and sustainability of continuous improvement initiatives across HR processes, services, systems, and ways of working. The role is responsible for enhancing operational efficiency, associate experience, data quality, compliance, and service delivery through the application of continuous improvement methodologies, process optimisation, automation, and digital solutions.

Working closely with HR Centres of Excellence (CoEs), HR Business Partners, HR Support Services, HR Reporting & Analytics, HRIS, and business stakeholders, the Continuous Improvement Partner will champion a culture of continuous improvement and support the delivery of the overall HR transformation roadmap.

Please note: role will be located in either Porto, Portugal or Detroit, MI

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities:

Continuous Improvement & Process Optimisation

• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, policies, systems, and service delivery models.
• Facilitate process reviews and mapping activities to eliminate waste, duplication, bottlenecks, and non-value-added activities.
• Lead and support continuous improvement projects across the associate lifecycle.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma, Agile, and other improvement methodologies to drive measurable business outcomes.
• Establish standardised processes and promote best practice across the HR function.
• Monitor process performance and implement corrective actions where required.

HR Transformation Support

• Support the design and delivery of HR transformation initiatives and programmes.
• Partner with project teams to embed sustainable process improvements within transformation activities.
• Ensure alignment between improvement initiatives and broader HR strategy and objectives.
• Contribute to business case development and benefits realisation activities.

Digitalisation & Automation

• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, AI, and digital tools to improve efficiency and employee experience.
• Partner with HR stakeholders to implement process automation and system enhancements.
• Support testing, deployment, and adoption of new HR technologies and solutions.
• Promote innovative ways of working using digital tools and emerging technologies.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across HR and the broader organisation.
• Facilitate workshops, problem-solving sessions, and improvement events.
• Influence and coach leaders and teams on continuous improvement principles, methodologies and opportunities for cost-savings initiatives.
• Act as a trusted advisor on process excellence and transformation initiatives.

Change Management

• Support the development and execution of change management plans associated with improvement initiatives.
• Drive communication and supporting learning and adoption activities.
• Ensure improvements are embedded and sustained through effective governance and continuous monitoring.

Core Competencies

Business & Strategic Thinking

• Understands business priorities and aligns improvement initiatives to organisational goals.
• Demonstrates strong commercial and operational awareness.

Continuous Improvement Mindset

• Challenges existing ways of working.
• Identifies opportunities for innovation and simplification.
• Focuses on measurable outcomes and sustainable change.

Collaboration & Influence

• Builds effective relationships across functions and geographies.
• Influences stakeholders without direct authority.
• Encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Analytical Thinking

• Uses data and evidence to identify root causes and inform decisions.
• Translates complex information into actionable insights.

Change Leadership

• Supports individuals and teams through change.
• Promotes adoption of new processes, behaviours, and technologies.

Customer Focus

• Prioritises employee, manager, and business stakeholder experience.
• Delivers solutions that improve service quality and satisfaction.

Language & Travel Requirements

• Languages: English (fluent).
• Occasional travel to manufacturing plants and regional offices.
• Cultural intelligence and global mindset.
• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills.

KPI Framework for Continuous Improvement Partner

Annual Cost Savings Delivered (Primary KPI)

• Identify, build, and maintain a pipeline of cost reduction opportunities aligned to HR and business priorities.
• Delivery of agreed annual savings target from HR transformation and continuous improvement activities.

Benefits Realisation

• Baselined percentage of forecast benefits successfully realised and sustained.

Productivity Improvement

• Reduction in HR effort and administrative workload through simplification, automation, and standardisation.

Continuous Improvement Delivery

• Successful implementation of agreed improvement initiatives within scope, timeline, and budget.

Stakeholder Satisfaction

• Positive feedback from HR and business stakeholders regarding value delivered and quality of improvements.

Required Skills and Education

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organisational Development, Information Systems, or a related discipline.
• Significant equivalent professional experience in HR Transformation, Continuous Improvement, Business Process Excellence, HR Operations, Shared Services, or Change Management.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional process improvement initiatives with measurable business outcomes.
• Practical application of continuous improvement methodologies within a complex organisational environment.

Desirable Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration (MBA), Organisational Development, or Change Management.
• Professional certification in Continuous Improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, Agile.
• Formal qualification in Project Management and/or Change Management.
• Experience supporting global HR transformation and digitalisation programmes.

About Dauch:

Dauch Corporation is a premier Driveline and Metal Forming supplier serving the global automotive industry with a powertrain-agnostic product portfolio that supports electric, hybrid, and internal combustion vehicles. The company is headquartered in Detroit, MI, with operations that span 24 countries and more than 175 locations. Formed through the acquisition of Dowlais Group plc and its subsidiaries - GKN Automotive and GKN Powder Metallurgy, Dauch unites deep engineering roots with global manufacturing capabilities and an entrepreneurial spirit to move mobility forward. Visit www.dauch.com to learn more.