Lean/Kaizen Leader - based in Vietnam

Position Summary

The Lean / Kaizen Leader will be the primary catalyst for our continuous improvement culture. You will be responsible for leading, coaching, and mentoring teams at all levels in the principles and methodologies of Lean and Kaizen. Your mission will be to identify and eliminate waste, streamline processes, and foster a mindset of sustainable improvement across the organization. You will achieve this through hands-on facilitation of Kaizen events, development of training materials, and by building a strong network of improvement practitioners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership & Strategy:

• Develop and execute the company's continuous improvement roadmap in alignment with strategic goals.
• Champion the Lean philosophy and act as a change agent to embed a culture of continuous improvement.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the impact of Lean initiatives on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale (SQDCM).
• Report regularly to senior leadership on the progress, benefits, and ROI of the Lean program.

2. Kaizen Event Facilitation:

• Plan, lead, and facilitate high-impact Kaizen events and rapid improvement workshops across various departments (e.g., production, logistics, administration, engineering).
• Guide teams through the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) or PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles.
• Teach and apply core Lean tools such as Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Standardized Work, Error-Proofing, Quick Changeover (SMED), and Pull Systems/Kanban.

3. Training & Coaching:

• Design and deliver engaging Lean training modules for team members, team leaders, and managers.
• Coach and mentor individuals and teams to develop their problem-solving skills, using methods like A3 Thinking and Root Cause Analysis (e.g., 5 Whys).
• Build and nurture a network of "Lean Champions" within different business units to ensure sustainability and grassroots growth.

4. Execution & Sustainment:

• Go to the Gemba (the actual place where work is done) to observe processes, identify waste, and coach team members in real-time.
• Ensure that improvements are standardized, documented, and controlled through visual management systems.
• Audit improved processes to ensure gains are sustained and to identify further improvement opportunities.

Qualifications & Experience

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience leading and facilitating Lean/Continuous Improvement initiatives in an operational environment.
• Proven track record of facilitating successful Kaizen events with measurable, sustainable results.
• Deep expertise in Lean principles and tools (VSM, 5S, Standard Work, TPM, SMED, Heijunka, etc.).
• Strong experience with problem-solving methodologies (A3, 8D, Root Cause Analysis).
• Excellent facilitation, training, and presentation skills.

Preferred:

• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma (Green Belt or Black Belt), or TPS (Toyota Production System).
• Experience in [Your Industry, e.g., high-volume manufacturing, healthcare, software development].
• Experience with change management principles and influencing without direct authority.
• Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Minitab, Tableau, Power BI).

Key Competencies & Behaviors

• Gemba Mindset: A strong desire to be on the shop floor or where the value is created.
• Coaching & Mentorship: A natural teacher who empowers others to solve their own problems.
• Results-Oriented: Driven by data and tangible outcomes.
• Influential Leader: Able to inspire and motivate teams at all levels, from frontline associates to senior executives.
• Excellent Communicator: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
• Resilient Change Agent: Navigates resistance with empathy and persistence.
• Creative Problem-Solver: Thinks critically and systematically to address complex challenges.