Value Stream Manager

Job Title: Value Stream Manager (Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident do to ITAR)

Job Description

The Value Stream Manager serves as the business leader for a designated value stream, owning end-to-end performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, and Productivity (SQDIP). This role leads cross-functional efforts with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and Customer Service to eliminate constraints, improve flow, and drive operational excellence in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The Value Stream Manager develops frontline leaders, manages people and resources to meet customer demand, and ensures the value stream consistently delivers safe, high-quality products on time while achieving financial and operational targets.

Responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve end-to-end SQDIP performance through data-driven problem solving, structured analysis, and effective corrective actions.
• Act as the business owner for the assigned value stream, taking accountability for operational and financial performance and partnering with cross-functional teams to achieve targets.
• Drive disciplined daily management processes, ensuring issues are identified quickly, escalated appropriately, and resolved in a timely and effective manner.
• Develop supervisors and frontline leaders by providing coaching, feedback, and support to strengthen leadership capabilities across the value stream.
• Champion continuous improvement and lean initiatives that reduce waste, improve flow, and sustain operational gains across people, processes, and equipment.
• Manage people, materials, and equipment resources to meet customer demand while maintaining high standards of safety, quality, and delivery.
• Determine staffing levels, line changeovers, line stoppages, and process changes within authorized limits to optimize throughput and efficiency.
• Make decisions on supervisor hiring and spending within approved limits to support operational goals and value stream performance.
• Partner with Operations, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Continuous Improvement, and Finance on production priorities, workforce planning, process improvements, inventory management, and budget adherence.
• Lead the response to operational, safety, quality, staffing, maintenance, and material issues, ensuring timely resolution and clear communication of risks and performance gaps to leadership.
• Own value stream execution to ensure safe operations, on-time delivery, strong quality performance, and schedule attainment.
• Use daily SQDIP management and tiered meetings to identify performance gaps, drive corrective actions, and improve flow across the value stream.
• Remove constraints related to labor, materials, equipment, and processes to reduce variation, increase efficiency, and improve overall throughput.
• Partner with Maintenance to minimize downtime and ensure equipment reliability, including proactive planning for maintenance activities.
• Lead new product and process launches within the value stream by coordinating training, documentation, capacity planning, and material readiness.
• Maintain clear escalation processes and ensure issues are addressed at the appropriate level and within appropriate timeframes.
• Report value stream performance, trends, root causes, and improvement plans to leadership in a clear and transparent manner.
• Effectively operate in an environment where processes are not fully defined, providing structure, clarity, and direction amid ambiguity.
• Provide day-to-day leadership to at least one direct report, most likely a production supervisor, ensuring alignment with value stream objectives.

Essential Skills

• High school diploma or GED.
• Proven experience and success in a value stream leadership role with demonstrated ability to deliver measurable SQDIP improvements.
• At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing leadership roles, including significant exposure to Lean and Continuous Improvement practices.
• Prior supervisory experience, including leadership of multi-shift operations.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to develop and mentor supervisors and frontline leaders.
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Proficient computer skills, including MS Excel, MS Word, and ERP systems.
• Ability to use data-driven problem solving and root cause analysis to identify and resolve operational issues.
• Comfort working in environments with ambiguity and limited existing structure, and the ability to implement processes and standards.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Human Resources, Continuous Improvement, and Finance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering is preferred.
• Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles and tools.
• Experience with 5 Whys and other root cause analysis methods.
• Kaizen facilitation and participation experience.
• Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma experience.
• Knowledge of Single-Piece Flow (One-Piece Flow) concepts and implementation.
• Experience leading new product or process introductions in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Interest in contributing to products that directly impact and protect lives.

Work Environment

The role is based in a fast-paced, modern manufacturing environment focused on designing and producing advanced head protection systems for individuals operating in demanding and high-risk missions, including combat, rescue, and adventure. The facility has been recently remodeled and features an extremely clean production environment, reflecting a strong commitment to safety, quality, and operational discipline. A game room area provides an additional space for employees to recharge and connect, contributing to a supportive and engaging workplace culture. The organization employs approximately 400 people overall, with around 35 people on the first shift, offering the Value Stream Manager the opportunity to gain broad leadership experience overseeing a sizable team. The work environment emphasizes thoughtful design and high-performance products that allow end users to focus on their mission, reinforcing a strong sense of purpose and impact. Processes in some areas are still being defined, so the Value Stream Manager will operate in an environment with some ambiguity and evolving structure, helping to build and refine standards and practices over time. Standard manufacturing technologies and ERP systems are used to manage production, inventory, and performance, and employees are expected to maintain a professional appearance consistent with a clean, safety-focused manufacturing setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cleveland, OH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $67.00 - $72.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cleveland,OH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 7, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.