Global Operational Excellence Leader
Position Overview
The Global Operational Excellence Leader is a hands-on transformation leader responsible for driving the continuous evolution of enterprise operating systems through a holistic People–Process–Technology approach. This role leads both operational stabilization and business transformation initiatives, delivering sustainable improvements in performance, productivity, and customer experience.
The successful candidate possesses deep expertise in operational excellence methodologies and a proven track record of implementing practical, results-driven solutions at site and enterprise levels. They will champion organizational change, influence leaders across divisions and functions, and ensure successful process adoption. The role requires the ability to simplify complex operational challenges, redesign workflows, leverage digital technologies, and deliver measurable business outcomes through scalable and sustainable solutions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Operating System Transformation & Optimization
- Lead end-to-end business process transformation and operational system enhancements across manufacturing, supply chain, and transactional functions.
- Design, standardize, and implement lean operating systems that improve efficiency, effectiveness, and organizational scalability.
- Eliminate process waste, reduce complexity, and drive standard work adoption across sites and business units.
- Establish sustainable governance mechanisms and performance management systems to support continuous improvement.
- Identify and scale successful improvement initiatives across the organization.
2. Complex Problem Solving & Process Simplification
- Diagnose and address complex operational challenges by identifying root causes and critical performance constraints.
- Apply structured problem-solving methodologies to simplify workflows, eliminate redundancies, and improve business performance.
- Develop repeatable frameworks, best practices, and improvement methodologies that can be replicated across multiple locations.
- Ensure improvements are validated through measurable outcomes and closed-loop performance improvements in quality, cost, service, productivity, and lead time.
- Facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), and operational excellence workshops.
- Build a culture of continuous improvement by promoting lean thinking, operational discipline, and data-driven decision making.
3. Capability Building & Operational Support
- Develop organizational capability in Lean, Six Sigma, and operational problem-solving methodologies.
- Coach and mentor leaders, managers, and frontline teams on continuous improvement principles and tools.
- Conduct operational reviews, performance assessments, and maturity evaluations to identify improvement opportunities.
- Provide strategic and analytical support to leadership teams by translating operational insights into actionable recommendations.
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- Bachelor's degree or higher in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related discipline.
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.
Experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience in Operational Excellence, Lean Transformation, Business Process Improvement, or Continuous Improvement roles.
- Demonstrated success leading site level process transformation and initiatives with quantifiable business results.
- Experience working within manufacturing, supply chain, operations, shared services, or transactional environments.
- Proven ability to influence and drive organizational change across multiple functions, sites, and stakeholder groups.
Knowledge, Skills & Competencies
Operational Excellence & Process Improvement
- Expertise in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, including but not limited to DMAIC, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), 5S, Standard Work, A3 Problem Solving, and Kanban.
- Strong capability in business process reengineering, workflow optimization, and operating system design.
- Experience leveraging digital tools and technology enablement to enhance operational effectiveness and user experience.
Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills
- Exceptional ability to analyze complex problems, identify root causes, and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
- Strong systems-thinking mindset with the ability to simplify complexity and focus on high-impact opportunities.
- Data-driven decision maker with advanced analytical and performance management capabilities.
Leadership & Influence
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Strong change management capabilities with demonstrated success driving process adoption and cultural transformation.
- Effective facilitator, coach, and mentor capable of building continuous improvement capabilities within teams.
Business Acumen
- Solid understanding of operational and financial drivers, including cost, productivity, quality, service, and working capital metrics.
- Ability to develop compelling business cases and influence leadership teams to prioritize Operational Excellence opportunities and investments.
Communication & Collaboration
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in both English and Chinese.
- Ability to effectively engage stakeholders across cultures, functions, and geographic regions.
- Experience supporting multi-site and global operations environments.
Working Conditions
- Full-time position.
- Regular domestic and international travel required.
- Ability to work effectively across multiple locations, time zones, and operational environments.