Director, Global Strategic Operational Excellence

If you’re looking for a special place to build or grow your career, you’ve found it. Whether you’re an experienced professional, a recent college graduate or somewhere in between, IDEX is a place where you can apply your existing skills and learn new ones in an environment where you can make an impact.

With interesting opportunities in engineering, marketing, sales, supply chain, operations, HR, finance, and more across more than 40 diverse businesses around the globe, chances are, we have something special for you.

Who is IDEX and PPE Precision Polymer Engineering

Precision Polymer Engineering Ltd (PPE) is a leading provider of high-performance O-rings, technical rubber moldings and sealing solutions to a diverse range of industries around the world and are part of the IDEX Corporation. IDEX Corporation is an applied solutions provider serving niche markets worldwide. Key markets include process industry and infrastructure related applications, life science and medical technologies, industrial and municipal fire and rescue, and equipment associated with the retail dispensing of architectural paints and coatings. From leak detection within water infrastructure to enabling the push towards personalized medicine, IDEX is a leader in creating enabling technology and improving business prospects for a diverse customer set across the globe.

SCOPE OF ROLE:

Reporting directly to the President, this important role sits on the SLT and will create and deliver a strategic plan for the application of IDEX Lean Tools and methodologies linked directly to PPE’s strategic objectives – this individual will drive measurable results using 2 different skills sets: Strategic Operations and Continuous Improvement. Strategic Operations will involve partnering with the organization to identify, justify, approve, plan and implement large scale operational improvements (e.g. expansions, vertical integrations, capability alignment, investments etc.) in a global setting. Additionally, this team member will be responsible for driving the adoption and utilization of the IDEX operating model and continuous improvement model. They will work closely with key company stakeholders to drive critical programs and activities across the company and will lead the process of engaging and empowering team members to identify, understand, and implement sustainable process improvements. The role will also lead and drive the VIP (Value Improvement Program) globally.

The role will peer with Operations, R&D, Engineering, Finance and our Commercial Leads in the Semi-Conductor, Energy (Oil & gas) and Industrial sectors. The role will use the IDEX toolbox to drive operational improvements across Safety, Quality, Delivery and Cost through their teams located in Blackburn and Brenham. The role will provide hands on coaching and mentoring for the business functions and employees.  

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Gains a solid understanding of the Company’s key initiatives, competitive priorities, accountabilities and ensures linkage of strategy and continuous improvement efforts with these goals.
• Act as a business partner with operations & functional management, to identify large, strategic, game changing opportunities to drive simplicity, scale and profitability.
• Support Operational projects through project plan development, results tracking and leading and coaching site leaders and their teams through project execution process.
• Utilize Lean, Practical Problem Solving and CI tools to lead the organization in data-based decision making and driving actions to generate measurable improvement driving behavioral change across sites through CI tools, methodology and coaching.
• Deliver effective Continuous Improvement training and coaching and programs to help increase team capability and awareness of the Continuous Improvement tools. The training should be tailored to meet organizational needs and priorities.
• Advocate for the 8020 mindset and act as a practitioner of the 8020 tools (IDEX toolbox)
• Facilitate improvement events, building and leading focused and empowered teams to address systemic problems.
• Diagnose process improvement and operational opportunities that will deliver breakthrough financial results.
• Develop and implement a business communication plan for process improvement efforts.
• Serve as subject matter expert for CI Methodology, CI Tools and the implementation of Daily Process controls to drive operational improvements.
• Actively participate in benchmarking to identify, translate and promote best practices that can be applied at the sites.
• Communicate, track, and report on project progress, results, and deviations from the project plans with key stakeholders through PPE’s Balanced Scorecard approach each months business review.
• Organize regular meetings with key stakeholders to share project status updates, define next steps in order to raise the performance bar, review pans to deliver sustainable SQDCSM improvements.
• Promote the transformation from a reactive organizational culture to one that is more preventative and predictable, utilizing data driven decision-making, sustainable actions, and the Continuous Improvement tools.
• Create analysis, data gathering, and validations methods for business analytics.
• Support Goal Deployment Action Plans and improvement targets for the business.
• Develop and participate in Rewards and Recognition programs to promote the use of Continuous improvement and recognizing team successes.
• Ensure deliverables support the 4-P’s. People (Safety, Retention, Increased Engagement and Empowerment), Products (consistency in products, quality of products, reliability of service), Profitability (support the attainment of key initiatives and improved competitive results), Planet (support the green initiatives).
• Coach and mentor CI team, leading by example and building trust and credibility.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, business, engineering discipline, or technical degree.
• 7-10 years of experience (Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Operations).
• Must have high operations process knowledge.
• Travel 25-50% to support CI Initiatives and Strategic projects.
• Must possess knowledge of LEAN principles, Problem Solving Tools (RCA, DMAIC), Six Sigma, TQM, TPM and SPC.
• Combination of business, interpersonal, technical, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership skills in leading teams of people with strong sense of teamwork with high level of individual contribution.
• Self-starter and motivated by challenge with willingness to promote and drive change.
• Ability to learn new concepts, combine with common sense, and effectively apply to problem solving.
• Strong communication, organization, and presentation skills and able to communicate and work with teams at all organizational levels from Senior management to shop floor.
• Good understanding of ERP systems ideally with direct experience with JDE.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

• Analytical thinker, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to adapt to changing priorities and deadlines in a rapidly changing environment.
• Experience in developing and leading high-performance cross-functional teams to achieve desired outcomes with internal and external teams and developing team members, inspiring people to do their best work.
• Anticipate and remove obstacles that can slow down or prevent teams from delivering on project goals with a sense of urgency.

Are you ready to join a different kind of company where our people, our culture, and our commitments are centered around providing trusted solutions that improve lives around the world?

Total Rewards

Benefits Package

Our comprehensive U.S. benefit offerings include: Health benefits, 401(k) retirement savings program with company match, PTO, and more. More information on our benefits and rewards can be found on our career page: https://www.idexcorp.com/careers/our-benefits-and-rewards/

IDEX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IDEX gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other consideration or protected category made unlawful by federal, state or local laws.

Attention Applicants:  If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, please let us know. Likewise, if you are limited in the ability to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, we will determine an alternate way for you to apply. Please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at [email protected] for assistance with an accommodation. These contact tools may be used only by individuals with a disability for accommodation requests. Do not inquire as to the status of an application.

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