Leader, Operational Excellence

barrywehmiller; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

BW Packaging is seeking an Operational Excellence Leader to drive Lean and continuous improvement across our manufacturing sites. You will strengthen processes, eliminate waste, and foster a culture where safety, quality, and daily management are core to daily work.

You will coach teams, lead Kaizen events, and apply DMAIC and A3 thinking to deliver measurable improvements. Collaboration with safety, quality, engineering, and operations is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 5–10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence.
• Proven success leading Lean or CI initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations.
• Background in high-mix/low-volume or regulated manufacturing environments is a plus.
• Experience integrating CI with safety and quality systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment of Lean and continuous improvement strategies across one or more manufacturing sites.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities that move the needle on safety, quality, cost, delivery, and team engagement.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and rapid improvement workshops.
• Coach teams in structured problem solving using A3 thinking, root cause analysis, PDCA, and DMAIC.
• Build and maintain leader and team member standard work.
• Implement visual controls, daily management systems, and tiered accountability routines.
• Partner with operations leaders to track KPIs, close performance gaps, and sustain improvements.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to operations and front‑line leaders.
• Influence without authority to drive adoption of new processes and overcome resistance.
• Build CI capability across the organization through coaching, training, and mentoring.
• Work closely with safety, quality, engineering, supply chain, people, and finance teams to deliver end‑to‑end improvements.
• Support major initiatives such as capital projects, layout redesigns, capacity expansions, and automation.
• Ensure improvements align with compliance, safety, and quality standards.

Skills

Lean principles

Continuous improvement

Leadership

Problem solving

Change management

Facilitation

Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Value stream mapping

Kaizen events

PDCA

DMAIC

Job description

About Us:

BW Packaging is driving performance at the intersection of people, technology, and customer care. As part of the privately held Barry-Wehmiller family, we unite a global team of packaging experts with a clear purpose: People Who Care, Building Solutions that Perform. We take on our customers' toughest challenges as our own - delivering both innovative and enduring solutions that set the standard for value and performance. Our strength comes from our people and the power of our brands - trusted names in packaging that are known worldwide for engineering excellence, application expertise, and lifetime commitment to customer success. Truly Human Leadership guides our belief that exceptional business results and profound respect for people together provide the foundation of enduring success. We are committed to forging lasting partnerships with our customers, earning their trust through integrity, expertise, and execution. With our full range of packaging solutions and long term partnership and service, we help customers achieve operational excellence today while building the future of packaging together.

Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

Job Description:

We're looking for an Operational Excellence Leader who is energized by improving how work gets done. In this role, you'll help our manufacturing teams perform at their best by strengthening processes, eliminating waste, and building a culture where safety, quality, and continuous improvement are part of everyday thinking.

If you love coaching teams, solving problems, and seeing measurable results from your work, this is a role where you'll thrive.

What You'll Do

Drive Operational Excellence

• Lead the deployment of Lean and continuous improvement strategies across one or more manufacturing sites.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities that move the needle on safety, quality, cost, delivery, and team engagement.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and rapid improvement workshops.
• Coach teams in structured problem solving using A3 thinking, root cause analysis, PDCA, and DMAIC.

Strengthen Daily Performance

• Build and maintain leader and team member standard work.
• Implement visual controls, daily management systems, and tiered accountability routines.
• Partner with operations leaders to track KPIs, close performance gaps, and sustain improvements.

Lead Change & Build Capability

• Serve as a trusted advisor to operations and front‑line leaders.
• Influence without authority to drive adoption of new processes and overcome resistance.
• Build CI capability across the organization through coaching, training, and mentoring.

Collaborate Across the Business

• Work closely with safety, quality, engineering, supply chain, people, and finance teams to deliver end‑to‑end improvements.
• Support major initiatives such as capital projects, layout redesigns, capacity expansions, and automation.
• Ensure improvements align with compliance, safety, and quality standards.

Champion Safety

• Integrate safety into all CI activities, including standard work, Kaizen events, and value stream maps.
• Partner with EHS to proactively identify risks and implement engineered and process‑based solutions.
• Support safety Gemba walks, incident investigations, and systemic root cause analysis.
• Model safe behaviors and maintain a clean, organized work area.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5-10 years of experience in manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence.
• Proven success leading Lean or CI initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of Lean principles, tools, and performance management systems.
• Ability to influence leaders and drive change in complex environments.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
• Experience supporting multi‑site operations.
• Background in high‑mix/low‑volume or regulated manufacturing environments is a plus.
• Experience integrating CI with safety and quality systems.

Who You Are

• A change leader who builds trust and inspires action.
• A data‑driven problem solver with strong facilitation skills.
• Someone who balances strategic thinking with hands‑on execution.
• A coach who enjoys developing others and building capability.
• A leader with high personal accountability and integrity.

How Success Is Measured

• Improvements in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.
• Sustained adoption of standard work and daily management systems.
• Inc