Lean & Business System Leader (Engineering)

TL;DR

Lean & Business System Leader (Engineering): Implementing a robust business operating system and driving operational excellence at the Ningbo plant with an accent on lean transformation, continuous improvement culture, and leadership coaching. Focus on deploying standardized management systems, optimizing value streams, and shifting organizational mindset from fire-fighting to systematic improvement.

Location: Ningbo, China (Onsite)

Company

Global leader in water and heating technologies providing sustainable solutions for commercial and residential buildings.

What you will do

• Design and implement a standardized business operating system including daily management, tiered accountability, and visual management.
• Lead end-to-end lean transformations using VSM, kaizen events, 5S, TPM, SMED, and pull systems.
• Coach the Plant Manager and functional leadership on lean principles and A3/PDCA problem-solving.
• Establish and track key operational KPIs such as OEE, FTY, and OTD to drive performance reviews.
• Act as a change agent to shift organizational culture from reactive fire-fighting to systematic improvement.
• Identify and lead high-impact cross-functional improvement projects with clear financial and operational gains.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a dedicated Lean/OpEx role.
• Proven experience deploying business operating systems (e.g., TPS, DBS, HOS) in multinational manufacturing environments.
• Fluency in English and Mandarin is required.
• Experience in mid-to-large scale manufacturing such as assembly, machining, or chemical processing.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification is highly preferred.

Nice to have

• MBA or Master's degree in Operations or Lean Management.
• Experience building operational maturity from the ground up in plants with weak existing systems.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to drive a comprehensive lean transformation in a multinational environment.
• Strategic role with direct influence on plant leadership and high visibility to senior management.
• Clear professional growth trajectory with potential for broader leadership roles within 2-3 years.