We are looking for an experienced Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement Manager (m/f/d), who leads the analysis and implementation of process improvement initiatives within the organization. You are responsible for identifying areas of inefficiency, developing strategies to enhance productivity, and measuring the success of improvement efforts. This role requires a deep understanding of continuous improvement methodologies, such as Lean and Six Sigma. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams to drive sustainable changes that align with the company’s strategic goals, ensuring a culture of excellence and ongoing development.

This roles serves as an individual contributor and has no direct people management responsibility. It has a function as a subject matter expert and project lead for the R&D and manufacturing site in Herford, integrated in an international team of CI experts.

Location: Herford (Germany), hybrid role with 3-4 days/week on-site in the plant, therefore living in a commutable distance around the location is necessary.

Essential Duties/Principal Responsibilities:

• Using project management skills, drive the development and implementation of Continuous Improvement projects in support of the strategic plan and business operating plan
• Create, organize, communicate, and facilitate multi-day kaizen events & CI workshops with cross-functional teams, ranging from shop floor to executive leaders
• Must be proficient and effective in facilitating process mapping, 5S, VSM, and standard work projects with cross-functional teams
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement via idea generation and prioritize improvement opportunities with the management teams
• Analyze data against KPI’s, highlighting trends and analyzing causes of unexpected variance
• Act as a change agent in all aspects of work, supporting and leading others through change. Mentor and coach employees to realize benefits from all continuous improvement initiatives
• Perform root cause analysis processes to identify underlying causes of problems or issues within the organization
• Influence and engage others in support of CI projects and programs
• Responsibility for the following metrics: CI Savings for site, CI Engagement for site, CI training delivered for site

Qualifications: Education, Experience, Skills, Abilities, License/Certification:

• Bachelor Degree in Engineering, Business, or related field
• At least 5+ years of successful planning and execution of Continuous Improvement / Lean / Six Sigma efforts.
• Must have earned or be in process of completing Lean or Six Sigma Green Belt certification.
• Must have achieved Lean Apprentice status and Gold Lean Practitioner level.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and facilitating workshops, kaizens, and training events.
• Ability to coach / mentor / inspire.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Business fluent German and English language skills
• Must be accomplished at using standard tools, systems and formats to present data and reporting information in an efficient and accurate manner

We Offer You More Than Just "A Job”

• Professional Development – To advance the capabilities of our people, we offer a wide variety of experiences to support our employees’ professional growth and continuous learning.
• Total Rewards – We offer comprehensive programs for compensation, benefits, recognition, learning and development, work-life integration and corporate citizenship.
• Watermark – Watermark is our corporate social responsibility program working to provide education and access to safe water to ensure healthy lives, gender equality, and resilient communities. Employees can learn and volunteer on various water-related projects.
• Employee Networks – Our Employee Networks provide a professional, supportive network for employees from diverse backgrounds, including Women’s, LGBT+ and Allies, Veteran’s, People of Color and Allies, Emerging Leaders, and Working Parents Networks.

For questions regarding this opportunity, please reach out to Niklas Naunheim, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at +49 1621374371.

We are looking forward to your application!

Xylem is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability or other characteristics protected by law.