Director - Operational Excellence - Plymouth, MN

Make your mark at the world's largest HVAC company!

As a Director - Operational Excellence, you will play a critical role in driving operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization. You will be responsible for facilitating the "DAA Way" annual planning cycle, analyzing current business and manufacturing processes, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategies to enhance productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction. This role requires strong analytical skills, project management expertise, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams. Come be a part of an exciting journey at Daikin Applied, where innovation and excellence drive our every endeavor!

Location: Hybrid - Plymouth, MN

What you will do:

• Lead the continuous improvement efforts across Daikin Applied Americas by working with OpX leaders within the business units and functional groups to develop CI plans to be executed to improve function or Business Unit KPIs
• Lead DAA way annual planning cycle, act as lead facilitator from ELT annual priority setting through Business Unit Catch Ball session
• Facilitate workshops, brainstorming sessions, and Kaizen events to generate innovative ideas and solutions
• Collaborate with various departments to understand their unique needs, challenges, and goals
• Develop and implement improvement strategies, action plans, and performance metrics
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement by providing guidance, training, and support to employees at all levels
• Conduct regular audits and assessments to ensure Kaizen action items completion
• Prepare and present progress reports, performance metrics, and recommendations to senior management
• Drive and facilitate DIL continuous improvement initiatives at Daikin Applied Americas

What's in it for you:

• The ability to make an impact and shape your career with a company that is passionate about growth
• The support of an organization that believes it is vital to include and engage diverse people, perspectives, and ideas to achieve our best

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience) in Buiness, Manfuacturing, or similar
• 10+ years (incl 6+ years people leadership experience) in Operations and/or Continuous improvement with proven track record of improving KPIs in business
• Proven experience in continuous improvement, process optimization, or related roles
• Strong knowledge of Lean Six Sigma methodologies and tools (e.g., DMAIC, Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping)
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to collect and analyze data effectively
• Demonstrated project management expertise, including planning, execution, and tracking
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate and influence at all levels of the organization
• Ability to lead and facilitate cross-functional teams and kaizens
• Proficiency in using statistical analysis software and process mapping tools
• Ability to travel approx 30%
• Work visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in change management and driving cultural transformation is a plus
• Certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt are highly desirable

Daikin Applied offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements:

• Multiple medical insurance plan options + dental and vision insurance
• 401K retirement plan with employer contributions matching 100% of the first 3% of employee contributions and 50% on the next 2% of employee contributions
• Company provided life insurance + optional employee paid voluntary life insurance, dependent life coverage and voluntary accident coverage
• Short term and long term disability
• 3 weeks of paid time off for new employees + 11 company paid holidays
• Vacation accrues on a monthly basis, unless applicable federal, state and local law requires a faster accrual
• Paid sick time in accordance of the federal, state and local law
• Paid parental leave and tuition reimbursement after 6 months of continuous service

The typical annual base salary for this position ranges from $126,100 - $205,100 (+25% bonus) in Minnesota. The range displayed represents the pay range for all positions in the job grade which this position falls. Individual base pay will depend on a wide range of factors including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.