Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX) – Manufacturing Plant

Intermedia Group, Inc.; Lincoln (IL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Intermedia Group, Inc. is seeking an Operational Excellence (OPEX) Manager for its Lincoln, IL manufacturing facility.

The role focuses on driving continuous improvement, Lean, and Six Sigma across safety, quality, delivery, and cost, with a hands-on coaching approach on the shop floor. You will partner with plant leadership to deploy a durable CI strategy, strengthen daily management, and accelerate results in a complex manufacturing environment producing electrical products for residential and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, or cross-functional roles in manufacturing.
• Minimum 3 years in continuous improvement/Lean/Six Sigma/operational excellence.
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading people, projects, and cross-functional teams.
• Hands-on champion of ECIS, EBS, Lean, and Six Sigma across a manufacturing site.

Responsibilities

• Champion ECIS, EBS, Lean, and Six Sigma to deliver safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and customer satisfaction improvements.
• Develop and sustain the site’s continuous improvement strategy and priorities.
• Build a culture of structured problem solving with leader standard work and visual management.
• Lead OpA preparation, execution, and follow-up across the organization.
• Use Lean and Six Sigma tools to eliminate waste, improve flow, and reduce variation.
• Coach and mentor teams through Kaizen events, RIEs, Six Sigma projects, and capability-building activities.
• Analyze metrics to identify gaps and data-driven action plans to sustain accountability.
• Lead cost-out and productivity initiatives to meet annual savings commitments.

Skills

Lean management

Value stream mapping

5S

Continuous flow

Set-up reduction

TPM

Error proofing

Pull systems

Standardized work

Data analysis

Facilitation

Cross-functional leadership

Gemba walks

8D problem solving

Kaizen events

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt

PMP certification

Job description

Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX) – Manufacturing Plant

• Lincoln, IL
• $130,000 to $190,000

OPEN JOB: Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX) – Manufacturing Plant

LOCATION: Lincoln, Illinois

BASE SALARY: $130,000 to $190,000

INDUSTRY: Manufacturing & Production

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Strong understanding of Lean management systems and their connection to business strategy, daily operations, and waste elimination.
• Manufacturing Plant Level Experience
• Broad knowledge of Lean tools and principles, including value stream mapping, 5S/workplace organization, continuous flow manufacturing, set-up reduction, TPM, error proofing, pull systems, and standardized work.
• Proven analytical, facilitation, and problem-solving skills with the ability to turn data into action.
• Ability to prioritize multiple time-critical tasks and maintain momentum across several improvement initiatives.
• Ability to lead, influence, and develop cross-functional process improvement teams across all levels of the organization; both a strategic partner and a hands-on coach on the shop floor.
• Ability to apply structured problem-solving methods, including 8D and statistical analysis, to define root causes, validate solutions, and prevent recurrence

DETAILS:

• Our client’s Electrical Sector - Residential & Wiring Devices Division is seeking an Operational Excellence (OPEX) Manager for the Lincoln, IL manufacturing facility.
• In this highly visible plant leadership role, you will champion the company's Continuous Improvement System (ECIS), the company's Business System (EBS), Lean, and Six Sigma to build a strong culture of problem solving, operational discipline, and sustainable performance improvement.

• This role is ideal for a hands-on continuous improvement leader who can coach teams, translate strategy into action, and deliver measurable results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.
• As the site’s OPEX leader, you will partner directly with the plant leadership team to shape the continuous improvement roadmap, strengthen daily management systems, develop talent, and accelerate business results in a complex manufacturing environment that produces critical electrical products for residential and commercial applications.

What you’ll do:

• Champion ECIS, EBS, Lean, and Six Sigma across the site to deliver short- and long-term improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, working capital, and customer satisfaction.
• Partner with the plant leadership team to develop, deploy, and sustain the site’s continuous improvement strategy, governance process, and annual improvement priorities.
• Build a culture of structured problem solving through leader standard work, daily accountability, visual management, process checks, Gemba walks, and disciplined follow-up.
• Serve as the site expert and champion for the company's Business System, helping leaders connect business priorities to practical operating routines and improvement actions.
• Lead Operational Assessment (OpA) preparation, execution, and follow-up by identifying gaps, building action plans, and sustaining progress across the organization.
• Use Lean and Six Sigma tools to eliminate waste, improve flow, reduce variation, and strengthen operational performance across manufacturing and functional processes.
• Coach, train, and mentor employees and leaders through Kaizen events, Rapid Improvement Events (RIE), Six Sigma projects, benchmarking, leader standard work deployment, and capability-building activities.
• Analyze operational metrics, identify performance gaps, and recommend data-driven action plans that improve results and sustain accountability at the operating level.
• Lead site cost-out and productivity initiatives to achieve annual savings commitments and support long-term financial performance.
• Influence and engage cross-functional teams by translating complex improvement opportunities into clear priorities, practical actions, and measurable outcomes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, or another cross-functional discipline in a manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading people, projects, and cross-functional teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Project management experience or PMP certification.
• Experience or certification in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), set-up reduction, structured problem solving, Kaizen, or Lean material flow.

Jason Denmark

Recruiting Manager

INTERMEDIA GROUP, INC.

EMAIL: [e-mail]

LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasondenmark/