Director Operational Excellence
Connecting Experts
Ile-de-France
Location: France (with frequent travel across 5 production sites)
Industry: Automotive (Tier 1 Supplier)
Travel: Up to 50%
Languages: Fluent in French and English
Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Regional OPEX Director to oversee and drive operational excellence across 5 production sites located in France. This critical leadership role is responsible for the implementation and continuous improvement of OPEX initiatives, Lean manufacturing, and CI methodologies across the region. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in the automotive Tier 1 sector, a proven track record in managing multi-site operations, and fluency in both French and English.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the implementation and management of Operational Excellence (OPEX) strategies across 5 production sites in France.
- Drive and sustain Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives, fostering a culture of excellence and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Oversee Lean manufacturing projects and optimize production processes to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve overall performance.
- Collaborate with site managers, senior leadership, and cross-functional teams to achieve operational targets and improve production performance.
- Mentor and develop a team of OPEX professionals, ensuring strong leadership and fostering a continuous improvement mindset.
- Partner with other departments such as production, engineering, and supply chain to ensure alignment and execution of OPEX goals.
- Analyze data and operational metrics to identify performance gaps and propose actionable solutions.
- Support change management efforts, guiding the implementation of new technologies, systems, or processes that contribute to improved productivity.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and quality standards across all sites, aligning OPEX goals with organizational safety and quality initiatives.
- Regularly report progress, challenges, and KPIs to senior management and key stakeholders.
- Travel to the various production sites (50% of the time) to ensure effective communication and to monitor the progress of initiatives on-site.
Qualifications and Experience
- Experience: Minimum of 8-10 years of experience in Operational Excellence , Lean Manufacturing, and Continuous Improvement within an automotive Tier 1 supplier environment. Experience across multiple production sites is highly preferred.
- Leadership: Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage and motivate diverse teams across multiple locations.
- Languages: Fluent in both French and English (written and spoken).
- Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
- Technical Skills: In-depth knowledge of Lean methodologies, Six Sigma, OPEX strategies, and CI tools (Kaizen, 5S, VSM, Root Cause Analysis, etc.).
- Travel: Willingness to travel up to 50% across the 5 production sites in France.
Key Competencies:
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to lead change in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact with senior management and employees at all levels.
- Proven ability to implement successful process improvements that result in measurable improvements in cost, quality, and delivery.
- Strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
- Ability to build strong working relationships with cross-functional teams.