Lean Sensei

Wabtec; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 91,100 - 129,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plans

Annual bonus potential

Job summary

Wabtec is seeking a Lean Sensei based in Cleveland, Ohio, to lead lean transformation initiatives across its Global Integrated Supply Chain. This role involves collaborating with diverse teams and coaching executives on lean methodologies.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in change management, lean principles, and demonstrated experience in driving operational excellence. The job requires frequent travel to manufacturing sites up to 75% of the time.

Competitive salary range is $91,100-$129,800, along with potential bonuses and comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in leading lean transformations.
• Deep understanding of the Toyota Production System principles.
• Ability to travel up to 75%.

Responsibilities

• Drive lean transformation initiatives across manufacturing and value streams.
• Coach teams on lean principles and policy deployment.
• Lead efforts to improve customer experience through operational excellence.

Skills

Lean transformation

Change management

Leadership

Problem solving

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

The Lean Sensei will report to the VP of Operational Excellence and will partner closely with the Lean Coach and collaborate with operations teams, local lean leaders, and cross‑functional stakeholders across the Global Integrated Supply Chain. This includes working with site leadership, functional teams, and executive leaders to drive transformation initiatives and embed lean principles into daily operations. You will operate in a highly collaborative, global, and matrixed environment focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence. Once the transformation foothold has taken root in the Global Integrated Supply Chain, the transformation will transition to critical business processes and business. Initial focus will be on the Propulsion and rotating equipment space.

How will you make a difference?

As a member of the Global Integrated Supply Chain / Lean Transformation team, you will play a critical role in driving lean transformation across manufacturing, value streams, and broader business processes. You will lead efforts to improve speed, delivery, quality, and productivity while enhancing the overall customer experience.

In this role, you will act as a change agent, coaching teams at all levels—including executives—on lean principles, problem solving, and policy deployment (Hoshin Kanri). You will help define and execute the lean vision, establish standards, and ensure sustainable improvements through training, coaching, and operational rigor.

What do we want to know about you?

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college
• Minimum of 10 additional years of experience leading teams in a lean transformation(s) where both lean leadership and change management up, across, and down through the organization was demonstrated.
• Demonstrated a deep faith in Toyota Production System (TPS) principles of servant leadership, connecting to the customer(s), building capability from the worker performing standard work and through the organization, and problem solving with the customer and worker always top of mind.
• Experience leading change in a complex, globally diverse matrixed organization
• Ability to travel up to 75%

Desired Characteristics

• Deep faith in lean and its principles with a proven track record leading in a TPS type transformation and business operating system transformation… much beyond a lean‑six sigma tool type continuous improvement initiative. A lean zealot.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, demonstrated interpersonal and leadership skills
• Clear thinker, able to analyze and resolve complex problems
• Demonstrated ability to lead programs / projects ensuring buy‑in from key stakeholders in a matrix environment at all levels.
• Established project management skills, experience documenting, planning, and stabilizing programs
• Ability to work effectively across functions; extensive experience leading cross‑functional or geographically dispersed teams, proven mentoring and coaching abilities, ability to motivate & inspire others

What will your typical day look like?

• Work with Lean Coaches and Site Leaders to create the lean vision and implement a strategy to improve the customer experience through improvements in cycle time, delivery, and ensure all other customer critical to quality areas are at the forefront of the strategy.
• Change agent responsible for delivering performance excellence through execution of lean initiatives and providing thoughtful coaching of the functional standard work and problem solving.
• Support the functional teams in developing and executing lean plans to improve the customer experience areas and metrics.
• Be comfortable coaching executives in lean methodology and principles, Hoshin Kanri (Strategy Deployment), problem solving, etc. Strong communication is a must.
• Support implementation of lean across global operations and the business including establishment of standards, metrics, employee training, kaizen workouts, change implementation, and after‑action reviews.
• Continuously evaluate operational best practices for inclusion in lean standards; develop training materials and programs to support and sustain standard operating procedures.
• Support the OPs Leader in creating a “One Global Process” for alike products and processes.
• Develop and improve the Business Operating System known as the Wabtec Management System such that it is recognizable and trusted source of business operating practices and processes.

What about the physical demands of the job?

This requires frequent travel (up to 75%) to manufacturing sites and business locations. Activities may include walking shop floors, standing for extended periods, observing operational processes, and interacting with frontline teams. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required in certain environments.

This is an on site role and the locations to work are either: Kansas, Fort Worth or Cleveland sites.

Additional Information

Our job titles may span more than one career level. The salary rate for this role is currently $91,100-$129,800. The actual salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors, such as: training, transferable skills, work experience, education, business needs, market demands and work location. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. More information on offered benefits, which include health, welfare, and retirement, are available at mywabtecbenefits.com. Other benefit offerings for this role may include annual bonus, if eligible.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

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