Strategic Lean & Continuous Improvement Leader

Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc.; Akron, Northern (OH, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc. is seeking an Operational Excellence Leader to accelerate performance across manufacturing operations. You will lead Lean deployment, coach teams, and partner with safety, quality, engineering, and finance to drive end-to-end improvements.

You will influence leaders across sites, build CI capability, and sustain standardized work and performance management to achieve measurable results. This role requires strong change leadership and hands-on execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field.
• 5–10 years of manufacturing operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence roles.
• Proven experience leading Lean or CI initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.
• Experience supporting multi-site operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, deployment, and sustainment of Lean manufacturing and Operational Excellence strategies across the facility (or multiple sites).
• Identify and prioritize improvement opportunities aligned with safety, quality, cost, delivery, and culture.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and rapid improvement events.
• Coach teams on structured problem solving (A3, root cause analysis, PDCA, DMAIC).
• Partner with operations leaders to track KPIs and close performance gaps.
• Act as a trusted advisor to operations leadership and front-line leaders.

Skills

Change leadership

Influencing

Data-driven decision-making

Facilitation

Communication

Strategic thinking

Hands-on execution

Accountability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or related field

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification

Job description

Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc. is seeking an Operational Excellence Leader to accelerate performance across manufacturing operations. You will lead Lean deployment, coach teams, and partner with safety, quality, engineering, and finance to drive end-to-end improvements.

You will influence leaders across sites, build CI capability, and sustain standardized work and performance management to achieve measurable results. This role requires strong change leadership and hands-on execution.