Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX) – Manufacturing Plant

Lincoln, IL
$130,000 to $190,000

OPEN JOB: Operational Excellence Manager (OPEX) – Manufacturing Plant
LOCATION: Lincoln, Illinois
BASE SALARY: $130,000 to $190,000
INDUSTRY: Manufacturing & Production

IDEAL CANDIDATE:

Strong understanding of Lean management systems and their connection to business strategy, daily operations, and waste elimination.
Manufacturing Plant Level Experience
Broad knowledge of Lean tools and principles, including value stream mapping, 5S/workplace organization, continuous flow manufacturing, set-up reduction, TPM, error proofing, pull systems, and standardized work.
Proven analytical, facilitation, and problem-solving skills with the ability to turn data into action.
Ability to prioritize multiple time-critical tasks and maintain momentum across several improvement initiatives.
Ability to lead, influence, and develop cross-functional process improvement teams across all levels of the organization; both a strategic partner and a hands-on coach on the shop floor.
Ability to apply structured problem-solving methods, including 8D and statistical analysis, to define root causes, validate solutions, and prevent recurrence

DETAILS:

Our client’s Electrical Sector - Residential & Wiring Devices Division is seeking an Operational Excellence (OPEX) Manager for the Lincoln, IL manufacturing facility.
In this highly visible plant leadership role, you will champion the company's Continuous Improvement System (ECIS), the company's Business System (EBS), Lean, and Six Sigma to build a strong culture of problem solving, operational discipline, and sustainable performance improvement.

This role is ideal for a hands-on continuous improvement leader who can coach teams, translate strategy into action, and deliver measurable results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, customer satisfaction, and employee engagement.
As the site’s OPEX leader, you will partner directly with the plant leadership team to shape the continuous improvement roadmap, strengthen daily management systems, develop talent, and accelerate business results in a complex manufacturing environment that produces critical electrical products for residential and commercial applications.

What you’ll do:

Champion ECIS, EBS, Lean, and Six Sigma across the site to deliver short- and long-term improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, working capital, and customer satisfaction.
Partner with the plant leadership team to develop, deploy, and sustain the site’s continuous improvement strategy, governance process, and annual improvement priorities.
Build a culture of structured problem solving through leader standard work, daily accountability, visual management, process checks, Gemba walks, and disciplined follow-up.
Serve as the site expert and champion for the company's Business System, helping leaders connect business priorities to practical operating routines and improvement actions.
Lead Operational Assessment (OpA) preparation, execution, and follow-up by identifying gaps, building action plans, and sustaining progress across the organization.
Use Lean and Six Sigma tools to eliminate waste, improve flow, reduce variation, and strengthen operational performance across manufacturing and functional processes.
Coach, train, and mentor employees and leaders through Kaizen events, Rapid Improvement Events (RIE), Six Sigma projects, benchmarking, leader standard work deployment, and capability-building activities.
Analyze operational metrics, identify performance gaps, and recommend data-driven action plans that improve results and sustain accountability at the operating level.
Lead site cost-out and productivity initiatives to achieve annual savings commitments and support long-term financial performance.
Influence and engage cross-functional teams by translating complex improvement opportunities into clear priorities, practical actions, and measurable outcomes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Minimum of seven (7) years of experience in manufacturing, operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, or another cross-functional discipline in a manufacturing environment.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading people, projects, and cross-functional teams.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
Project management experience or PMP certification.
Experience or certification in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), set-up reduction, structured problem solving, Kaizen, or Lean material flow.

If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please respond back and include the following:

MS WORD Resume
required compensation.
Contact information.
Availability

Upon receipt, one of our managers will contact you to discuss the position in full detail.

Jason Denmark
Recruiting Manager
INTERMEDIA GROUP, INC.
EMAIL: jdenmark@intermediagroup.com
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasondenmark/