Operational Excellence Manager

Molex; Monee (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Molex is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to mature the Molex operating system for the Busbar team. You will plan, train, coach, and lead projects to deploy Lean capabilities across the site.

You will collaborate with site and business leadership to drive SQDCC improvements, develop roadmaps, and deliver measurable productivity gains. The role requires extensive Lean experience and strong facilitation skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business or engineering
• 5+ years in industrial, manufacturing, process engineering/optimization
• 7+ years leading improvement efforts and projects
• Excellent ability to influence without authority
• Excellent verbal and written communication with colleagues and senior management
• Excellent group facilitation skills and consensus building
• Ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities
• Proficient with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and dedicated optimization tools
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally

Responsibilities

• Assess site performance across Operational Excellence capabilities and identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop and execute site OE roadmaps aligned with Unit objectives.
• Lead Value Stream Design, VSM, and Lean transformation to improve SQDCC.
• Deploy OE capabilities through training, coaching, workshops, Kaizen events, and project leadership.
• Drive deployment and sustainment of the Molex Operating System and standard work.
• Lead continuous improvement, Six Sigma, and productivity initiatives site-wide.
• Establish a pipeline of improvement projects delivering measurable gains.
• Collaborate with leadership and cross-functional teams to improve end-to-end performance.
• Lead KPI reporting and support management reviews and planning.
• Train and mentor leaders in Lean thinking and problem-solving.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and accountable ownership.

Skills

Influence without authority

Verbal and written communication

Facilitation

Autonomy

Multi-priority management

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or engineering

Tools

MS Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

iGrafx

Visio

iObeya

iNexus

Minitab

Job description

Your Job

The site Operational Excellence Manager will be responsible for the maturity of the Molex operating system for the Busbar team to assemble plans to deploy capabilities through training, coaching, workshops, and project leadership, and executing on those plans.

Our Team

Molex creates connections for life by enabling technologies that transform the future and improve lives. With a presence in more than 40 countries, Molex offers a complete range of connectivity products, services, and solutions for the data communications, medical, industrial, automotive and consumer electronics industries. This leader will support our Power and Signal Business Unit, specifically the Busbar space.

What You Will Do

• Assess manufacturing site performance across Operational Excellence capabilities and identify improvement opportunities.
• Develop and execute site Operational Excellence roadmaps aligned with Business Unit and divisional objectives.
• Lead Value Stream Design, Value Stream Mapping, and Lean transformation initiatives to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Cash (SQDCC) performance
• Deploy Operational Excellence capabilities through training, coaching, workshops, Kaizen events, and direct project leadership.
• Drive the deployment and sustainment of the Molex Operating System, including Tiered Daily Management, visual management, and standard work practices.
• Lead continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, VAVE, productivity, cost-reduction, and capacity expansion initiatives across the site
• Establish and manage a pipeline of improvement projects that deliver measurable gains in productivity, quality, cost, capacity, and operational performance.
• Collaborate with site, business unit, and divisional leadership, as well as cross‑functional teams, to improve end‑to‑end business performance and accelerate results.
• Lead KPI reporting and support management reviews, QBUs, financial reviews, and capacity planning to drive operational and strategic decision‑making.
• Train, coach, and mentor Operational Excellence leaders and site leadership teams in Lean thinking, problem‑solving, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement, employee engagement, accountability, and ownership through structured change management and capability development.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in a business or engineering discipline
• 5+ years in industrial, manufacturing, process engineering/optimization experience
• 7+ years’ experience in leading improvement efforts and projects
• Must have excellent ability to influence without authority
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with co‑workers, customers, and senior management.
• Excellent group facilitation skills including gaining consensus and negotiating difficult situations
• Must work with a high degree of autonomy and manage multiple priorities while delivering excellent results
• Proficient with MS Office - PowerPoint, Excel, Word, iGrafx, Visio, iObeya, iNexus, Minitab
• Ability to travel domestic and international as required

What Will Put You Ahead

• Master's degree in business or engineering discipline
• Leadership within a lean transformation at a leading lean manufacturing company
• Leadership within a company’s operating or business system
• Training and coaching of new black belts and master black belts for six sigma.

Compensation

For this role, we anticipate paying $110,000 - $140,000 per year. This role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form.

Benefits

Our goal is for each employee, and their families, to live fulfilling and healthy lives. We provide essential resources and support to build and maintain physical, financial, and emotional strength – focusing on overall wellbeing so you can focus on what matters most. Our benefits plan includes medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Specific eligibility criteria is set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E‑Verify. Please click here for additional information. (For Illinois E‑Verify information click here, aqui, or tu).