Director, Lean Business Systems

Johnson Controls, Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Johnson Controls, Inc. is seeking a Business Systems Director to drive enterprise-level Lean/80/20 transformation across GPS manufacturing sites.

This senior leader will shape strategy, lead a team of Lean professionals, and embed a culture of operational excellence with a hands-on, results-driven approach. The role requires strategic thinking, cross-functional influence, and accountability for waste elimination, innovation, and sustainable gains across multiple plants.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations.
• Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Toyota Production System (TPS) methodologies.
• Proven success in leading large-scale Lean transformations across multi-site operations.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L and capital projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy Lean strategy across a network of plants, aligning with corporate objectives.
• Lead Lean and Continuous Improvement teams, embedding a culture of waste elimination and sustainable performance.
• Drive daily management systems, leader standard work, and Kaizen events to accelerate value delivery.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Strategic leadership

Change management

TPS

Education

Bachelor's in Engineering/Operations

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

DMAIC

Value Stream Mapping

Hoshin Kanri

Job description

The Business Systems Director

The Business Systems Director is a senior operational leader responsible for driving enterprise-level Lean/80/20 transformation across a network of manufacturing plants. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, capable of influencing at all levels of the organization. This role leads a team of Lean and Continuous Improvement professionals and is accountable for embedding a culture of operational excellence, waste elimination, innovation, and sustainable performance improvement across GPS manufacturing sites.

Key Responsibilities

Lean Strategy & Deployment Architect and execute a multi-year business operating model roadmap aligned with corporate strategy and product line objectives, using 80/20 prioritization to focus on the highest-impact value streams and customer segments. Integrate Lean into strategic planning processes, including Hoshin Kanri, and 80/20-based Value Stream Design to ensure resources are directed toward the most critical drivers of performance. Standardize and scale Lean maturity assessments and Lean audits across the network. Assists in the selection, development, target setting and performance management of lean change agents within the plants. Allocate resources effectively to support plant-level and enterprise-wide initiatives. Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture focused on results and continuous learning. Advanced Lean Activities Lean Product & Process Development (LPPD): Collaborate with R&D and Engineering to apply Lean principles early in the product lifecycle to reduce time-to-market and improve manufacturability. Daily Management Systems (DMS): Institutionalize tiered accountability systems, visual management, and Leader Standard Work (LSW) to drive daily performance and problem-solving. Kaizen Leadership: Facilitate and sponsor enterprise-level Kaizen events, including Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), 3P (Production Preparation Process), and cross-functional value stream transformations. Lean Six Sigma Integration: Oversee integration of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies such as DMAIC, SPC, and FMEA to address complex process variation and drive breakthrough improvements. Lean Digitalization: Champion the use of digital Lean tools such as real-time dashboards, digital Gemba boards, and AI/ML-enabled root cause analysis & digital twins for process simulation and optimization. Lean in Indirect Functions: Extend Lean practices into support functions (e.g., HR, Finance, IT, Supply Chain) using tools like Process Mapping, Swimlane Diagrams, and RACI Matrices to eliminate waste and improve service delivery. Obeya Room Management: Establish and lead Obeya rooms for cross-functional alignment, strategic tracking, and rapid decision-making. Cultural Transformation & Capability Building Lead the cultural shift from reactive to proactive operations through coaching, training, and modeling of Lean leadership behaviors. Build internal Lean capability through structured academies, certification programs, and hands-on coaching and use of appropriate lean methodologies and tools. Develop and mentor a diverse pipeline of Lean leaders and change agents across the organization. Performance Management & Innovation Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement through Lean initiatives. Identifies waste and opportunities for the business to improve in (among others by using Lean principles and methodologies), as well as reporting and celebrating past successes in these areas from a business perspective. Identify and scale best practices across the network, including automation, Industry 4.0 technologies, and advanced analytics. Create and deploy a technology roadmap, that may include 3D printing, digitization, google glasses, etc. Partner with Finance to quantify Lean savings and ensure alignment with financial goals. Stakeholder Engagement & External Impact Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on operational strategy and Lean maturity. Represent the company in industry forums and benchmarking consortia to stay ahead of emerging trends. Promote community engagement and social responsibility through site-level initiatives and partnerships.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Toyota Production System (TPS) methodologies. Proven success in leading large-scale Lean transformations across multi-site operations. Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L and capital projects. Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills.

Personal Attributes

Visionary and strategic thinker with a passion for operational excellence. Influential leader who inspires trust, drives accountability, and builds high-performing teams. Resilient and adaptable, with a continuous improvement mindset and a bias for action.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Johnson Controls International plc. is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a qualified individual with a disability or any other characteristic protected by law. To view more information about your equal opportunity and non-discrimination rights as a candidate, visit EEO is the Law. If you are an individual with a disability and you require an accommodation during the application process, please visit here.

Company Overview

Johnson Controls: Enhancing the Intelligence of Buildings Your buildings have a purpose. They are places for people to live or work. Facilities for learning or healing. Venues for entertainment and shopping. Sites for the specialized storage of tangible goods or mission-critical data. Your buildings have a huge variety of functions; they are central to your mission. This is where Johnson Controls comes in, helping drive the outcomes that matter most. Through a full range of systems and digital solutions, we make your buildings smarter. A smarter building is safer, more comfortable, more efficient, and, ultimately, more sustainable. Most important, smarter buildings let you focus more intensely on your unique mission. Better for your people. Better for your bottom line. Better for the planet. At Johnson Controls, we’ve been making buildings smarter since 1885, and our capabilities, depth of innovation experience, and global reach have been growing ever since. Today, we offer the world’s largest portfolio of building products, technologies, software, and services; we put that portfolio to work to transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play.