Operational Excellence Specialist
The Operational Excellence Specialist is an entry-level role focused on leading standardization of management processes and facilitating process improvement projects within a manufacturing plant. Working closely with employees across shifts, the specialist applies Lean Six Sigma tools to enhance productivity, throughput, and quality, while supporting training and adoption of best practices. This position offers development opportunities toward supervisory and leadership roles through hands-on operational involvement and continuous learning.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Engineering.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Role overview
Confidential Client is hiring an entry-level Operational Excellence Specialist to support plant-level standardization and process improvement efforts. This is a development-focused role (approx. 2-year assignment) designed to build Lean/continuous-improvement capabilities and prepare high-potential candidates for future supervisory and leadership roles within manufacturing operations.
What You’ll Do
- Learn the plant can-making process and get hands-on with day-to-day operations.
- Lead standardization of the plant management system across shifts and teams.
- Facilitate and lead improvement teams, kaizen workshops, and targeted projects that improve throughput, quality, and productivity.
- Support daily problem solving and participate as a subject-matter resource on cross-functional teams.
- Conduct process analysis and performance reporting to support internal and external stakeholders.
- Practice and apply Lean tools and techniques (DMAIC, PDCA, root cause analysis, FMEA, kaizen).
- Train, present, and facilitate at all levels to sustain standardized work and process improvements.
Key responsibilities
- Serve as the plant resource to facilitate deployment and sustainment of the management system.
- Lead process improvement initiatives aligned to plant or department priorities.
- Collaborate with training resources to document, train, and sustain standardized work.
- Support adoption of best practices to eliminate waste and improve performance.
- Present results and coach teams on continuous-improvement methods.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, Supply Chain, or related field (required).
- Some experience or exposure to process improvement, project management, or manufacturing preferred.
- Strong communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to build and influence teams without formal authority.
- Comfortable working in ambiguous situations and willing to challenge the status quo.
- Strong analytical aptitude and confidence to act as a trusted advisor.
- Proficient with MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Compensation & work environment
- Expected hiring salary range: $66,700 - $93,160 (final offer will consider education, experience, internal equity, and market data).
- Eligible to participate in the annual incentive compensation plan.
- Onsite work environment with regular in-person engagement; local travel between sites may be required.
- This role is intended as a development assignment with potential progression to Plant Supervisor and other leadership roles based on performance.
Legal & hiring notes
- Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required; the client will not sponsor employment visas for this role.
- This role will be posted internally for a minimum of 5 days and will remain open until filled.
- Agencies: No third-party agency submissions, please.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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