WBS Manager

01 & 04 Woodward, Inc.; Rockford (IL); Hybrid; USD 105,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

Stock contribution

Tuition reimbursement

12 paid holidays

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Parental leave

EAP (Mental health)

Job summary

Woodward, Inc. is seeking an Operational Excellence Coach in a hybrid role near Rockford, IL. You will deploy and mature the Woodward Production System, build a daily problem‑solving culture, and develop leaders as coaches across value streams.

The role offers a broad benefits package and a path to grow future leaders. Responsibilities include strategic partnership with Value Stream leaders, cascading site objectives, and sustaining improvements through standardized practices and daily

Qualifications

• Experience deploying production systems and coaching leaders across value streams.
• Strong skills in structured problem‑solving (A3, PDCA, root cause analysis).
• Ability to train and develop leaders as coaches and mentors.

Responsibilities

• Coach deployment and maturity of the Woodward Production System for Value Streams.
• Foster a daily problem‑solving culture across all levels.
• Develop leaders into coaches and grow a pipeline of future leaders.
• Partner with Value Stream leaders to align site objectives with goals.
• Cascade site goals clearly through all value stream teams.

Skills

Technical Expertise

Coaching

Problem Solving

Facilitation

Collaboration

Strategic Alignment

CI Tools

Emotional Intelligence

Safe Experimentation

Standardization

Job description

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards. We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities, creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future. Woodward supports our members’ wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position.

Operational Excellence Coach

Location: Hybrid to Rockford, Illinois
Travel up to 50%

The Operational Excellence Coach partners with Value Stream leaders and teams to deploy and mature the Woodward Business System (WBS), build a daily problem-solving culture, develop leaders as coaches, and drive sustainable improvements aligned with site objectives.

Estimated annual base pay: $105,000-$140,000
All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.

• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave
• Paid parental leave
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
• Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• Voluntary benefits, including:
• Home / Auto Insurance discounts
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Key Responsibilities

• Business System Coach: Coach the deployment and maturity of the Woodward Production System for the Value Stream
• Develop a Problem-Solving Culture: Serve as a role model and advocate for a culture where employees at all levels embrace problem-solving as a daily practice.
• Develop Leaders as Coaches: Provide training, tools, and guidance to help leaders, within the Value Stream, become effective coaches who empower their teams while supporting their personal growth and development in efforts of building a pipeline of future leaders.
• Strategic Partnership: Share ownership of overall performance with Value Stream leader to ensure alignment, accountability, and shared ownership in the execution of operational goals and objectives.
• Align Goals Across the Value Stream: Ensure that site-level objectives are cascaded clearly and effectively through all value stream departments, teams, and individuals, aligning efforts with strategic priorities.

Key Skills

• Technical Expertise: Demonstrates proficiency with the Woodward Production System (WPS)
• Coaching Expertise: Strong understanding of coaching principles and the ability to mentor leaders at all levels within the value stream.
• Problem-Solving: Strong knowledge of the structured problem-solving methodologies (e.g., A3, PDCA, root cause analysis).
• Facilitation Skills: Ability to facilitate training, improvement workshops and Kaizen activities with a diverse group of participants.
• Collaborative Relationship Building: Ability to work effectively with leaders across functions, fostering trust and alignment.
• Strategic Alignment: Ability to take the site objectives and flow them down to the value stream level deliverables (SQDC).
• Continuous Improvement Tools & Processes: Strong knowledge of 5S, Visual Management, Standardized Work, Daily Management Systems, Flow / Pull, Value Stream Mapping and Improvement through Kaizen.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Strong interpersonal skills to build trust and rapport with employees at all levels.
• Create a Safe Environment for Experimentation: Foster an atmosphere where employees feel safe to surface problems, test ideas, and learn from failures.
• Standardize and Sustain Improvements: Ability to work with teams to implement and standardize improved processes, ensuring sustainability and continuous improvement.

Application window is anticipated to close 7 days from original posting date. This information is provided in compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and is the company’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation range and benefits offered for this position. The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, and other job-related reasons.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee).

Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.

What does it mean to be part of Woodward? It means contributing to what matters most in your career, in your community and around the world. It means being a part of rewarding experiences, where innovation, collaboration and problem-solving are at the heart of what we do.

Woodward is the global leader in the design, manufacturing, and service of energy conversion and control solutions for the aerospace and industrial equipment markets. Together with our customers, we are enabling the path to a cleaner, decarbonized world. Our innovative fluid, combustion, electrical, propulsion and motion control systems perform in some of the world’s harshest environments. At Woodward we have created a culture that appreciates and values the contributions of every member. We are a global team of curious, innovative problem-solvers who commit our knowledge, resources and technical expertise to the challenges associated with reducing emissions, enabling alternative energy sources and increasing efficiency, always innovating for a better future. Woodward is working with our customers to solve some of the world’s biggest energy challenges. This important work needs more than just the brightest technical minds. It requires talented and committed manufacturing professionals, accountants, supply chain managers, human resources experts, information technology specialists and many more. We are looking for dedicated people who want to learn and grow in a supportive environment that fosters collaboration, innovation and inclusion.