Sr. Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement Leader

Charter Steel is hiring a Sr. OpEx / CI Leader

About Charter Steel:

Charter Steel is a leading American supplier of carbon and alloy steel bar, rod and wire products, and the largest steel coil processor in North America. As a fully integrated steelmaker with locations in Ohio and Wisconsin, Charter Steel offers a full range of grade and size coiled products and vast technical service experience.  Charter Steel is a member of the Charter Manufacturing family of companies. 

Job Summary:
Lead Charter’s Core Value of Continuous Improvement by modeling advanced problem-solving, reinforcing disciplined improvement behaviors, strengthening plant-level problem identification and resolution, and advancing Operational Excellence system maturity. Drive execution of key strategic priorities through support of daily operations, mentoring and coaching teams, and leading cross-functional initiatives that deliver significant operational and financial impact. Serve as a visible change leader, accelerating adoption and building sustainable organizational capability across the business.

Position specifics:

• Location:  Saukville WI

• Schedule:  Onsite

• Travel:  10-20% domestic travel to other Charter facilities, conferences, etc.

• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Charter Manufacturing is unable to sponsor for employment visas at this time.

Key responsibilities:

• Daily support of plant leadership in identifying improvement opportunities.

• Coordinate and track the plant’s portfolio of improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment, visibility, accountability, and measurable results.

• Develop clear project mandates, track milestones, and validate financial results in partnership with Finance.

• Provide timely project updates and performance reporting to plant leadership.

• Reinforce disciplined problem-solving practices by ensuring appropriate methodologies are selected and rigorously applied to identified issues.

• Utilize Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and structured problem-solving tools to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, cost, cycle time, service and engagement.

• Coach and mentor Lean/Six Sigma Belts in application of best problem-solving methodologies.

• Advance OpEx system maturity through reinforcement of Standard Work, Visual Management, Disciplined Problem Solving and Coaching.

• Daily participation in shop floor Gemba walks in assigned plant(s)

• Support sustainment mechanisms for long-term performance gains.

• Support KPI target setting and performance analysis using sound statistical methodologies and data-driven insights.

• Drive enhanced performance reporting and visual management adoption.

• Develop and deliver structured training programs in CI tools and methodologies.

• Lead high-complexity, high-impact improvement initiatives delivering significant operational and business impact.

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert in complex statistical and analytical methods.

• Identify and escalate systemic barriers to improvement.

• Foster trust, teamwork, and safety in improvement efforts.

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, or related field; or equivalent combination of experience and education.

• Minimum 4 years of progressive experience leading Lean and Six Sigma initiatives.

• Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt certification, or commensurate experience

• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional projects using Lean Six/Sigma methods resulting in measurable business impact.

• Proven experience coaching Lean/Six Sigma Belts.

• Strong analytical capability including statistical modeling and advanced data analysis.

• Demonstrated classroom training and curriculum development experience.

• Strong project management and prioritization skills.

• Proficiency with advanced statistical and data tools (Minitab, database tools, etc.).

• Willingness to travel.

Nice to haves:

• Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt certification (or ability to obtain within defined timeframe).

• Experience with Lean/Six Sigma enterprise systems.

• Experience coordinating CI efforts across multiple sites or functions.

• Experience in steel manufacturing processes.

• Proficiency in SQL or advanced analytics tools.

Take the next step in your career, apply today!

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We offer comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits, along with a 401(k) plan that includes employer matching and profit sharing. Additionally, we offer company-paid life insurance, disability coverage, and paid time off (PTO).