Operation Excellence Manager

Daikin Applied Americas Inc; Faribault (MN); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 153,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance options

Dental and vision insurance

401K with employer match

Paid time off and holidays

Tuition Reimbursement

Job summary

Daikin Applied is seeking an Operations Excellence Manager to drive continuous improvement across the organization. This hybrid role at the North Faribault Plant leads Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen initiatives, partnering with leaders to boost efficiency and enhance customer and employee experiences.

You will coach teams, set KPIs, sustain standard work, and support change management while building internal capability for ongoing improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a STEM-related discipline.
• 8+ Years of quality-related experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with Kaizen improvement processes.
• Experience with the Toyota Production System.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business strategy and performance goals.
• Identify, prioritize, and execute process improvement opportunities using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and problem-solving tools.
• Facilitate value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and improvement workshops across functions.
• Establish and track KPIs to measure operational performance and improvement impact.
• Coach and mentor leaders and teams on continuous improvement principles and behaviors.
• Drive standard work, visual management, and process governance to ensure sustainability of improvements.
• Partner with senior leadership to translate strategic objectives into operational execution.
• Support change management efforts to embed a culture of continuous improvement.
• Lead or support training programs (e.g., Yellow Belt, Green Belt) to build organizational capability.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, IT, HR, and other teams to remove operational barriers.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Leadership

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's Degree in STEM

Tools

Kaizen

Toyota Production System

Job description

Join the world's largest HVAC company! Daikin Applied is hiring an Operation Excellence Manager! The Operational Excellence Manager leads the design, deployment, and sustainment of continuous improvement initiatives across the organization. This role partners with business leaders to improve processes, reduce waste, increase efficiency, and enhance customer and employee experiences using Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Hybrid - North Faribault Plant

What you will do:

• Lead enterprise-wide continuous improvement initiatives aligned with business strategy and performance goals
• Identify, prioritize, and execute process improvement opportunities using Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and problem-solving tools
• Facilitate value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and improvement workshops across functions
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational performance and improvement impact
• Coach and mentor leaders and teams on continuous improvement principles and behaviors
• Drive standard work, visual management, and process governance to ensure sustainability of improvements
• Partner with senior leadership to translate strategic objectives into operational execution
• Support change management efforts to embed a culture of continuous improvement
• Lead or support training programs (e.g., Yellow Belt, Green Belt) to build organizational capability
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, IT, HR, and other teams to remove operational barriers

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in a STEM-related discipline
• 8+ Years of quality-related experience in a manufacturing environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Kaizen improvement processes
• Experience with the Toyota Production System

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer match
• Paid time off and company paid holidays
• Paid sick time in accordance with the federal, state and local law
• Tuition Reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical pay rate for the position ranges from $90,000 - $153,300 + 10% bonus in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position(s) fall. Individual hourly pay rate will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements, including verification of employment history, education, background screening, and drug testing where permitted by law. Safety-sensitive positions may require cannabis (marijuana) testing. All testing and employment decisions will comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

If you're looking for an engaging career with growth opportunities in a supportive environment, you'll love a career at Daikin Applied! Building a more sustainable planet. Creating comfortable, healthy spaces for people to connect, live and work. Perfecting the air we share. Daikin Applied is not just an HVAC company. We're part of a global technology powerhouse that uses Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) to transform the world. We're innovators and leaders. Not only as a business, but as individuals. You see, we're not just innovating on the outside. We're innovating on the inside to unlock people's unlimited potential and bring out the diverse and groundbreaking ideas that will help us solve today's most pressing challenges. That's why Daikin offers more than a job. Here's where you'll be heard, be valued, belong -- and be able to make your mark. Over the past several years, we’ve proudly welcomed several organizations into our family, each bringing unique strengths, deep expertise, and talented teams. As we continue to grow, these partners play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and shaping the future of our organization. Whichever Daikin Applied company you join, you’ll be part of a unified, supportive environment where you can make an impact and grow your career.