Sr Director Continuous Improvement

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Date: Sep 7, 2024

Location: Columbia, MD, US, 21044

Company: W. R. Grace & Co.

 

Requisition ID: 23279

Built on talent, technology, and trust, Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and engineered materials. The company’s two industry-leading business segments—Catalysts Technologies and Materials Technologies—provide innovative products, technologies, and services that enhance the products and processes of our customers around the world. Grace employs approximately 4,300 people in over 30 countries.

 

Job Description

Grace is seeking a highly experienced and dynamic individual to join our team as the Senior Director of Continuous Improvement. This role will act as a Champion and be responsible for leading and driving a culture of continuous improvement. The position reports into the Sr. VP of Strategy, Planning & Sustainability and will be located in Columbia, MD.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and implement a comprehensive continuous improvement strategy, in alignment with the company's overall business objectives, to drive productivity and efficiency.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of continuous improvement professionals, providing guidance and support to translate overarching strategies into actionable improvement initiatives.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify areas for improvement, analyze current processes, and develop innovative solutions to optimize performance and reduce costs.
  • Implement and maintain performance metrics and KPIs to measure and track the progress of continuous improvement initiatives, and regularly report on the results to senior leadership.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement by promoting best practices, providing training and support to build continuous improvement capabilities, tools, and skillset; encouraging employee engagement and involvement in improvement projects.
  • Drive the implementation of lean methodologies, Six Sigma principles, and other industry best practices to streamline processes, eliminate waste, and enhance overall productivity and efficiency.
  • Act as a change agent, influencing and driving organizational change to support the adoption of new processes and procedures that result from continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Work with the finance department to evaluate project savings estimates, validate reported continuous improvement benefits, and ensure accurate accounting of continuous improvement productivity and inclusion in financial plans
  • Work in collaboration with the Sr. Manager, Process Optimization to develop a continuous improvement strategy, identifying and prioritize an opportunity pipeline, and determining required resources to drive results.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, process management, operations, industrial engineering, or engineering management.
  • 20 years of overall experience with a minimum of 10 years progressive process improvement leadership experience.
  • Certified Lead Practitioner or Certified Six Sigma Black Belt.
  • Proven track record of successfully leading and implementing large-scale continuous improvement initiatives, resulting in significant cost savings, increased efficiency, and improved customer satisfaction.
  • Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret business needs into operational requirements.
  • Strong commitment to cultivating a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to effectively analyze complex data, identify root causes of issues, and develop strategic improvement plans.
  • Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and mentor a team of continuous improvement professionals.
  • Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Deep knowledge of lean principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and other continuous improvement tools and techniques.
  • Strong continuous improvement industry relations, staying apprised of best practices, tools, and capabilities.
  • Change management expertise and experience in leading organizational transformation initiatives.
  • Demonstrated ability to work in high paced and changing environments.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Master's degree
  • Experience in the chemicals industry and/or related technology
  • Ability to navigate multiple business and operations resources towards a common goal and continuous improvement mindset
  • Experience with Team Guru, SAP, and Microsoft Suite

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
  • Life Insurance and Disability
  • Grace Wellness Program
  • Flexible Workplace
  • Retirement Plans 
  • 401(k) Company Match – Dollar to dollar up to the first 6%
  • Paid Vacation and Holidays
  • Parental Leave
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Company Donation Match Program
  • U.S. Employee Benefits Summary (grace.com)

 

 

Grace is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Grace via email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Grace. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Grace as a result of the referral or through other means.

 

EOE Statement:  W. R. Grace & Co. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other legally protected status.

 

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation.


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