Continuous Improvement Director

Director, Global Reliability Engineering, Reliability & Automation (ERA) | Global Supply Chain and Procurement Reports To: Vice President, Engineering, Reliability & Automation Location: Atlanta, GA (preferred) or Remote U.S. with travel Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt Department: Engineering, Reliability & Automation (ERA) Organization: Global Supply Chain and Procurement (GPSN) POSITION SUMMARY The Director, Global Reliability leads Newell Brands' enterprise reliability program and global technical training function within ERA, spanning a global network of more than 40 manufacturing sites, 60 distribution centers, and operations serving markets in 140 countries. This role serves as the operational owner and program steward of the Newell Brands Strategic Equipment Management Policy (SEMP) — the company's governing framework for how assets are planned, acquired, operated, maintained, and retired across the global supply chain network. The SEMP is the foundational policy underpinning the reliability strategy, and this role is responsible for translating that policy into executable programs, measurable outcomes, and organizational capability across the network. This role carries dual accountability: first, managing approximately 29,000 assets across the full network — manufacturing and DC alike — through fleet management strategy, reliability engineering programs, and condition monitoring deployment; and second, owning ERA's global technical training programs that build reliability, maintenance, and engineering capability across the manufacturing and distribution workforce. The Director owns the full lifecycle of reliability strategy — asset criticality ranking, fleet-based PM standardization, condition monitoring, and RCM deployment — applied across both plant and DC environments, integrated with CMMS and OT platforms, and leads Atlantis and ARES programs. The Director builds and leads a global team of reliability professionals and training specialists, with dotted-line coordination into site-level maintenance and engineering leadership across manufacturing and distribution operations. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Global Reliability Program Leadership Own and execute the ERA Global Reliability Program roadmap (Q3 2026 through Q1 2029), including ARES, Atlantis, and condition monitoring stage gates across 40+ manufacturing sites and 60 DCs. Define and deploy the global reliability standard: asset registry and criticality ranking, PM interval optimization (RCM/condition-based), condition monitoring tiered by asset class, and layered digital architecture from edge to analytics — structured in alignment with ISO 55000 asset management principles to ensure the program operates as a governed, policy-driven system rather than a collection of site-level initiatives. Drive network-wide improvement in planned maintenance rate (PMR) toward the 85%+ target; manage Pareto-based site prioritization and intervention strategy. Lead OEE and TEEP improvement initiatives in coordination with Operations leadership; drive toward the ERA targets of OEE 80% and TEEP 60% across the ERA manufacturing footprint. Own the global standards for the PEAK EFO (Equipment and Facility Optimization) PAC, serving as the enterprise steward for the AM (Autonomous Maintenance) and PM (Planned Maintenance) pillars; define pillar standards, audit criteria, maturity progression models, and deployment sequencing across the manufacturing and DC network in alignment with the PEAK operating system. Partner with PEAK governance and site operations leadership to integrate EFO AM and PM pillar execution into the reliability program roadmap; ensure PEAK pillar maturity advances in lockstep with CMMS data quality, condition monitoring deployment, and reliability KPI improvement. Fleet Management Strategy Lead the development and execution of fleet management strategies for the 29,000-asset global portfolio, treating equipment populations (motors, drives, compressors, conveyors, injection molds, robots, automation equipment, etc.) as managed fleets with standardized lifecycle policies. Define asset classification taxonomy and fleet segmentation criteria; establish fleet-level criticality ratings that drive PM frequency, inspection standards, and capital replacement triggers. Develop fleet-based replacement and renewal schedules integrated with capital planning cycles; partner with Finance and Operations on long-range asset refresh investment requirements. Build fleet performance benchmarks across sites and regions; use fleet-level analytics to identify systemic failure patterns, poor performers, and standardization opportunities. Establish spare parts strategies at the fleet level, including global kitting standards, consignment programs, and OEM partnership agreements for critical asset classes. Apply fleet management methodology to distribution center assets (material handling equipment, dock assets, conveyor systems) in addition to manufacturing equipment. Condition Monitoring & Predictive Maintenance Design and deploy condition monitoring programs by asset class: vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, ultrasound, and motor circuit analysis. Own and govern the Newell Brands Tribo Program — the enterprise tribology and lubrication management