Director, Continuous Improvement

About Us:

As a global manufacturer of complex aircraft engine components, Pursuit Aerospace is founded on a commitment to relentless, continuous, operational improvement and extraordinary customer service. We pride ourselves on competitive cost structure, exceptional on-time delivery, and industry-leading quality.

The Pursuit family of companies has cultivated long-term relationships with our customers around the world through respect, teamwork, technology, and trust. We are driven to develop industry leading process innovations and manufacturing techniques on behalf of our customers. Our exceptional quality is driven by a deep investment in and the daily practice of continually improving our people, processes, and products.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a Director, Kaizen Promotion Office (KPO), a central function leading kaizen and lean manufacturing across manufacturing sites. The Director, KPO position reports directly to the VP of Manufacturing Support and indirectly to the Executive Vice President and is responsible for leading and supporting Kaizen and lean manufacturing functions at sites in Cleveland, Ohio, Thomasville, Georgia, Whitesboro, New York, Chicago, Illinois, Tunisia, and the UK.

Location: Remote, 40-60% travel, including international travel

Responsibilities:

• Leading an organization focused on kaizen, lean, and continuous improvement, with an underlying focus of making employees' lives better.
• Leading a team of KPO site leaders (and their direct reports) focused on fully leveraging the Pursuit Production System (PPS), including but not limited to leader standard work, daily management, visual controls and problem solving
• Planning and executing the success of Hoshin Kanri, Policy Deployment projects and Kaizen workshops through relentless follow-up
• Developing local champions of lean thinking through mentorship
• Cultivating and evolving our relationship with and utilization of external kaizen consultants.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field and 4+ years of experience supporting kaizen, lean, and continuous improvement - OR - in lieu of degree 8+ years of experience supporting kaizen, lean, and continuous improvement
• 5+ years of experience managing direct reports
• 5+ years of experience being a senior practitioner of lean manufacturing and kaizen.
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without sponsorship now or in the future. The Company cannot offer employment to visa holders who require employer sponsorship in the future or cannot work now on a full-time basis.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace manufacturing experience.
• Direct mentorship under world recognized kaizen/lean consultants.
• Japan Super Genba Training License from Shingijutsu is a plus.
• Experience managing multiple sites.
• Ability to influence and drive continuous improvement culture.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and team building skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience leading teams to design right-sized equipment focused on achieving one-piece flow.
• Ability to navigate task sets and drive solutions in a matrixed environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• High sense of urgency and ability to meet deadlines.
• Candidate resides within one hour commuting distance to one of the sites within the division.

Working Conditions

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit; use hands for fine finger work, reach with hands and arms; balance; stoop: hear and talk.
• Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses and safety shoes) is required on the shop floor
• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required to accommodate priorities, deadlines, and schedules.
• Must be able to have prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to frequently sit, stand and walk.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.
• Regular onsite presence is required.
• Must be able to travel between Pursuit locations, including international locations. Typically, 40-60% of time.

Acknowledgements:

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefits:

Pursuit Aerospace also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements, among other things.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Pursuit Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.