Director, Lean Operations & Transformation

The Director, Lean Operations & Transformation is a senior operational leader responsible for driving enterprise-level Lean/80/20 transformation across a network of manufacturing plants.  The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach, capable of influencing at all levels of the organization. This role leads a team of Lean and Continuous Improvement professionals and is accountable for embedding a culture of operational excellence, waste elimination, innovation, and sustainable performance improvement across GPS manufacturing sites.

Key Responsibilities:

Lean Strategy & Deployment

• Architect and execute a multi-year business operating model roadmap aligned with corporate strategy and product line objectives, using 80/20 prioritization to focus on the highest-impact value streams and customer segments.
• Integrate Lean into strategic planning processes, including Hoshin Kanri, Policy Deployment, and 80/20-based Value Stream Design to ensure resources are directed toward the most critical drivers of performance.
• Standardize and scale Lean maturity assessments and Lean audits across the network.
• Assists in the selection, development, target setting and performance management of lean change agents within the plants.  Allocate resources effectively to support plant-level and enterprise-wide initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture focused on results and continuous learning.

Advanced Lean Activities

• Lean Product & Process Development (LPPD): Collaborate with R&D and Engineering to apply Lean principles early in the product lifecycle to reduce time-to-market and improve manufacturability.
• Daily Management Systems (DMS): Institutionalize tiered accountability systems, visual management, and Leader Standard Work (LSW) to drive daily performance and problem-solving.
• Kaizen Leadership: Facilitate and sponsor enterprise-level Kaizen events, including Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), 3P (Production Preparation Process), and cross-functional value stream transformations.
• Lean Six Sigma Integration: Oversee integration of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies such as DMAIC, SPC, and FMEA to address complex process variation and drive breakthrough improvements.
• Lean Digitalization: Champion the use of digital Lean tools such as real-time dashboards, digital Gemba boards, and AI/ML-enabled root cause analysis and digital twins for process simulation and optimization.
• Lean in Indirect Functions: Extend Lean practices into support functions (e.g., HR, Finance, IT, Supply Chain) using tools like Process Mapping, Swimlane Diagrams, and RACI Matrices to eliminate waste and improve service delivery.
• Obeya Room Management: Establish and lead Obeya rooms for cross-functional alignment, strategic tracking, and rapid decision-making.

Cultural Transformation & Capability Building

• Lead the cultural shift from reactive to proactive operations through coaching, training, and modeling of Lean leadership behaviors.
• Build internal Lean capability through structured academies, certification programs, and hands-on coaching and use of appropriate lean methodologies and tools.
• Develop and mentor a diverse pipeline of Lean leaders and change agents across the organization.

Performance Management & Innovation

• Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement through Lean initiatives.
• Identifies waste and opportunities for the business to improve in (among others by using Lean principles and methodologies), as well as reporting and celebrating past successes in these areas from a business perspective.
• Identify and scale best practices across the network, including automation, Industry 4.0 technologies, and advanced analytics.  Create and deploy a technology roadmap, that may include 3D printing, digitization, google glasses, etc.
• Partner with Finance to quantify Lean savings and ensure alignment with financial goals.

Stakeholder Engagement & External Impact

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on operational strategy and Lean maturity.
• Represent the company in industry forums and benchmarking consortia to stay ahead of emerging trends.
• Promote community engagement and social responsibility through site-level initiatives and partnerships.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations
• Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Toyota Production System (TPS) methodologies.
• Proven success in leading large-scale Lean transformations across multi-site operations.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L and capital projects.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills.

Personal Attributes:

• Visionary and strategic thinker with a passion for operational excellence.
• Influential leader who inspires trust, drives accountability, and builds high-performing teams.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a continuous improvement mindset and a bias for action.

Johnson Controls’ Canadian subsidiaries are committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants, candidates and employees with disabilities, in accordance with applicable human rights legislation, and in Ontario, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”). When requested, accommodation will be provided throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process. To request accommodation, please contact us. Any information you provide related to accommodation measures will be treated as confidential. A copy of Johnson Controls’ applicable AODA policies are available on our website at www.johnsoncontrols.com for your reference, and can be made available in accessible formats upon request.