Continuous Improvement, Capabilities, & Site OPEX Leader

Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Jenks (OK); On-site; USD 128,000 - 158,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Kimberly-Clark is seeking a Continuous Improvement, Capabilities, & Site OPEX Leader in Jenks, OK. You will provide strategic leadership for CI and capabilities, embedding a change-minded culture while driving cost savings and process improvements using OPEX, Lean Six Sigma, and Training 4 Excellence (T4E) standards.

The role emphasizes a people-first culture and cross-functional collaboration. You will cascade regional improvement strategies, sponsor cost-saving initiatives, and lead change

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years in high-speed industrial manufacturing environment.
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification or progress toward it preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, CI, OPEX and LSS tools.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams and change management.

Responsibilities

• Provide CI and capabilities leadership at the site to embed a CI mindset.
• Drive cost savings and process improvements using OPEX, LSS, and T4E standards.
• Lead Training 4 Excellence (T4E) programs and align with regional strategy.
• Develop and cascade regional improvement strategy and metrics.
• Foster a people-first culture and ensure safety and quality are core values.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Operations

Maintenance

Change Management

Six Sigma Black Belt

Adult Learning

Leadership

Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Continuous Improvement, Capabilities, & Site OPEX Leader Job Description Join the team behind iconic brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Kotex®, Poise®, Depend®, and Kimberly-Clark Professional®. At Kimberly-Clark, it’s all here for you—innovation, growth, and the chance to make a real impact.

Provides strategic leadership for Continuous Improvement (CI) and capabilities processes and teams at the manufacturing site. This position is responsible for providing leadership to embed a CI and change management mindset. They will also develop capability and a learning culture through Training 4 Excellence (T4E) standards and processes and drive cost savings and process improvements using various tools and techniques such as Operational Excellence (OPEX) and Lean Six Sigma (LSS) and Fuel to Grow (F2G), while fostering a strong, people first culture for the site.

This position plays a critical role in developing and cascading Regional Improvement strategy, defining metrics, and leveraging influential skills to sponsor cost savings initiatives and efficiencies. Leadership responsibilities include: Change management, Digital Transformation, Cost savings, and Training teams. As a person, you’re a learner – a natural leader – someone who is always taking initiative to make things better and bring others along with you. You live your life in alignment with the highest values of integrity and quality, always ensuring your responsibilities become a long‑term success story. In this role, you’ll help us deliver better care for billions of people around the world. It starts with YOU.

About You In one of our manufacturing roles, you’ll focus on winning with consumers and the market, while putting safety, mutual respect, and human dignity at the center.

Job responsibilities include:

• Safety: Implement loss control throughout the organization by visibly demonstrating that safety is embraced as a value. Support and Champion safety in your manufacturing site and team by driving educational and behavioral processes through the application of OPEX, LSS and T4E tools. Lead your team to complete safety objectives and ensure a safe working environment.
• Quality: Champion and support Continuous Improvement and T4E programs and processes as the way to deliver quality and process capability improvements. Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• People: Focus on Organizational Transformation and Culture: Manage yourself in accordance with the Ways of Working. Manage, develop, and support direct reports (T4E Leader, Digital Manufacturing Leader) to effectuate changes and developments throughout the site and within each function. Provide high‑level planning with the oversight and/or hands‑on execution of the four key areas of Change Management related to site specific initiatives.
• Delivery: Provide strategy to build capability of all team members at the site through the Training 4 Excellence program: Provide leadership support to your T4E leader in their efforts to develop, facilitate and manage the site’s training strategies aligned to the regional strategy, including providing leadership to the training specialists. Ensure respective team members are active participants in regional networks in the areas they support, sharing learnings and adopting and applying one best way standards and process. Ensure collaboration between T4E and Digital Manufacturing to drive training and usage throughout the site.
• Delivery: Provide strategic direction to drive Continuous Improvement, using standard tools and processes, across all functions in the site: Provide Strategic leadership for site’s CI programs and efforts. Reinforce the iOPEX processes and tools to ensure sustainability of the iOPEX program. Ensure standardization through CI and Culture of Accountability (CoA) practices Provide continuous feedback to leadership team, consistent with OPEX mindsets, the 6 K-C Behaviors and CoA principles. Facilitate, promote, and support Lean cultural development Identify and drive transformation that is inclusive of front‑line and support organizations Provide education on Lean tools, processes and thinking at your site.
• Cost: Site leader for all F2G programs and delivery of those cost savings. Ensure WAVE is updated and managed for accuracy in partnership with the Wave initiative owner and Finance. Lead weekly site Wave/F2G meetings and ensure updates into the Site Tier4 meeting. Champion and support CI and T4E programs and processes as the way to deliver long term savings and continuous improvement of overall equipment effectiveness. Application of regional framework standards for management systems and processes.

