Continuous Improvement Lead

Job Category: Operations Requisition Number: GLOBA001947 Locations Dayton Corporate Office 7200 Poe Avenue, Suite 400 Dayton, OH 45414, USA Lion is seeking an experienced Global Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) Manager to own, mature, and continuously enhance the company’s global S&OP process. This role is responsible for designing, managing, and driving a disciplined, end‑to‑end S&OP operating model that aligns demand, supply, inventory, and financial plans with Lion’s strategic and commercial objectives. The Global S&OP Manager will serve as a critical integrator across Sales, Product Management, Finance, and Supply Chain—ensuring alignment between market demand, product portfolio strategy, financial commitments, and operational execution. An expectation of this role is the ability to translate supply‑chain scenarios, metrics, risks, and decisions into clear financial and commercial impacts, enabling executives to make informed, value‑driven decisions. This role provides the structure, transparency, and decision‑making rigor needed to support profitable growth, product innovation, and operational excellence. Key Responsibilities Lead the global Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, including annual planning, rolling forecasts, and monthly executive S&OP cycles Manage S&OP governance, meeting cadence, standard inputs/outputs, and decision rights across regions and business units Partner with Sales, Product Management, and Finance to ensure demand forecasts, product strategies, and financial targets remain aligned and achievable Integrate product lifecycle management into the S&OP process, including new product introductions (NPI), transitions, and end‑of‑life planning Ensure NPIs are fully reflected in demand, supply, capacity, inventory, and financial plans with clear assumptions, risks, and launch‑readiness criteria Translate commercial and product strategies into executable supply, capacity, production, scheduling, and inventory plans Drive sales and operations execution by aligning with Sales, Customer Service, Operations, and Supply Chain on a tactical billable‑orders strategy that supports revenue attainment and backlog quality Strengthen end‑to‑end supply‑chain alignment across demand planning, supply planning, manufacturing, procurement, and logistics to improve responsiveness and stability Monitor and track key S&OP performance metrics—including forecast accuracy, OTIF, inventory turns, excess and obsolescence, working capital, capacity utilization, schedule adherence, and plan stability—and clearly explain gaps, trends, and changes during the monthly S&OP cycle Translate supply‑chain metrics and scenario outcomes into financial and commercial impacts to support executive decision‑making Present scenario‑based analyses that highlight risks, constraints, trade‑offs, and the financial implications of supply‑chain decisions Lead executive‑level S&OP meetings by providing transparent visibility to gaps, risks, and recommended actions Identify demand, supply, and portfolio risks through scenario analysis and lead mitigation planning (capacity, sourcing, allocation, inventory, and prioritization strategies) Drive continuous improvement of S&OP effectiveness through standardization, analytics, and best‑practice adoption to improve decision quality and execution outcomes Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred 5+ years of progressive experience leading Sales & Operations Planning in a global, cross‑functional environment Proven experience integrating product lifecycle management and NPI planning into S&OP processes (launch readiness, transitions, and end‑of‑life planning) Strong understanding of end‑to‑end supply‑chain planning, including demand planning, supply planning, production scheduling, and inventory optimization Demonstrated ability to partner with and influence Sales, Product Management, and Finance leaders at senior and executive levels Demonstrated ability to translate supply‑chain metrics, scenarios, and operational decisions into financial and commercial impact Strong analytical skills and ability to drive executive decisions using KPIs, scenarios, and trade‑off recommendations Excellent executive communication, facilitation, and stakeholder‑management skills in a matrixed environment Experience with ERP and S&OP planning tools preferred Ability to influence without authority and drive accountability across global functions Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr