Baldwin City, KS

JTL Services, Inc.has been retained to find top candidates for this growing business. Your choice Baldwin City, KS or Burlington, NC.

The Lean Leader plays a critical role in advancing operational excellence across our aviation manufacturing operations. Responsible for deploying Lean, Six Sigma, and Asset Management methodologies, this role drives business process improvements that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost. The Lean Leader collaborates with cross-functional and cross-site teams to achieve sustainable results while embedding a culture of continuous improvement, regulatory compliance, and precision — all essential in a highly regulated aviation environment.

Key Responsibilities

Lean & Operational Excellence Execution

• Lead and facilitate Lean/OPEX initiatives, including kaizen events and continuous improvement projects, to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase efficiency across production lines.

• Drive measurable improvements in safety, first-pass yield, productivity, and delivery performance.

• Apply advanced Lean and Six Sigma tools such as 3P, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, A3, SMED, Standard Work, Kanban, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Visual Management.

• Leverage asset management strategies and TPM to maximize uptime of high-precision production equipment.

Coaching, Training & Culture Building

• Coach and mentor employees at all levels, from operators to plant leadership, in Lean practices and structured problem solving.

• Develop Lean/OPEX capabilities across the organization, supporting certification programs and ongoing capability development.

• Lead cultural transformation initiatives to build ownership, engagement, and discipline around continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

OPEX Leader

• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to align improvement activities with plant and vertical goals.

• Standardize best practices across sites within the vertical(s), ensuring alignment with both operational and compliance requirements.

• Provide regular updates and performance reporting to leadership using clear metrics and dashboards.

Compliance, Safety & Quality Focus

• Ensure all Lean/OPEX initiatives are compliant with applicable aerospace regulatory standards including FAA, AS9100, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements.

• Support or lead internal process audits to identify gaps in adherence to regulatory and internal standards.

• Champion initiatives that improve workplace safety and compliance while maintaining or improving operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Aerospace, or a related technical field.

• 5–7 years of experience in Lean/Continuous Improvement within aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.

• Lean Certification (Green Belt minimum; Black Belt preferred).

• Strong knowledge of aerospace quality standards and regulatory requirements (FAA, AS9100, ISO).

• Demonstrated success in driving measurable performance improvements across manufacturing operations.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Visio, and project management tools.

Preferred:

• Master’s degree (MBA or MS in Industrial Engineering or Operations).

• Certified Black Belt or Master Black Belt.

• Experience in supply chain optimization and asset reliability within an aerospace context.

• Understanding of cost management and manufacturing KPIs, including trend analysis and standard costing.

Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership with the ability to influence across organizational levels and drive change in a regulated environment.

• Results-oriented and persistent, with a proven record of delivering tangible improvements.

• Confident, credible, and highly collaborative.

• Analytical thinker with structured problem-solving skills and business acumen.

• Able to work under pressure while maintaining high standards of accuracy and compliance.

OPEX Leader

Working Conditions

• Primary work environment is a combination of office and aerospace manufacturing floor.

• Regular exposure to production equipment, tooling, and inspection processes in clean or high-spec environments.

• Ability to walk, stand, and move throughout the facility; occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.

• Up to 50% travel may be required across domestic and international aerospace sites.

We offer:

• A collaborative, hands-on environment where your ideas and expertise make an impact.

• A team of aviation professionals who take pride in their work and support one another.

• Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, growth opportunities, and meaningful work that keeps aircraft performing at their best.

Our client is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs—without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

For more information send your updated resume to tara@jtlservices.com

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