Plant Lean Manager

Org Marketing Statement

Join Parker's Filtration Group and be part of a global team driving innovative filtration solutions that protect people, equipment, and the environment across diverse industries. Experience a dynamic, collaborative culture where your ideas fuel progress and your work makes a meaningful impact on sustainability and technological excellence.

Position Summary

Position Summary

The Plant Lean Manager is a site-level leader responsible for execution, sustainment and education of the Parker Lean System (PLS) typically at a manufacturing site. This role leads process improvement initiatives, manages Key Performance Objective (KPO) resources, and partners with Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to drive business process improvements. The Lean Manager I may oversee certain aspects of performance from suppliers/service providers and interact with customers as needed.

Scope/ Supervision and Interaction

This role generally reports to the Division Lean Manager or another designated Division manager and has direct reports, as assigned, for whom it provides day-to-day guidance, oversight, and development support. The scope of this role typically encompasses a manufacturing site, with responsibility spanning across all manufacturing, assembly, warehousing, and inventory flow activities.

Essential Functions

PLS Strategy, Execution, and Sustainment

• Drives and ensures adherence to Parker Lean System (PLS) methodologies and principles through deployment of PLS tools within the site.
• Establish and manage the CI project portfolio across multiple value streams; ensure alignment to site objectives.
• Manage complex kaizen events and focused improvement activities, ensuring robust pre-work, execution, and sustainment.

KPO Leadership and Governance

• Manage KPO resources at the site level; assign priorities, balance workload, and ensure timely completion of improvement actions.
• Maintain transformation governance (cadence, action logs, benefit validation) and CI documentation, ensuring changes are reflected in standard work and training.

Advanced Lean Methods and Problem Solving

• Manage Lean Practitioners and/or specialists to ensure Lean tools are deployed effectively across the site(s) to reduce waste and variation: value stream mapping, flow/pull systems, kanban, visual management, and error-proofing.
• Ensure the lean team and location(s) are utilizing structured 10 step problem solving and verify effectiveness of solutions; drive standardization and scalability across value streams.
• Drive corrective action to site(s), Kaizens or processes that are not following lean practices to ensure improvement in performance.Coaches and influences team members to use and see value in PLS tools and processes.
• Coaches and influences team members to use and see value in PLS tools and processes.

Performance Management and Analytics

• Define and track KPIs for continued improvement in site(s) performance (e.g., lead time, WIP/turns, OEE, throughput, on-time delivery); manage the maintenance if CI dashboards and tier boards for accuracy.
• Utilize the site(s) CI boards to direct process improvement actives at the site(s) with stakeholder buy in.
• Validate benefits with stakeholders; link improvements to safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner routinely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to remove barriers and integrate CI with production plans and engineering changes.
• May oversee performance of suppliers/service providers in support of CI initiatives; interact with customers on improvement-related topics as needed.
• Communicate progress, risks, and countermeasures to site leadership; support audits and customer visits related to Lean practices.

Lean Team Management

• Manage the local lean team to exceed performance expectations within the site(s). Coach, direct and mentor team members.
• Actively lead performance discussions and goal expectations with direct report and ensure goals align to site(s), Division and Company goals.
• Manage any performance processes as needed throughout the course of a typical employment cycle and partner with key stakeholders througout the process.

Qualifications

Education / Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Manufacturing, Mechanical, Quality, or Systems Engineering; Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, or Business Management; Analytics, Statistics, or a related technical/operations discipline required.
• Requires a minimum of 6 years of related Lean, continuous improvement, manufacturing, operations, or process-improvement experience, including practical application of Lean principles and tools.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, SME Lean Certification, or an equivalent certification is preferred.
• Working knowledge of ERP and MES applications and digital continuous improvement boards is preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Demonstrates strong proficiency in PLS fundamentals and Lean tools, including VSM, standard work, 5S/6S, daily management, flow/pull, SMED, TPM, visual management, and structured problem solving.
• Leads kaizen events and Continuous Improvement initiatives across multiple value streams, departments, or functional areas.
• Coaches frontline teams, supervisors, and functional partners in Lean behaviors, A3 thinking, root cause analysis, and effective countermeasure implementation.
• Establishes and sustains daily management systems, leader standard work, KPI reviews, visual controls, and standardization practices.
• Uses SQDCI, operational, quality, delivery, and financial measures to prioritize CI work, track performance, and remove execution barriers.
• Manages or provides functional leadership to CI/KPO resources; establishes clear expectations, development plans, accountability, and performance feedback.
• Owns a prioritized CI portfolio aligned to site strategy deployment, operational priorities, resource availability, and measurable business impact.
• Influences cross-functional stakeholders and site leadership to drive sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, capacity, and customer performance.

Travel Requirements

• This role requires regular travel to company facilities and other business locations to support operational excellence initiatives. Travel requirements will vary based on business priorities, project scope, and geographic responsibility. The incumbent must be able to travel independently, including occasional overnight and international travel where applicable.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Additional Comments:

The essential functions have been provided as example of the type of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. The company reserves the right to modify the work assignments and/or to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions. The job description is not intended to be an inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. It is intended to describe the general nature of the position.

Parker is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. Parker is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities for all job applicants and employees. Employment decisions are based upon job related reasons regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, gender identity, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. However, U.S. Citizenship, Permanent Residency or other appropriate status is required for certain positions, in accord with U.S. import & export regulations.

("Minority / Female / Disability / Veteran / VEVRAA Federal Contractor")

If you would like more information about Equal Employment Opportunity as an applicant under the law, please go to Employees & Job Applicants | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission