Operational Excellence Lead / Coordinator

Job Title: Operational Excellence Lead / Coordinator

Reports to: Head of Manufacturing

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

PROFILE INTRODUCTION:

Our client is a well-established battery manufacturing company with significant operations in East Africa. Committed to operational excellence, product quality, and sustainable growth, the organization continues to strengthen its continuous improvement agenda across its manufacturing operations.

In line with this focus, the company seeks an experienced, hands-on Operational Excellence Lead to coordinate and drive its improvement agenda across manufacturing operations, improving safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost and equipment performance through Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, Total Productive Maintenance, Autonomous Maintenance, structured problem-solving and appropriate AI-enabled tools and analytics. Working through existing departmental teams, the role holder will establish current performance and Autonomous Maintenance baselines, identify gaps, build internal capability, and coordinate the organization’s transition from current performance levels to the revised targets and standards approved by the Company, delivering measurable and sustainable results.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Operational Excellence Strategy, Roadmap & Performance Coordination

• Coordinate implementation of the Operational Excellence roadmap and annual improvement plan in line with business priorities
  
• Establish practical improvement standards, project controls, performance indicators and management dashboards
  
• Assess current performance against approved targets, identify gaps, and coordinate action plans to achieve the revised targets communicated by the Company
  
• Provide management with concise reporting on performance, benefits, risks, barriers and required interventions
  

2. Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen & Continuous Improvement

• Coordinate Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 6S, visual management, process mapping and structured problem-solving initiatives
  
• Prioritize improvement projects using operational data, business impact and available resources
  
• Drive reduction of waste, scrap, rework, downtime, process variation and non-value-adding activities while improving throughput and resource utilization
  
• Ensure approved improvements are documented, standardized, sustained and replicated where relevant
  

3. Total Productive Maintenance & Autonomous Maintenance

• Champion Total Productive Maintenance and Autonomous Maintenance in partnership with Production and Engineering
  
• Establish the Autonomous Maintenance baseline for priority equipment and coordinate progression through approved AM steps to the Company-approved target maturity level
  
• Improve equipment reliability, availability, utilization, planned maintenance compliance and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  
• Monitor TPM and AM implementation milestones and coordinate closure of agreed assessment, audit and review actions
  

4. Cross-Functional Project & Change Management

• Coordinate cross-functional improvement initiatives involving Production, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Health and Safety, Finance, Human Resources and other relevant functions
  
• Define project scope, milestones, responsibilities and expected benefits, and escalate material delays or barriers
  
• Validate operational and financial benefits with the relevant functions and maintain concise project records and lessons learnt
  

5. Safety, Quality & Management Systems Compliance

• Embed safety, health, environmental and quality requirements in all improvement initiatives and ensure changes do not introduce uncontrolled risk
  
• Support continual improvement of Company policies, procedures and applicable standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 17025 and IATF requirements adopted by the Company
  
• Participate in audits and assessments and monitor timely closure of relevant findings
  

6. Capability Building, Coaching & Stakeholder Engagement

• Assess capability gaps and deliver practical training, coaching and facilitation in Lean, Kaizen, TPM, Autonomous Maintenance and structured problem-solving
  
• Develop Kaizen champions and strengthen accountability for improvement at management, supervisory and employee levels
  
• Engage stakeholders, communicate the purpose and progress of changes, and address barriers to adoption and sustainability
  
• Coordinate Operational Excellence activities through existing departmental teams and assigned cross-functional project teams
  
• Provide practical guidance, coaching and facilitation without assuming line-management responsibility for participating employees
  

7. Data Analytics, AI-Enabled Improvement & Resource Management

• Explore and, where appropriate, support the application of AI-enabled tools and analytics to identify trends, strengthen performance monitoring and support data-driven improvement decisions
  
• Manage assigned project resources within approved budgets, policies and delegated authority, and perform other reasonable duties within the scope of the role
  

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Operational Excellence, Lean Manufacturing & Kaizen
  
• Total Productive Maintenance, Autonomous Maintenance, 6S & Visual Management
  
• Equipment Reliability & Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
  
• Root-Cause Analysis, Process Mapping & Structured Problem-Solving
  
• Project & Change Management
  
• Operational Data Analysis & Benefits Validation
  
• Awareness of AI-Enabled Tools & Analytics for Operational Excellence
  
• Strategic & Systems Thinking with Results Orientation & Accountability
  
• Influencing Without Direct Authority & Stakeholder Collaboration
  
• Training, Coaching & Facilitation
  
• Integrity, Sound Judgement & Attention to Detail
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Mechanical, Manufacturing, Production or Process Engineering, Operations Management or a related discipline
  
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification is desirable; Kaizen, TPM, Project Management or ISO Auditor certification is an added advantage
  
• Minimum 5 years' relevant experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment, including practical responsibility for coordinating or leading Operational Excellence, Lean, Kaizen, TPM, Autonomous Maintenance or continuous improvement initiatives
  
• Demonstrated experience delivering cross-functional projects and measurable, sustained improvement in productivity, cost, quality or equipment performance
  
• Exposure to, or practical experience in, applying, piloting or integrating AI-enabled tools or analytics within Operational Excellence (process optimization, predictive insights, performance monitoring or data-driven decision-making) is an added advantage
  
• Proven ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, influence without direct authority, and deliver sustainable business results