Director Operational Excellence

Join a company that's reintroducing itself to the aviation community we've helped advance for more than a century. At Honeywell Aerospace (NASDAQ: HONA), we're launching as an independent, publicly traded aerospace and defense company built on a legacy of operational excellence and mission-focused execution.  

Our new brand identity pairs that heritage with real momentum, as we build technology that helps pilots navigate with confidence, aircraft operate more efficiently, and operators stay ahead of change. With our systems on board 90% of the world's aircraft, your work here has reach that's rare to find anywhere else. 

Focusing on our customers, investing in innovation, and building a culture of accountability and performance is how we're shaping what comes next. 

Every horizon. Every mission. Every day. 

THE POSITION

The Director of Operational Excellence - AOS Leader serves as the strategic program leader guiding the AOS implementation for the Minneapolis, MN site. This position plays a critical leadership role in enabling scalable, repeatable performance by coaching leaders, orchestrating strategic improvement processes, and ensuring the AOS framework becomes deeply institutionalized throughout the enterprise.

This role is also responsible for driving the expansion, adoption, and execution of the Aerospace Operating System (AOS) across the Engines & Power organization. The AOS Leader aligns leadership teams, coordinates improvement initiatives, embeds Lean and Agile methodologies, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Coordination

• Collaborate with the central AOS team to help define the future path and methods to launch, support and expand AOS within Honeywell Aerospace.
• Drive AOS adoption within ES including roadmap definition and coordination of activities across the unit
• Align with respective leadership teams to ensure adoption of AOS priorities, methods, and templates.
• Coordinate, prioritize, and organize Improvement Events.
• Manage or lead strategic business challenges to deliver on performance and improvement targets.

Continuous Improvement & Hoshin Kanri

• Foster a continuous improvement mindset with practical Lean and Agile methods.
• Support and/or orchestrate the Hoshin Kanri process.
• Coach peers and key managers on the promotion and usage of AOS; serve as a mindset-change champion.

Community Building & Coaching

• Advance AOS through recognition of success stories and role models of Lean and Agile leadership.
• Coach and lead the AOS community and key enablers across the unit.
• Drive, motivate, and manage AOS qualifications for employees.
• Collaborate with the global AOS community to execute enterprise-wide strategy.

Organizational Impact

• Act as an active member of the companywide AOS network.
• Help establish and grow the AOS team (1 FTE per SBG/Channel/Function).
• Ensure that improvement methodology is applied consistently and effectively across the business.

Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status.

YOU MUST HAVE

• 8+ years of proven project management expertise, preferably across both strategic and tactical initiatives as well as experience with Lean Manufacturing, Lean Business Systems, Consultancy or Operational Excellence.
• 4 or more years of relevant leadership experience in Lean manufacturing, Lean supply chain, or strategic change projects. 
• Strong methodical knowledge of Lean and Agile Management methods, including AOS elements and practical application.
• Master Practitioner level of competency in the fundamental Lean tools
• Hands-on experience in organizing and conducting Kaizen events and improvement workshops, coaching, and supporting change initiatives. 
• Strong expertise in Lean manufacturing, with a proven track record of implementation and change management.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience in providing guidance, coaching, and mentoring direct and/or indirect reports.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach.
• Ability to inspire change & influence without authority.
• Results and quality orientation.
• Familiarity with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and other relevant software solutions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of industry best practices, emerging trends, and technologies within supply chain management.
• Skilled facilitator of Improvement Events and complex problem-solving sessions. 
• Due to compliance with U.S. export control laws and regulations, candidate must be a U.S. person, which is defined as, a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident, or have protected status in the U.S. under asylum or refugee status

WE VALUE:

• Active and empathetic listener.
• Capable of inspiring and influencing leaders without direct authority.
• Convincing and proactive change driver.
• Strong results and quality orientation.
• Strong leadership skills aligned to Honeywell’s Aerospace People and Leadership Practices framework.
• Deep competence in organizational change management.
• Excellent communication skills appropriate for executive leadership environments.
• Demonstrated success leading without formal authority and driving results.
• Proven ability to motivate, coach, and develop diverse teams.
• Highly methodical, structured thinker with solid strategic insight
• Experience establishing and sustaining networks or communities of practice.
• Prior cross organizational leadership preferred.
• Passionate about Lean, AOS Core Methods, and developing organizational capability.
• Able to build networks that support AOS adoption.

COMPENSATION 

The annual salary range for this position is $189,000 - $235,000. Please note that this salary information serves as a general guideline. Honeywell Aerospace considers various factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate's work experience, education and training, key skills, as well as market and business considerations.

BENEFITS

Beyond a performance-driven salary, you'll work alongside dedicated experts on technology that's advancing aviation. As a Honeywell Aerospace employee, you're eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Employer-subsidized medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts
• Employee assistance program and educational assistance
• Parental leave and 12 paid holidays
• Paid time off for vacation, personal and sick time

Explore your benefits: https://honeywellaerospacebenefits.com/ 

POSTING TIMELINE

The application period for the job is estimated to be 40 days from the job posting date; however, this may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

WHO WE ARE

Honeywell Aerospace products and services are found on aircraft across commercial aviation, defense and space. We operate through three business areas: 

• Electronic Solutions develops the avionics, navigation systems, sensors and electromagnetic defense technology on board 90% of the world's aircraft 
• Engines & Power Systems provides the propulsion, auxiliary power and electrical systems that keep those aircraft flying 
• Control Systems supplies the thermal and motion control systems that support takeoff, landing and the safety of everyone on board 

With approximately 58,000 employees worldwide and net sales of $17.4B in 2025, we are also advancing systems for autonomous and supersonic platforms — bringing the same focus on safety and efficiency to the next era of flight. Explore our businesses: https://www.honeywellaerospace.com