program — including Tribo Scorecard standards, site assessment cadence, lubrication practice standardization, and development of certified tribology SMEs at site level to drive sustainable process change across the network. Build predictive maintenance capability in coordination with the OTTO/ODIN AI platform and site reliability engineers. Partner with the AI & Digital Enablement pillar to integrate condition monitoring data streams into the Newell-IQ and CMMS analytics stack. Establish failure mode libraries and FMECA databases for critical asset classes across the manufacturing network. CMMS & Asset Data Governance Own global CMMS (MicroMain) program governance: asset registry completeness, PM plan quality, work order integrity, and labor tracking standards. Partner with IT and OT teams to ensure CMMS data flows into analytics platforms and supports real-time reliability KPI dashboards. Lead asset lifecycle management practices including capital planning inputs, asset criticality-based replacement scheduling, and spare parts strategy. Technical Training & Capability Development Design and govern ERA and GPSN technical training programs, including manufacturing engineering skills, reliability fundamentals, automation operations, condition monitoring, and CMMS utilization. Partner with People & Culture and regional Engineering leads to establish role-based training curricula aligned to the ERA Strategic Master Plan and PEAK operating system. Develop technical learning pathways for ERA engineering and maintenance roles in collaboration with regional Directors and site Engineering Managers. Build and maintain a global technical training calendar; coordinate delivery across NAM, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC regions using a blend of in-person, virtual, and on-the-job formats. Establish training effectiveness metrics and competency assessment tools; track skill development progress against ERA workforce capability targets. Oversee reliability and maintenance skills development programs at site level, including PM technician certification, condition monitoring analyst training, and CMMS user competency. Team & Organizational Leadership Build and lead a global reliability team including Sr. Reliability Engineers, reliability technicians, and regional reliability coordinators. Develop direct reports through individualized development plans, coaching, and performance management. Partner with site-level Engineering Managers and Maintenance Supervisors to build reliability ownership at the front line. Establish reliability engineering as a distinct and valued career path within Newell Brands' engineering architecture. Stakeholder Leadership & Reporting Present reliability program status, KPIs, and investment requirements to the VP ERA, GPSN leadership, and Operations stakeholders. Build and maintain the business case for reliability investment, including cost avoidance models, planned vs. reactive maintenance cost benchmarking, and OEE value modeling. Represent ERA Reliability in cross-functional forums including Operations Reviews, Capital Planning, and PEAK governance. QUALIFICATIONS Required Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of progressive experience in reliability engineering, maintenance engineering, or asset management in a manufacturing environment. Demonstrated experience building or leading a reliability program at a multi-site or enterprise scale, with working knowledge of ISO 55000 — the international standard for asset management systems — and its application to enterprise asset management strategy, policy, and organizational alignment. Expert-level knowledge of RCM, condition monitoring technologies (vibration, oil analysis, thermography), and PM optimization methodologies. Familiarity with the asset management body of knowledge frameworks used in professional certification programs, including the competency domains and guidelines governing the Certified Reliability Leader (CRL) designation. Experience with CMMS platforms; MicroMain or equivalent. Strong command of OEE, TEEP, MTBF, MTTR, and Six Big Losses frameworks. Proven ability to lead across a global, matrixed organization with manufacturing sites in multiple regions. Preferred Certified Reliability Leader (CRL) or Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP); CRL preferred given the enterprise asset management scope and alignment to ISO 55000 principles embedded in this role. Familiarity with lean manufacturing systems. Experience integrating reliability data with industrial AI/ML platforms or digital twins. Multilingual capability (Spanish, Portuguese, or French) valued for LATAM and EMEA scope. COMPETENCIES Deep technical credibility in reliability and asset management disciplines Ability to drive change and build culture in a decentralized manufacturing environment Strong analytical and quantitative problem-solving skills Executive presence with the ability to influence without direct authority Collaborative leadership with a track record of developing high-performing technical teams The Remote base pay range for this position is from $165,200.00 to $227,250. Salary will be based on prior experience related to the skills required for this position. Newell Brands is an equal opportunity employer. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply. #J-18808-Ljbffr