Operational Excellence Manager, Hoshin & Kaizen Systems

Job Description

Job Description

Are You the Change Agent Who Turns Strategy into Reality?

Do you thrive when you own the roadmap, influence senior leaders, and translate Lean theory into results that move the P&L? At Prysmian in Taunton, MA, we’re looking for an Operational Excellence Manager who will lead our Prysmian Performance System (PPS) and elevate safety, quality, delivery, and cost—every single day.

Imagine This

You’ve just partnered with the Plant Director to align a Hoshin Kanri strategy. You prioritize a bottleneck in a high-revenue value stream, design a Kaizen focused on pull and flow, and guide teams to implement SMED, TPM, and standard work. Thirty days later, lead time is down, output is up, and the new daily management visuals make performance—and accountability—obvious.

What Success Looks Like

• 30 Days: Assess current state and PPS maturity; launch quick wins on safety, quality, and flow. Build relationships and credibility across the leadership team.
• 60 Days: Finalize a site-wide Lean roadmap; kick off high-impact Kaizen on the most constrained value stream; stand up daily management and visual controls.
• 90 Days: Demonstrate hard, tracked improvements in SQDCG; standardize gains with robust work standards and accountability systems; mentor rising Lean leaders.

Your Scope

• Own the Lean transformation agenda and the prioritization of initiatives.
• Facilitate high-impact Kaizen that removes constraints and transforms cost structures.
• Target high-volume, high-revenue value streams for maximum business impact.
• Embed Lean thinking into daily decisions through standard work, daily management, and visual systems.
• Coach operators, supervisors, and leaders—building a deep bench of problem solvers.

Reporting line: Plant Director.

What You Bring

• Experienced Lean Black Belt / CI Leader in manufacturing with a record of delivering measurable improvements (cost, throughput, lead time).
• Expert knowledge of Value Stream Transformation; Flow & Pull; Hoshin Kanri; SMED; TPM; Standard Work; Daily Management & Visual Systems.
• Influence without authority—able to challenge and align senior leaders.
• A relentless focus on impact over activity and on sustainability of results.

Required Competencies, Education, and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (industrial engineering strongly preferred).
• 3–5 years of manufacturing experience leading Kaizen and Continuous Improvement.
• Proficient in Gemba Kaizen, Value Stream Analysis, Visual & Daily Management, Hoshin Kanri, SMED, TPM, Standard Work Development, and 3P layout.
• Skilled Kaizen facilitator and talent spotter for future Lean-minded leaders.
• Proficiency in cost reduction and process flow optimization initiatives.
• Comfort with Kaizen tools including 3P, TAKT Time, Standard Work Combination Sheets, Standard WIP, and Kaizen Newspaper.
• Ability to prioritize multiple initiatives and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Capability to provide leadership and strategic direction as part of the site leadership team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Master on TPS or Danaher Business System certification.
• Project management success—meeting timelines or proactively adjusting to hit goals.
• Agile certification (e.g., SCALE) and change leadership certification (e.g., PROSCI).
• Analytical rigor: SPC, hypothesis testing, regression, and correlation analysis.
• Structured problem solving: 5-Whys, 8D, Shainin.

Why Prysmian

Prysmian leads the world in energy and telecom cable systems—delivering thousands of miles of underground and submarine cables annually for power transmission and distribution, plus medium/low-voltage solutions for infrastructure and construction. We also provide optical fibers, copper cables, and connectivity enabling voice, video, and data for telecoms. With almost 29,000 employees across 52 countries, you’ll be part of a global team transforming how the world is powered and connected. Make Your Mark at Prysmian.

Compensation & Location

Base compensation: $100,000–$130,000. Location: Taunton, MA.

Ready to Build What Lasts?

If you’re already delivering results but want a bigger platform—and the authority to set the agenda—this is your opportunity to lead a transformation that endures.