Improvement Leader

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Job Description:

Airbus Americas, Inc is looking for a Improvement Leader based in Kinston, NC.

The Improvement Leader  contributes directly to the Airbus Industrial strategy by driving performance and improvement within operational teams with direct contact with key stakeholders. With a deep knowledge of operational business and lean principles, with a proven shop-floor experience in Manufacturing, you will address systemic operational performance issues with piloted, standardized & sustainable solutions through the Airbus standards, Airbus Operating model, Lean, continuous improvement tools and principles.

Meet the Team:

Our Engineers at the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing facility take our aircraft from concept to customer delivery – working with production teams on every aspect of assembly from managing technical information, quality control, maintenance tasks and health & safety – along flowlines and flightlines. Join our team and watch our aircraft come to life.

Your Working Environment:

On ‘Airbus Way’ you will find the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility for commercial aircraft. Opened at the Mobile Aeroplex at Brookley in 2015, the facility produces A320 Family aircraft and added a second product line for the A220 in 2019. The facility, which strengthens the U.S. aerospace industry, is part of Airbus’ strategy to enhance its global competitiveness by meeting the growing needs of its customers in the United States and beyond.

How We Care for You:

• Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

• Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.

• Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages. 

• Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programmes and both national and international mobility.

Your Challenges:

• Contribute directly to the Airbus industrial strategy by defining and deploying ways of working  within operational teams and influencing plant management teams (CDT, plant managers, HO functions, Directors, Senior Directors) 

•  Improve business efficiency and results achievement by advising plant stakeholders at manager and senior manager level on business priorities and how to make the most of the standards, methods and associated behaviors.

• Deployment of business improvement / transformation road maps, the jobholder will identify which Lean/AOS standards best match the manufacturing areas needs OR trigger new Lean/AOS standards definition.

• Set up and support  governance and steering at all levels (with Senior Leadership Teams), securing a deployment roadmap (architecture, ensure roadmap content) and a consolidated AOS architecture strategy

• Contribute to key projects with Lean/AOS skills & competencies in the frame on adhoc Top Management Requests (Directors, Senior Directors,Head of Function, COO, CEO) to ensure project outcomes are delivering tangible benefits for the company and enabling sustainable and long term performance.

• Facilitate workshops on dedicated topics in complex situations or for training purposes (vision, Hoshin Kanri, macro VSM, business VSM, kaizen, etc.)

• Run and facilitate specific Gembas and shop floor exercises coaching senior management.

• Lead assessments of industrial maturity integrating operations performance & airbus tools

• Lead industrial task forces: diagnosis, solution definition and implementation, results achievement

• Advise Senior Leadership Teams, Directors and  managers on how to improve performance

• Design strategies for coaching, mentoring & training in regards to operations change management, Lean and AOS standards/tools

• Provide knowledge transfer in dedicated manufacturing areas/populations to local plant teams and Plant Senior Leadership team

• Growing the knowledge and autonomy of business managers by supporting the implementation of Airbus/AOS/Lean standards & continuous improvement solutions in manufacturing areas.

• Identify and escalate competence gaps to top management  

• Promoting the use of internal good practices and external benchmarking by acting transversally with the extended manufacturing communities

Your Boarding Pass:

•  Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing or Industrial Engineering

• Solid knowledge and understanding of manufacturing processes, production management and industrialization principles.

• Proven experience 8+ in operations and lean/continuous improvement projects demonstrating tangible & sustainable results

• Experienced in project management, including multi-functional teams and financial aspects

• Able to demonstrate operational experience in the implementation and optimization of industrial systems (conception phase, implementation, management of production processes)

• Good communication skills, active listening and a proactive approach to problem solving & decision making

• Proven coaching / training competencies, Leadership, Assertiveness to influence and challenge the status quo

Preferred:

• APICS basic level, Six Sigma/Lean Black Belt,  Kepner Tregoe or equivalent preferred

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

• Ability and experience to train managers, technicians and operators 

• Extensive experience in operation and manufacturing areas

• Good knowledge and experience of AOS / lean manufacturing and lean management / problem solving 

• Good knowledge and experience in industrial engineering, quality tools, problem solving,  logistics engineering and process optimization (APICS basic level, lean/Six Sigma Black Belt,  Kepner Tregoe or equivalent) 

• Experience in leading lean manufacturing workshops such as kaizen, VSM, SMED, 5S, etc. - 

• Experience in operations management within a best-in-class lean environment 

• Coaching skills and experience with communication competences 

• Ability to inspire and give meaning 

• Aeronautical manufacturing basics 

• Capability to design strategies for change management, coaching, mentoring and training  

• Fluency in English language.

Physical Requirements:

• Vision: adequate to enter and read material on computer screens. Able to identify individuals to initiate greetings, the giving of directions and other business interactions

• Hearing: able to hear sufficiently to engage in conversation in office settings Able to hear safety alerts and warning signals.

• Speaking: able to engage in conversations in person and via electronic means and deliver information to groups of varying size with or without amplification.

• Equipment Operation Able to operate a wide range of personal and office electronic equipment.

• Carrying: able to occasionally carry up to 30lbs/14kg which engaging in training, addressing production issues or as part of continuous improvement projects.

• Lifting: able to occasionally lift up to 30lbs/14kg.

• Pushing/Pulling: able to push/pull items in office areas.

• Sitting: able to sit for extended periods of time at computer and in meetings.

• Squatting/Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves.

• Standing: able to stand for extended periods of time.

• Travel: able to travel overseas and domestically sometimes for extended periods of time. Working outside hangers in changing locations.

• Walking: able to walk through office and production areas, around flight line and airstrips and sometimes on uneven indoor and/or outdoor surfaces.

Equal Opportunity:

Airbus 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, or veteran status. Airbus is also committed to compliance with all fair employment practices regarding citizenship and immigration status.

As a leader in our field, Airbus provides relocation assistance for qualified positions and a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.   

As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered.

Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company:

Airbus Americas, Inc.

Employment Type:

US - Direct Hire

Experience Level:

Professional

Remote Type:

On-site

Job Family:

Improvement & Performance Management

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Airbus provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. In addition to federal law requirements, Airbus complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, demotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, benefits and training. Airbus expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetics, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status or other legally protected status. As a matter of policy, Airbus does not sponsor visas for US positions unless specified. Only applicants with current work authorization will be considered. Airbus does not offer tenured or guaranteed employment. Employment with Airbus is at will, meaning either the company or the employee can terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Airbus reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. This position description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

By submitting your CV or application you are consenting to Airbus using and storing information about you for monitoring purposes relating to your application or future employment. This information will only be used by Airbus.
Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all. As such, we will never ask for any type of monetary exchange in the frame of a recruitment process. Any impersonation of Airbus to do so should be reported to [email protected].