Divisional Director of Excellence (Manufacturing)

Location: Slough, United Kingdom; full-time onsite role

Company

John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, provides mission-critical flow control products and digital monitoring technologies for energy and process industries through a global network of more than 200 sites.

What you will do

• Translate Group Excellence strategy, standards, and frameworks into divisional business plans.
• Lead cross-functional Lean, continuous improvement, transformation, and structured problem-solving initiatives.
• Advise the Divisional Leadership Team and interface with the Group Excellence organisation.
• Build operational excellence capability through coaching, mentoring, and development programmes.
• Lead and prioritise the Divisional Excellence team and associated resources.
• Establish governance, performance management, and value-tracking mechanisms across multiple sites and functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
• Significant senior leadership experience in operational excellence, transformation, or continuous improvement.
• Experience in complex global manufacturing and/or aftermarket service environments.
• Lean and/or Continuous Improvement certification, such as Lean Leader or Six Sigma Black Belt.
• Strong financial acumen, governance, prioritisation, execution, communication, and influencing skills.
• Experience leading organisational change, coaching leaders, and developing high-performing teams in matrixed, multi-site environments.

Nice to have

• Postgraduate qualification such as an MBA or equivalent.

Culture & Benefits

• Inclusive, equal-opportunity workplace focused on diversity and ethical values.
• Employee resource groups supporting Veterans, Pride, Black employees, Women@Work, and Neurodiversity networks.
• Recognition through the annual Smiths Excellence Awards and Smiths Day celebration.
• Collaboration across global regions, functions, and cultures.