Director, Operational Excellence

From the mobile device in your pocket to the sensors in your car, and even life-saving medical devices, Nordson’s technology is used to make products that touch your life every day. Do you want to join a growing team in a market-leading technology company? We’re looking for motivated individuals who care about helping our customers succeed. If you value integrity, respect for people, customer passion, energy, and excellence, you’ll fit right in to the Nordson culture.

JOB SUMMARY

We have a unique opportunity for a Nordson Business Systems (NBS Next) Director with extensive experience in championing strategic change and continuous improvement in organizations, including proven effective communication techniques throughout all levels in our organization, executing deliverables, and managing large teams with the ability to create follower leadership. Based on lean manufacturing principles and 80/20, NBS Next drives every aspect of our culture and performance, guiding what we do, measuring our execution, and improving each day.

This position is responsible for coaching the business to achieve its strategic initiatives through the implementation and execution of NBS Next across all key functions including operations, sales, marketing, product management, and customer success. The goal of the role will be to leverage NBS Next best practices, NBS Next playbooks and tools, and personal knowledge and capability to install and improve processes to deliver growth at EFD.

The success of this role will consist of in-depth knowledge of lean and growth principles, and the ability to enact change, create follower leadership, and influence those cross-functional teams without direct reporting relationships. This role owns the deployment of the NBS Next Playbooks: Strategic Discipline, Customer Success, Product Innovation, Continuous Improvement, and Organizational Agility to drive Leadership Level performance globally for EFD.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Grow NBS Next Fundamentals utilization across our global EFD organization working in collaboration with the Divisional leaders to assure all levels understand/execute our NBS Next framework and Ascend strategy.
• Champion development of an NBS Next roadmap through strategic planning, including support of our new product roadmaps, then translate into measurable yearly targets and action plans.
• Assist in developing action plans to improve EFD KPIs; track progress via daily management and deploy problem-solving where required.
• Regularly participate in Daily Management and Problem-Solving reviews, and provide feedback and engagement to improve the quality and results generated from these activities.
• Build and maintain a Kaizen Funnel across our EFD organization, prioritized to drive impact on critical KPIs.
• Ensure successful kaizen events by installing and ensuring compliance with the kaizen process, including the planning of kaizens, kaizen execution, sustainment of kaizen events, and results.
• Utilize change management to influence NBS Next activities within EFD and with our global partners.
• Utilize and implement NBS Next to define and execute short and long-term strategies and actions to obtain leadership-level performance (LLP).
• Utilize a hands-on approach in working with the front-line associates to promote and deploy sustainable continuous improvement activities.
• Provide project management and leadership to implement pilots and the ongoing rollout of new continuous improvement plans.
• Properly engage, collaborate, and influence all functions to ensure the continuous improvement strategy is understood and is sufficiently supported by the appropriate stakeholders.
• Responsible for detailed data analytics utilizing process information and financial reports to assess manufacturing activities and identify improvement opportunities.
• Co-own responsibility for improving performance in all key NBS Next business metrics.
• Provide change management leadership to ensure we achieve and sustain our targeted performance levels.
• Support the Corporate Continuous Improvement team to maintain and improve the NBS Next playbook and supporting documentation including identification and documentation of best practices, development and delivery of training material, and documentation and communication of case studies.
• Benchmark and incorporate “Best Practices” across the business and facilitate leadership sessions.
• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Experience with lean manufacturing principles (Toyota Production Systems).
• Bachelor's degree required with 12-15+ years of Commercial leadership experience i.e., sales, marketing, product management and/or customer success or MBA with 7+ years of experience is highly preferred.
• Experience in executing commercial strategies through problem-solving and process development with demonstrated results resulting in growth and efficiencies.
• Project management experience required.

REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Demonstrate strategic planning and analysis.
• Cultural and emotional intelligence working in a global organization.
• Demonstrated proficiency in applying lean and business principles including Standard Work, Daily Management, and Change Management in a variety of situations resulting in proven process improvement.
• Independent worker, capable of operating with urgency in a fast-moving and fluid environment.
• Leadership and management (of employees, projects, and partners).
• Ability to think creatively and analytically.
• Detail-oriented, self-starter with strong organizational and motivational skills.
• Proven ability to lead initiatives working collaboratively and independently in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence at all levels of a global organization.
• Demonstrated effective execution of concurrent projects and ability to multi-task.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient with MS Office.
• Capacity to make innovative connections from ideas to business-relevant opportunities.
• Ability to read, write and communicate in English as it relates to this position and safety.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Office environment. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

TRAVEL REQUIRED

Estimated 40% Domestic and International.