Johnson Controls · 3 months ago
Executive Director, Business Systems, Mfg & Supply Chain
Milwaukee-Wisconsin-United States of America
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$193K/yr - $265K/yr
15+ years expJohnson Controls is a global leader in smart building technology and energy solutions. They are seeking an Executive Director, Lean Operations & Transformation to drive enterprise-level Lean transformation across manufacturing plants, leading a team of Lean and Continuous Improvement professionals to embed a culture of operational excellence and sustainable performance improvement.
Industrial EngineeringPhysical SecuritySmart Building
Responsibilities
Architect and execute a multi-year business operating model roadmap aligned with corporate strategy and product line objectives, using 80/20 prioritization to focus on the highest-impact value streams and customer segments
Integrate Lean into strategic planning processes, including Hoshin Kanri, Policy Deployment, and 80/20-based Value Stream Design to ensure resources are directed toward the most critical drivers of performance
Standardize and scale Lean maturity assessments and Lean audits across the network
Assists in the selection, development, target setting and performance management of lean change agents within the plants. Allocate resources effectively to support plant-level and enterprise-wide initiatives
Foster a collaborative, high-performance team culture focused on results and continuous learning
Collaborate with R&D and Engineering to apply Lean principles early in the product lifecycle to reduce time-to-market and improve manufacturability
Institutionalize tiered accountability systems, visual management, and Leader Standard Work (LSW) to drive daily performance and problem-solving
Facilitate and sponsor enterprise-level Kaizen events, including Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), 3P (Production Preparation Process), and cross-functional value stream transformations
Oversee integration of Lean and Six Sigma methodologies such as DMAIC, SPC, and FMEA to address complex process variation and drive breakthrough improvements
Champion the use of digital Lean tools such as real-time dashboards, digital Gemba boards, and AI/ML-enabled root cause analysis and digital twins for process simulation and optimization
Extend Lean practices into support functions (e.g., HR, Finance, IT, Supply Chain) using tools like Process Mapping, Swimlane Diagrams, and RACI Matrices to eliminate waste and improve service delivery
Establish and lead Obeya rooms for cross-functional alignment, strategic tracking, and rapid decision-making
Lead the cultural shift from reactive to proactive operations through coaching, training, and modeling of Lean leadership behaviors
Build internal Lean capability through structured academies, certification programs, and hands-on coaching and use of appropriate lean methodologies and tools
Develop and mentor a diverse pipeline of Lean leaders and change agents across the organization
Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement through Lean initiatives
Identifies waste and opportunities for the business to improve in (among others by using Lean principles and methodologies), as well as reporting and celebrating past successes in these areas from a business perspective
Identify and scale best practices across the network, including automation, Industry 4.0 technologies, and advanced analytics. Create and deploy a technology roadmap, that may include 3D printing, digitization, google glasses, etc
Partner with Finance to quantify Lean savings and ensure alignment with financial goals
Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on operational strategy and Lean maturity
Represent the company in industry forums and benchmarking consortia to stay ahead of emerging trends
Promote community engagement and social responsibility through site-level initiatives and partnerships
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a senior executive role
Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and Toyota Production System (TPS) methodologies
Proven success in leading large-scale Lean transformations across multi-site operations
Strong financial acumen with experience managing P&L and capital projects
Exceptional leadership, communication, and change management skills
Preferred
MBA or advanced degree preferred
Benefits
Competitive Bonus plan
Competitive benefits package
Company
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls offers smart buildings that create safe, healthy, and sustainable environments.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Johnson Controls has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (61)
2024 (57)
2023 (80)
2022 (95)
2021 (81)
2020 (93)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$1.6BKey Investors
US Department of Energy
2024-12-05Post Ipo Debt· $250M
2024-12-04Post Ipo Debt· $525.61M
2024-05-20Post Ipo Equity· $90M
Leadership Team
Joakim Weidemanis
Chief Executive Officer
Marc Vandiepenbeeck
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Recent News
2026-01-08
2026-01-07
2026-01-07
Company data provided by crunchbase