Lean Coach (Operational Excellence) - Manufacturing

Lean Coach

Seeking an experienced Lean Coach to support operational excellence initiatives across manufacturing and plant operations. This role partners closely with plant leadership to evaluate operational workflows, identify inefficiencies, and guide teams in implementing practical Lean improvements that enhance productivity, reliability, and operational efficiency.

The Lean Coach will work directly with Plant Managers, Operations Leaders, and Technical Teams to drive continuous improvement efforts within manufacturing environments supporting the company's lubricants and grease production network. This role is part of Global Operations, a center of expertise responsible for optimizing operations across global manufacturing facilities.

Responsibilities

• Coach plant leadership and operational teams on Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies
• Evaluate manufacturing processes, production workflows, and plant operations to identify opportunities for efficiency and waste reduction
• Facilitate Lean workshops, Kaizen events, and process improvement initiatives
• Conduct Value Stream Mapping (VSM) and operational process analysis to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies
• Support plant leaders in implementing practical and sustainable operational improvements
• Guide teams in understanding why previous Lean initiatives may have failed and how to implement improvements effectively
• Partner with operations, maintenance, and engineering teams to improve production reliability, throughput, and operational performance
• Develop and monitor operational performance metrics and improvement KPIs
• Mentor plant supervisors and operations leaders on continuous improvement practices

Technical Requirements (Experience Needed)

Manufacturing & Plant Operations

• Strong understanding of industrial manufacturing or plant operations environments
• Experience with process manufacturing, production workflows, and operational process optimization
• Familiarity with maintenance, reliability, and asset utilization in plant environments
• Ability to evaluate plant-floor operations and operational inefficiencies

Lean & Continuous Improvement Tools (Hands-on)

• Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
• Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys, Fishbone)
• Kaizen / Continuous Improvement events
• Waste elimination (TIMWOODS)
• Standard Work development
• Visual management systems
• Process flow optimization
• Operational performance management

Operational Metrics & Performance

• Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
• Production throughput and capacity utilization
• Downtime and equipment reliability
• Cycle time and process lead times
• Yield, scrap, and rework rates
• Maintenance efficiency and asset utilization
• Labor productivity

Industrial Systems Knowledge (Preferred)

• MES, SAP (ERP preferred), CMMS, production planning and plant performance dashboards

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is an experienced operational leader with hands-on manufacturing or plant leadership experience who understands both the potential and limitations of Lean methodologies.

Required:

• 10+ years of experience in operations, manufacturing, or plant environments
• Background in manufacturing, petrochemical, chemical, refinery, or industrial production environments
• Previous leadership experience such as: o Plant Manager o Operations Manager o Production Manager o Manufacturing Supervisor o Plant Superintendent

• Experience leading operational improvement or Lean initiatives
• Strong credibility working with experienced plant leadership teams
• Ability to translate Lean theory into practical operational improvements

Education: Bachelor's Degree preferred; HS Diploma/GED required with minimum of 10 years experience in related role.

Benefits:

The benefits available with this position include:

• Ongoing Training (RSO, Systems, Software Programs, OSHA Safety, JJ Keller, etc.)
• Continuous Employment Development and Learning
• Ongoing Advocacy, internal assets with HSE, Legal and HR teams and experts to aid in Employee Career Path and Advancement
• 401K
• Healthcare Group Medical Coverage & Healthcare for California only
• Dental Insurance Coverage
• Vision Insurance Coverage
• Basic Life Insurance & AD&D
• Long Term Disability
• Voluntary Short-Term Disability
• Direct Deposit
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts

Cenergy is a dynamic, diverse, woman-owned company that has provided stellar support to our clients globally for over 25 years! We hire extraordinary people, and each of our team members are encouraged to embody our core values to drive innovation and own it with integrity and trust while adding to our positive and forward-thinking atmosphere