Sr Director GROWTTH & Lean Systems

Working at Freudenberg: We will wow your world!

Operational Excellence

• Provide global leadership in the development and implementation of strategic Lean tools, including:

  • Hoshin Kanri (Strategy/Policy Deployment)

  • Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • Site-level Lean Audit processes

  • Lean training content development and delivery

  • Visual management and daily improvement (Managing for Daily Improvement)

  • Core Lean tools (Standard Work, 5S, structured problem solving, etc.)

  • Full Potential Analysis

• Integrate Artificial Intelligence and Digitization initiatives into the GROWTTH toolkits to enhance data-driven decision-making, automation, and continuous improvement capabilities.

• Establish and lead collaborative improvement projects at the Business Unit (BU) level, partnering with BU leadership to plan and deliver measurable results.

• Travel to manufacturing sites to lead planned initiatives and coordinate with local management and resources.

Strategic Planning

• Lead the annual development and alignment of the Lean budget with corporate strategy.

• Balance leadership and hands-on execution across multiple concurrent projects.

• Prepare for and facilitate key internal meetings involving senior executives, Lean Managers, and Lean team members.

• Lead the identification and documentation of key internal methodologies for integration into Helix Medical.

• Organize and lead regular internal Lean Manager meetings, including the annual global conference and cross-location collaboration sessions.

• Support or lead key non-Lean corporate and strategic initiatives as assigned.

• Collaborate with functional leaders (e.g., HR, IT, Finance) on strategic and tactical initiatives requiring Lean expertise.

• Provide strategic and subject matter expertise to corporate and Lean leadership, leveraging deep experience and industry knowledge.

• Actively network with external Lean organizations and educational institutions to bring best practices into the organization.

Enterprise KPI Governance and Management

• Lead the development and implementation of a comprehensive KPI governance framework, including documentation standards, ownership matrices, and data source transparency.

• Coordinate with functional owners to define and maintain operational definitions for all enterprise KPIs, ensuring consistency and comparability across business units, customers, and sites.

• Oversee the integration of KPI reporting systems (e.g., SAP, Enableon, IQMS, Bruni) to automate data extraction and reduce manual intervention.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure KPI dashboards (e.g., Power BI) are semantically modeled, refreshed regularly, and aligned with business priorities.

• Standardize KPI presentation templates and ensure alignment with leadership communication goals.

• Maintain a prioritized log of report requests and enhancements to support transparency and delivery tracking.

• Support onboarding and training of team members in KPI systems and tools to ensure continuity and scalability.

Lean and Six Sigma Training Program Leadership

• Design, structure, and deploy enterprise-wide Lean and Six Sigma training programs, including Green Belt and Black Belt certification pathways.

• Develop and maintain standardized training content and delivery methods for Lean tools (e.g., 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Hoshin Kanri) and Six Sigma methodologies (e.g., DMAIC, FMEA, statistical analysis).

• Coordinate with functional leaders and site-level management to ensure training programs align with business needs and operational maturity levels.

• Oversee the nomination, onboarding, and certification process for Lean Systems Black Belt candidates, including project-based learning and phase gate reviews.

• Ensure training activities are represented across the global network and integrated into employee development plans and Workday profiles.

• Leverage digital tools such as VR and AI-based layout optimization to enhance training effectiveness and engagement.

• Maintain a centralized library of training manuals and lead periodic updates to reflect evolving best practices

Required Education/certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field

• Master’s degree, such as an MBA, is highly desirable.

• Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification

• Additional certifications beneficial:

• ISO 13485 / FDA QSR training (medical device regulatory environment).

• ASQ Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) or Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence (CMQ/OE).

Required Experience:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Lean/Operational Excellence, with at least 7–10 years in senior/global leadership roles.

• Proven track record of deploying Lean systems across multiple geographies, including developing and scaling enterprise-wide Lean Operating Systems.

• Hands-on leadership of large-scale transformation initiatives, including Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and policy deployment (Hoshin Kanri).

• Strong history of building high-performing Lean/OpEx teams and mentoring Black Belts/Green Belts worldwide.

Required Skills / Abilities:

• Technical & Strategic Mastery

  • Deep knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

  • Ability to integrate Lean with ISO 13485, FDA QSR, and other regulatory requirements in the med device industry.

  • Expertise in building standardized global systems while respecting local cultural and operational differences.

• Leadership & Influence

  • Executive presence with the ability to influence employees at all levels.

  • Strong change management skills, able to drive adoption across diverse cultures and functions.

  • Proven success in coaching and developing leaders at all levels in Lean thinking.

• Business & Financial Acumen

  • Strong understanding of P&L impact, cost reduction, quality improvement, and customer satisfaction metrics.

  • Ability to link Lean initiatives directly to business outcomes (EBITDA, market competitiveness, compliance risk reduction).

• Communication & Global Mindset

  • Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage across languages and cultures.

  • Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed (often 50%).

The Freudenberg Group is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion. Employment opportunities are available to all applicants and associates without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, mental or physical disability, genetic information, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.