Director Continuous Improvement

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.

Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.

We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.

Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

Responsibilities:

• Lean Strategy development and implementation:
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive lean strategy aligned with organizational goals.
  • Lead and facilitate the implementation of lean tools and techniques (e.g., 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, Kanban, Standard Work, Root Cause Analysis etc.).
  • Identify and prioritize opportunities for process improvement and waste reduction.
  • Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and measure the impact of lean initiatives.
  • Develop and maintain standardized work processes and procedures.

• Facilitation and Project Management:
  • Lead and facilitate lean events (Kaizen events, workshops, etc.) to drive process improvements.
  • Manage multiple lean projects concurrently, ensuring timely completion and achievement of objectives.
  • Participate in budget development and planning and develop project plans and timelines.
  • Monitor project progress and report on results.
  • Lead the development and implementation of visual management systems.

• Leadership, coaching, training and mentoring:
  • Provide leadership and guidance to cross-functional teams on lean principles and methodologies.
  • Develop and deliver lean training programs to employees at all levels of the organization and build internal lean capabilities through formal and informal training.
  • Mentor and coach employees in lean continuous improvement methodologies, principles and tools.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement and employee engagement.
  • Lead organizational change efforts.

• Data analysis, measurement and reporting:
  • Collect and analyze current processes, procedures, metrics and data to identify areas for improvement.
  • Work with management to develop and implement solutions to streamline processes and eliminate waste.
  • Develop and maintain methods and systems for measuring improvement outcomes and develop and present reports on the progress and impact of lean initiatives.
  • Use data-driven decision-making to prioritize and implement improvement projects.
  • Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project status and results.
  • Promote problem-solving methodologies.

• Stakeholder Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to ensure alignment and support for lean initiatives.
  • Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization about the progress and impact of lean projects.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external partners.
  • Ensure cross functional collaboration and open communication throughout the organization.

Qualifications:

• A passion for continuous improvement and a commitment to excellence
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in lean management or continuous improvement.
• Proven track record of successfully implementing lean methodologies and achieving measurable results.
• Strong knowledge of lean tools and techniques.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team and ability to lead and manage change.
• Lean certification (e.g., Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt) preferred or ability to obtain certification within 12 months of employment.
• Strong project management skillsand knowledge of various business functions (operations, quality, etc.)

Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.