Operational Excellence Specialist

JOB SUMMARY

Radwell International is seeking an Operational Excellence Specialist to enhance site-level performance and embed a customer-centric, data-driven culture of continuous improvement across branches and distribution centers. This role is a hands-on practitioner of Operational Excellence (Lean-CI), focused on building everyday problem-solving capability, engaging employees, and executing disciplined improvement activities that improve quality, delivery, efficiency, safety, and customer outcomes.

The Specialist works under the direction of site and Operational Excellence leadership to facilitate improvement events, reinforce standard work, support operating rhythms, and translate ideas into action. As a visible practitioner with a curious mindset, the Specialist leads by example—challenging the status quo, mobilizing teams, and ensuring improvements are implemented, sustained, and aligned to broader business objectives. This role does not own enterprise strategy or governance but plays a critical role in enabling execution and sustaining Operational Excellence at the site level.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Deliver results by leading change with a Lean-CI approach.

· Promote Lean culture and Operational Excellence standard methodologies across functions, allowing business growth through the implementation of Continuous Improvement initiatives, facilitating improvement events (Kaizen, Process Mapping, RCCM) and dispense trainings to site employees.

· Actively work on stimulating projects to reach growth and productivity targets at both site and company level, collaborating with other site functions.

· Analyze existing processes, looking at timing, risks, costs, and wastes to increase efficiency, quality and cost.

· Monitor operations performance and participate to daily accountability reviews.

· Deploy the business strategy by promoting and supporting the strategic imperative initiatives of business processes, data integration and optimization activities.

Continuous Improvement Execution

· Champion site-level Operational Excellence (Lean/CI) initiatives aligned to enterprise and site priorities.

· Lead and facilitate small- to mid-scale Kaizen, 5S, RCCM, and process improvement events.

· Navigate teams to apply structured problem-solving tools to support root cause identification and countermeasure execution.

· Execute improvement funnel activities, ensuring actions are tracked, closed, and sustained.

· Capture and report improvement results, benefits, and maturity metrics.

Performance Visibility & Operating Rhythm

· Support tier boards, daily accountability, and KPI review processes through coaching/facilitation and data preparation.

· Monitor performance trends, identify emerging gaps, and escalate risks or opportunities to site leadership.

· Maintain data accuracy and consistency across CI reporting and visual management systems.

Training & Capability Support

· Support delivery of site-level Lean and CI training, including standard work, tier meetings, and structured problem solving.

· Coach employees and frontline leaders in basic Lean behaviors and everyday problem solving.

· Provide logistical and administrative support for improvement events and training sessions.

Culture & Engagement

· Reinforce a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and employee engagement.

· Serve as a visible practitioner, role modeling Lean behaviors and disciplined execution.

· Build effective working relationships across operations, quality, and support functions.

· Build strong connections with employees to foster engagement, ownership, and participation in improvement activities.

· Serve as an engagement champion—creating positive energy, approachability, and pride in continuous improvement efforts.

Required Skills

**KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED **

· Foundational knowledge of Lean, Continuous Improvement, or structured problem solving

· Comfort working with KPIs, basic data analysis, and visual management

· Strong facilitation, communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills

· Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, operational environments

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office; exposure to ERP or dashboards preferred

· Curiosity, adaptability, and bias for action

Required Experience

**EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE **

· Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, or related field or 1–3 years of experience in operations, quality, engineering, or continuous improvement roles preferred

· Equivalent experience will be considered

**CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS **

· Exposure to Lean or CI methodologies preferred

· Formal certification (e.g., Green Belt) a plus but not required

Qualifications:
**KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS REQUIRED **

· Foundational knowledge of Lean, Continuous Improvement, or structured problem solving

· Comfort working with KPIs, basic data analysis, and visual management

· Strong facilitation, communication, critical thinking and collaboration skills

· Ability to work effectively in fast-paced, operational environments

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office; exposure to ERP or dashboards preferred

· Curiosity, adaptability, and bias for action