To succeed in this role, you will need the following qualifications:

• Position requires knowledge and experience typically associated with a bachelor’s degree.
• 5+ Years’ experience in a high‑speed industrial manufacturing environment/plant experience.
• The incumbent would typically have significant experience in Engineering, Operations, Lean Manufacturing, and Maintenance and be very familiar with the application of Lean, CI, OPEX, LSS, adult learning tools and theory.
• The incumbent would typically have Six Sigma Black Belt Certification or be progressing towards a Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.
• Possesses strong understanding of the broader business and organization, and can relate and connect the CI and Capabilities organization to it.
• Incumbent would possess demonstrated ability to organize and lead a multi‑functional team and foster a proactive team environment.
• Experience with developing and cascading large‑scale strategy, demonstrated problem‑solving mindset, strong project management skills, and proficiency with MS Suite are desired.
• Experience in multiple plants, product systems and staff experience, leadership of exempt workforce is highly desired.
• Experience in change management in addition to coaching and mentoring at all levels to drive collaboration across teams and functions is highly desired.
• Change management certification or designation strongly desired (Prosci preferred).

We believe that our employees are our greatest asset, and we're committed to providing them with the resources they need to be successful. If you're looking for a rewarding career with a company that cares about its employees, then Kimberly-Clark is the place for you. Here are just a few of the benefits you’d enjoy working in this role for Kimberly-Clark. For a complete overview, see www.mykcbenefits.com

And finally, the fine print…. For Kimberly-Clark to grow and prosper, we must be an inclusive organization that applies the diverse experiences and passions of its team members to brands that make life better for people all around the world, which is why we seek to build a workforce that encompasses the experiences of our consumers. When you bring your original thinking to Kimberly-Clark, you fuel the continued success of our enterprise.

We are a committed equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification. Statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for this position. Employment is subject to verification of local policies. Employment is subject to verification of pre‑screening tests which may include drug screening, background check, and DMV check. Veterans and members of the Reserve and Guard are highly encouraged to apply. Kimberly-Clark will support in‑country relocation for the chosen candidate for the role. The benefits provided will be per the terms of Kimberly-Clark’s applicable mobility policies. The benefits/policy provided will be decided at Kimberly-Clark’s sole discretion. This is a M2/Grade 8 and compensation may vary based on location.

#LI-ONSITE Salary Range: 127,600 – 157,600 USD

At Kimberly-Clark, pay is just one aspect of our total rewards package, which also includes a variety of benefits and opportunities to achieve, thrive and grow. Along with base pay, this position offers eligibility for a target bonus and a comprehensive benefits suite, including our 401(k) and Profit Sharing plan. The anticipated base pay range for this role is provided above for a fully qualified hire. Actual pay will depend on several factors, such as location, role, skills, performance, and experience. Please note that the stated pay range applies to US locations only.

Primary Location Jenks, OK, USA Additional Locations Worker Type Employee Worker Sub‑Type Regular Time Type Full time

Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we're working to find new ways to make a positive impact on the world we share. Kimberly-Clark and its trusted brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Sweety, Softex, Viva and WypAll, are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries by helping individuals experience more of what's important to them. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To learn more about the company's 150-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com.