Lean Leader

Johnson Controls, Inc.; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Johnson Controls is seeking a Lean Transformation professional at the San Antonio Chillers site to drive the Lean Transformation Journey across one value stream. You will define plans, coach front-line leaders, and facilitate improvements using JCBS principles across operations.

The role involves collaborating with focus factory management, conducting time studies, updating layouts, and ensuring sustainment of the Daily Management system to deliver annual goals and drive safety performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering is required.
• At least 5 years in manufacturing operations and 2 years in continuous improvement/lean.
• 2+ years indirect leadership experience in Lean Transformation.
• Green Belt Six Sigma or Lean Certification.
• Expertise in Lean tools: VSM, Kaizen, SMED, 5S, standard work, takt time, flow, pull systems.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with A3 or similar methodologies.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and coaching skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and email; Visio or similar for maps.

Responsibilities

• Identify gaps in metrics and set strategy with plant leadership.
• Assess current state with Value Stream Mapping and root cause tools; plan future state.
• Develop Lean capability across the value stream through coaching.
• Ensure implementation and sustainment of Daily Management in the value stream.
• Conduct time studies to rebalance operations and reduce waste.
• Use 3P to create flow at the site.
• Modify/update layouts during transformation.
• Ensure process owner involvement in software development and team leadership.
• Track project performance with kaizen funnel and reporting systems.
• Collaborate with leadership on Lean Transformation Roadmap.
• Partner with Process Owners to remove systemic barriers and drive change.
• Document learning and share best practices across NA Chillers plants.

Skills

Lean tools

VSM

Kaizen facilitation

SMED

5S

Standard work

Takt time

Flow

Pull systems

A3 problem solving

MS Office

Visio

AutoCAD

Communication

Coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

Visio

AutoCAD

Job description

About Us

Johnson Controls, a global leader in thermal management, mission-critical building systems, energy efficiency, and decarbonization, helps customers use energy more productively, reduce carbon emissions, and operate with the precision and resilience required in rapidly expanding industries such as data centers, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, and higher education.

For more than 140 years, Johnson Controls has delivered performance where it really matters. Backed by advanced technology, lifecycle services and an industry-leading field organization, we elevate customer performance, turn goals into real-world results and help move society forward.

What you will do:

As part of the JCI San Antonio Chillers manufacturing site you will own the Lean Transformation Journey of 1 of its 3 engineered-to-order and configured-to-order value streams. You will report to the Lean Transformation Manager of the site and work very closely with the Value Stream Manager (also known as Focus Factory Manager) and its staff to drive the implementation of the Johnson Controls Business System. In this hands‑on role, you will assess current state performance, identify gaps, visualize and establish a plan to get to the future state, monitor progress and share/acquire best‑in‑class ideas and systems. Defines, designs and implements process improvement as part of the Johnson Controls Business System (JCBS); ensures integration and alignment vertically and horizontally across organization. Defines improvement projects aligned with business strategies and priorities. Facilitates and coaches’ improvement teams.

How you will do it:

• Identify gaps in business metrics and then works with all levels of the plant in establishing and executing a strategy for improving them
• Assess using Value Stream Mapping and root cause problem solving tools (such as A3, 5 Whys, Fishbone Diagram, etc) the current state of the plant’s Operations, develop Future State vision and drive and monitor the implementation plan
• Develops Lean capability across the value stream by coaching Focus Factory staff, front‑line leaders, and associates in JCBS principles, strengthening problem‑solving behaviors, operational discipline, and a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensure the implementation and sustainment of the Daily Management system at his/her respective value stream.
• Perform time studies of the operations with the goal of re‑balancing the operation and eliminate waste.
• Utilize 3P as a tool to create flow at the site in the designated value stream.
• Modify/update physical and digital layouts as required during the transformation of the site.
• Ensure process owner involvement in SW development and team leadership
• Using kaizen funnel tracking and reporting systems, will prepare detailed plans, drive project performance, and assure timely completion and achievement of transformational and continuous improvement projects.
• Collaborate with leadership to develop a plant Lean Transformation Roadmap, driving breakthrough or Best‑in‑class performance that balances resources between internal plant efficiency and external customer‑focused effectiveness projects through 1. Just Do It improvements, 2. Kaizens, 3. Workshops.
• Partners with Process Owners to identify systemic barriers to project success and strategically drives the organizational, process, and behavioral changes required to remove them.
• Document improvement process learning and shares best practices throughout the NA Chillers Business plants and JCI as a whole.
• Identifies and brings forward to Champion new project opportunities
• Partners with the Focus Factory Manager on strategic initiatives that strengthen standards compliance, accelerate the deployment of new systems, and shape innovative, future‑focused solutions that drive sustainable operational excellence across the plant.
• Is accountable to deliver the Focus Factory and Plant annual goals.
• All other tasks as assigned.
• Adheres to the Company’s Code of Conduct and Business Ethics standards.
• Responsible for driving Safety Performance in the Plant.

What we look for

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Preferably in Engineering.
• At least 5 years of professional working experience, with at least 2 years in a manufacturing operations role and 2 years in continuous improvement or lean manufacturing role.
• Has at least 2 yrs of proven experience in indirect leadership, influencing an organization to drive Lean Transformation.
• Possesses a Green Belt Six Sigma or a Lean Certification in Value Steam Mapping and Standard Work.
• Demonstrated expertise in Lean tools and concepts: VSM, Kaizen facilitation, SMED, 5S, standard work, takt time, flow, pull systems.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with experience using A3 or similar methodologies.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and coaching skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite Applications (Word, Excel, Access, & PowerPoint) as well as Internet software and E‑mail is required.
• Proficiency in Visio and/or any other software to create Value Stream Maps and Process Maps.
• Proficiency in Autocad or similar software to create/modify site layouts.

Preferred:

• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• 2 yrs of experience in Shinguijutsu Events
• Worked in an environment with a robust Continuous Improvement Business System

HIRING SALARY RANGE: Additional Job Description $80,000- $110,000 (Salary to be determined by the education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.) This position includes a competitive benefits package. The posted salary range reflects the target compensation for this role. However, we recognize that exceptional candidates may bring unique skills and experiences that exceed the typical profile. If you believe your background warrants consideration beyond the stated range, we encourage you to apply. To support an efficient and fair hiring process, we may use technology assisted tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to help identify and evaluate candidates. All hiring decisions are ultimately made by human reviewers. For details, please visit the About Us tab on the Johnson Controls Careers site at https://jobs.johnsoncontrols.com/about-us