Lean Coordinator

Valmont Industries, Inc.; Columbus (NE); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401k

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Work life support

Tuition reimbursement

Voluntary programs

Job summary

Valmont Industries, Inc. seeks a Lean Coordinator to support ongoing Lean initiatives across the Columbus plant. The role focuses on coaching Lean events, facilitating continuous improvement projects, and delivering data-driven updates to leadership.

The successful candidate will partner with Engineering, manage visual boards, and help build a culture of continuous improvement while ensuring safety and productivity targets are met.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in relevant field or Associate degree with 3+ years of experience or 5+ years lean experience.
• Understanding of Lean principles and methodology.
• Ability to motivate, develop and direct people without authority.
• Strong leadership, problem solving, planning skills and attention to detail with accuracy.
• Schedule daily workload without supervision or direction.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively communicate with all levels of the workforce and management.
• Ability to travel domestically up to 25% on an annual basis.
• Working knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and coach Lean events, coordinate Lean activities, act as a liaison between teams, support groups, management, and other functional areas, removing obstacles that may affect team performance.
• Support Lean-related metrics and measures, help develop visual boards, and communicate data to relevant team members.
• Prepare and deliver weekly/monthly updates to the Leadership team on progress made through data-driven improvements.
• Partner with Engineering to understand processes, machine requirements, standard metrics and capacity capabilities.
• Establish credibility as a knowledgeable resource to assist in driving continuous improvement through trusted and respectful changes.
• Provide Lean training to all stakeholders in operations and management teams.
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities with site leadership to develop event funnel.
• Help develop and sustain a Continuous Improvement Culture.
• This position reports to the Plant Manager.

Skills

Lean principles

Problem solving

Leadership

Communication skills

Travel

Planning

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's/Associate degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

1600 East 29th Ave Columbus Nebraska 68601

Why Valmont

We’re Here to Move the World Forward.

Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better.

Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward?

A Brief Summary Of This Position

This individual contributor position provides on-going assistance to Lean teams and leaders in the form of coaching, training, data management and analysis, helping with project justifications, as well as acting as a liaison between team leaders, support groups, management and other functional areas. This position identifies and communicates obstacles that may affect team performance and prepares and presents progress updates as required. Performs training on lean processes and methodology and assists other teams and team leaders as required. The majority of this position’s time is spent interacting with others to learn about job processes and identify and analyze opportunities for improvement and waste reduction. The incumbent needs to have proven capabilities and past accomplishments of continuous improvement jobs through the utilization of Lean methodology, including the facilitation of project teams utilizing the Agile methodology.

Essential Functions

• Facilitate and coach Lean events, coordinate Lean activities, act as a liaison between teams, support groups, management, and other functional areas, removing obstacles that may affect team performance
• Support Lean-related metrics and measures, help develop visual boards, and communicate data to relevant team members
• Prepare and deliver weekly/monthly updates to the Leadership team on progress made through data-driven improvements
• Partner with Engineering to understand processes, machine requirements, standard metrics and capacity capabilities
• Establish credibility as a knowledgeable resource to assist in driving continuous improvement through trusted and respectful changes
• Provide Lean training to all stakeholders in operations and management teams
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities with site leadership to develop event funnel
• Help develop and sustain a Continuous Improvement Culture
• This position reports to the Plant Manager.

Other Important Details About The Role

• Judgment and decision-making skills while comparing relative cost and benefit potential
• Facilitate discussions with the intent of reaching consensus
• The ability to organize and manage multiple, simultaneous priorities and meet aggressive deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of the material, costs, techniques and processes used within the manufacturing industry

Required Qualifications of Every Candidate (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

• Bachelors in relevant field or Associates Degree with 3+ years of experience or 5+ years of relevant lean experience
• A demonstrated understanding of Lean principles and methodology
• The ability to motivate, develop and direct people without having authority over them
• Strong leadership, problem solving, planning skills and attention to detail with accuracy
• Schedule daily workload without supervision or direction
• Excellent communication skills (written and presentation) to effectively communicate with all levels of the workforce and management
• Ability to travel domestically up to 25% on an annual basis
• A working knowledge in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook

Highly Qualified Candidates Will Also Possess These Qualifications

• Familiarity with Six Sigma Methodology
• Lean Certification
• A solid understanding of Shingo Methodology
• Previous operations or engineering experience, in a manufacturing setting
• Proven facilitation/coaching skills of Improvement events, Standard Work events, SMED events, Root cause problem solving, manufacturing and administrative value stream improvement projects
• Demonstrated commitment to learning through Lean readings and available training and educational opportunities
• A working knowledge in advanced Microsoft applications such as Visio, PowerPoint, Access, and SharePoint

Working Environment And Physical Efforts

The incumbent is exposed to hazards that may exist within manufacturing and shipping areas. Some hazards are chemical vapors, smoke, dust, frozen water, and noise over 80 decibels. Although some of the work can be performed in an office setting; most on the shift will be spent moving around different areas of the manufacturing plant. The incumbent must be able to work in and follow the safety rules of all areas of the facility, including the use of personal protective equipment where required. This equipment includes metatarsal safety boots, safety glasses, hearing protection and safety vests. This position may require domestic travel as needed to other company facilities and offsite locations to support the Lean initiative. The incumbent needs to lift parts and inspect equipment weighing up to 40 pounds. The incumbent is required to move throughout the plant to various events and activities. There are areas of the plant that cannot be accessed by elevator, and the Lean Coordinator needs to be able to access these areas by stairs. This position may require standing and moving around the site for up to 80% of the shift. The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type. Reaching hands and arms above shoulder height while working in the office or distribution centers may be required. The Lean Coordinator needs to be able to drive around the plant and to Lean events. Due to the visual requirements of this position, employee must demonstrate acceptable vision by passing the driver’s license eye test for either the state of Nebraska or the state of Iowa. If employee does not have a valid license from either of these states, the determination of acceptable vision will be made by the Safety Department on an individual basis.

Benefits

• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
• 401k retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
• Work Life Support
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one‑on‑one health coaching, mortgage services and more

Valmont does not discriminate against any employee or applicant in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. If you have a disability and require any assistance in filling out the application for employment email [e-mail].