Director, Global Lean Manufacturing

Director, Global Lean Manufacturing

Organization Summary

Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN) is a leading global manufacturer and distributor of irrigation and infrastructure equipment and technology. Established in 1955, the company has been at the forefront of research and development of innovative solutions to meet the food, fuel, fiber and transportation needs of the world’s rapidly growing population. Lindsay’s irrigation segment includes solutions for agricultural irrigation systems, remote irrigation management and scheduling technology as well as irrigation consulting, design and industrial IoT solutions. Also a global leader in the transportation industry, Lindsay’s infrastructure segment manufactures equipment to improve road safety and keep traffic moving on the world’s roads, bridges and tunnels. As a global company, Lindsay is committed to growing a healthy culture worldwide in which diversity is supported and employees are empowered. Lindsay’s values (leadership, integrity, collaboration, accountability and respect for others) help drive us to accomplish our mission by working together – because we know we can go farther and faster as a team than we can as individuals.  

Position Description

The Director, Global Lean Manufacturing is responsible for driving a continuous improvement mindset and lean focus across the global operations organization. This individual will work with the leadership team to develop, implement, and track our continuous improvement strategy including measurable and attainable operational excellence goals. This includes productivity enhancements and/or cost reductions attained through application of the lean principles including waste and variation elimination, 80/20 complexity reduction, material flow, standard work, 6S, SMED, visual management, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, etc. This role will be responsible for execution of our continuous improvement strategy but must also work collaboratively with their peer group to grow and sustain the impact of our lean initiatives. This role reports to the Senior Vice President, Global Operations and is a member of our Global Management Team (GMT).

Position Details

This is a full-time position based in our Omaha, Nebraska global headquarters. The incumbent will work a flexible, hybrid schedule, which includes core office days of Tuesday-Thursday.  Some travel to our U.S. and international manufacturing locations may be required.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Build organizational capability by developing continuous improvement champions/experts across the global organization by facilitating & leading Kaizen events and strategic projects.

• Develop and deliver training on the principles and practices of the Lindsay Production System and to create a culture of continuous improvement across the operations organization.
• Develop and build a culture of engagement at all levels of the business to create a highly energized and inspired team.
• Ensure relevant on-going learning and development of all employees in lean improvement tools and processes. Coach and facilitate teams and individuals to identify and implement improvement opportunities.
• Prepare an annual budget including all capital and expense requirements, along with expected return on investment at a project level.
• Set department objectives / Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and review and assess ongoing performance of initiatives.
• Report on project status, risks, dependencies, budgets, critical milestones, and achievement of targets. Identify and implement corrective actions on operational excellence KPI misses.  
• Deliver successful and sustainable productivity, efficiency, cost reduction, revenue and cash generating, and/or quality improvement projects by using the continuous improvement methodology.

Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field or equivalent combination of experience and education.
• 15+ years of direct experience in manufacturing, lean implementation, and transformation management in a fast-paced capital goods production environment.
• Master Black Belt in Lean / Six Sigma or equivalent qualification.
• Membership of an industry related professional body related to lean manufacturing would be advantageous.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results through implementation of Continuous Improvement management practices.
• Proven track record as an effective Kaizen facilitator/trainer, motivator and change agent in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to interact and partner with management at the factory to drive implementation and results.
• Adept at root cause analysis with strong problem-solving skills, able to work on highly complex problems requiring analytical, conceptual and quantitative ability.
• Strong leadership & financial skills with the ability to operate collaboratively across a matrix environment.
• Ability to use Microsoft Business Central, Office 365, Demand Solutions, and other digital applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.