Director Continuous Improvement - Europe

Location: This is a remote based role from anywhere in Europe.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Lean Transformation

Lead deployment of the company’s Lean operating system across manufacturing, distribution, and commercial functions

Establish and manage a Kaizen pipeline aligned to strategic priorities and value streams

Drive enterprise initiatives that improve SQDIPC performance

Embed Lean thinking and structured problem-solving to support long-term cultural transformation

Kaizen Leadership & Execution

Lead and facilitate high-impact Kaizen events across operational and transactional processes

Identify improvement opportunities through value stream mapping, Gemba observation, and data analysis

Develop and execute rapid improvement plans to accelerate performance

Ensure improvements are standardized, sustained, and scalable

Capability Building

Build organizational Lean capability through coaching, training, and mentorship

Develop Lean champions and continuous improvement practitioners across the network

Foster a culture of disciplined problem-solving

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams to drive initiatives

Align Lean efforts with business strategy and operational priorities

Collaborate with senior leaders (e.g., Operational Excellence, Procurement, PMO) to ensure enterprise alignment

Governance & Performance Management

Establish KPIs, dashboards, and governance structures to track progress

Drive accountability and ensure sustainability of improvement initiatives

Report progress and insights to senior leadership

Qualifications

Experience

10+ years leading Lean transformations in manufacturing or supply chain environments

Proven success implementing TPS/Lean across multi-site operations

Demonstrated impact on SQDIPC performance metrics

Experience leading Kaizen events across both operational and transactional functions

Strong track record partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional teams

Technical Expertise

Deep knowledge of Lean/TPS tools and methodologies including Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, Standard Work, Visual Management, and Flow/Pull Systems

Leadership Capabilities

Strong change leadership and transformation skills

Ability to influence and coach at all organizational levels

Excellent facilitation, communication, and business acumen

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field preferred

Lean certification (e.g., Black Belt, Lean Practitioner) preferred

Travel: 60%+