Global Lean Lead

Weatherford; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Weatherford in Houston seeks an experienced Global Lean Lead to drive the company's Lean transformation across manufacturing, repair, maintenance, supply chain, field operations, engineering, and corporate functions.

You will partner with executive leadership to set strategy, establish global standards, deploy Lean methods (VSM, Kaizen, daily management), and build a sustainable culture of continuous improvement with measurable safety, quality, and cost benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management or related field.
• 12–15+ years of progressive operational excellence or Lean leadership experience.
• Significant experience within oilfield services.
• Proven success leading enterprise-wide Lean transformations across multiple global locations.
• Experience working within complex multinational organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive leadership.
• Experience managing cross-functional and multicultural teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute Weatherford's global Lean strategy across units and regions.
• Design and improve the Lean Operating System and global standards.
• Lead long-term transformation roadmaps and governance.
• Coach leaders and teams in Lean leadership and capability building.
• Develop global KPIs and dashboards for safety, OEE, productivity, and quality.
• Promote standard work and drive continuous improvement culture.
• Partner with regional leaders to standardize improvements while allowing regional flexibility.

Skills

Lean leadership

Executive influence

Cross-functional teams

Multinational organizations

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Operations Management

Tools

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Overview

Weatherford have a great opportunity for an experienced Global Lean Lead to join the team in Houston. The Global Lean Lead is responsible for developing, leading, and sustaining Weatherford's global Lean transformation across manufacturing, repair and maintenance operations, supply chain, field operations, engineering, and corporate support functions. This strategic leadership role partners with executive leadership and regional operational teams to drive operational excellence, improve customer value, eliminate waste, and embed a culture of continuous improvement across the enterprise. Success will be measured through improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.

Responsibilities

• Enterprise Lean Strategy
• Develop and execute Weatherford's global Lean strategy aligned with the company's strategic objectives.
• Design and continuously improve the company's Lean Operating System.
• Establish global standards, governance, metrics, and best practices for Lean deployment.
• Lead the long-term transformation roadmap across multiple business units and geographic regions.
• Partner with executive leadership to prioritize strategic improvement initiatives.
• Operational Excellence Leadership
• Drive Lean implementation across:
  • Manufacturing facilities
  • Repair and service centers
  • Supply chain operations
  • Warehousing and logistics
  • Field operations
  • Engineering
  • Shared service functions
• Identify opportunities to improve operational performance while reducing total cost.
• Promote standard work and operational discipline throughout the organization.
• Ensure Lean principles support Weatherford's HSE culture and quality management systems.
• Continuous Improvement
• Lead enterprise-wide deployment of Lean methodologies including:
  • Value Stream Mapping
  • Kaizen Events
  • Daily Management Systems
  • Visual Management
  • Standard Work
  • 5S Workplace Organization
  • Problem Solving (A3)
  • Root Cause Analysis
  • Gemba Leadership
  • Flow Optimization
  • Pull Systems
  • Kanban
  • SMED
  • Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
  • Cellular Manufacturing
  • Leader Standard Work
  • Leadership Development
• Coach executive leaders, plant managers, operations leaders and functional teams in Lean leadership.
• Develop internal Lean capability through structured training programs.
• Establish and oversee Lean certification pathways.
• Mentor regional Lean practitioners and Operational Excellence Managers.
• Build a global community of Lean champions.
• Change Management
• Lead organizational change initiatives that support sustainable Lean adoption.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning and employee engagement.
• Ensure improvements become embedded through effective governance and follow-up.
• Remove barriers that inhibit operational excellence.
• Performance Management
• Develop global KPIs and dashboards including:
  • Safety performance
  • Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  • Productivity
  • Inventory turns
  • Lead time reduction
  • On-time delivery
  • Cost reduction
  • First Pass Yield
  • Quality metrics
  • Customer satisfaction
  • Employee engagement
  • Financial benefits realized
  • Global Collaboration
• Partner with regional leadership teams across North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.
• Share best practices across business units.
• Standardize successful improvements globally while allowing for regional flexibility.
• Support acquisition integration and operational transformation projects where applicable.

Experience & Qualifications Required

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, Business, or related discipline.
• 12–15+ years of progressive operational excellence or Lean leadership experience.
• Significant experience within oilfield services.
• Proven success leading enterprise-wide Lean transformations across multiple global locations.
• Experience working within complex multinational organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence executive leadership.
• Experience managing cross-functional and multicultural teams.

Experience & Qualifications Preferred

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt
• Master's degree (MBA or Engineering) preferred.
• Shingo Institute certification
• Toyota Production System training
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Prosci Change Management certification
• Technical Competencies
• Lean Manufacturing
• Lean Enterprise
• Operational Excellence
• Six Sigma
• Continuous Improvement
• Value Stream Design
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management
• Manufacturing Operations
• Supply Chain Optimization
• Project Portfolio Management
• KPI Development
• Executive Coaching
• Financial Analysis
• Data Analytics
• ERP systems
• Power BI or equivalent business intelligence tools
• Leadership Competencies
• Strategic thinking
• Executive presence
• Influencing without authority
• Global mindset
• Coaching and mentoring
• Collaboration
• Decision making
• Customer focus
• Innovation
• Results orientation
• Resilience
• Cultural awareness
• Effective communication
• Stakeholder management
• Key Performance Indicators

About Us

Weatherford is a leading global energy services company. Our world-class experts partner with customers to optimize their resources and realize the full potential of their assets. Across our operating locations, including manufacturing, research and development, service, and training facilities, operators choose us for strategic solutions that add efficiency, flexibility, and responsibility to any energy operation.

When you join Weatherford, you instantly feel connected to something bigger – a community that is grounded by our core values and driven to create innovative solutions for our customers. We celebrate each other’s successes, grow together, and learn from each other constantly. Individually, we are impressive. Together, we are unstoppable. We are One Weatherford.

Weatherford is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.