Lean Master, Global Lean Expert

Job Summary

The Global Lean Master is a Lean Thought Leader and a role-model of Lean Leadership, with a deep understanding of Lean Transformation. They play a central role in developing the organisation into a Lean enterprise based upon GKN Aerospace’s Brilliant Basics Lean Model. They train, coach and influence Leadership Teams at their assigned sites, ensuring rigour and fidelity to the sites’ Brilliant Basics Deployment Plan, developing the sites’ Lean competence to a level that makes them self-sufficient in the Brilliant Basics.

The Global Lean Master is responsible for developing Lean expertise across the business to the extend that each Business Line becomes self-sufficient in the deployment of the Brilliant Basics.

In addition to these duties, they take a leading role in the delivery of significant breakthrough results across the business being the ‘go to’ person for solving some of the largest organisational challenges. They mentor Lean team members on, and bring thought leadership globally to, the deployment of the Brilliant Basics across GKN Aerospace. They also engage with the Business Line senior leadership, developing the Brilliant Basics as an Enterprise-wide business model, encompassing all functions and the extended value stream.

The Lean Master is responsible for ensuring that the Brilliant Basics Deployment is delivering the Breakthrough KPIs, the Daily Management KPIs, and the Brilliant Basics Maturity improvements across the business. They are considered a business partner and deliver significant business benefit.

Job Responsibilities

• Role modelling a culture that is aligned to the GKN Aerospace “Great Place to Work” value drivers and Culture Principles
• Exemplifying a safety-first mindset and ensuring that the GKN Aerospace Health, Safety and Environmental policies and standards are applied across GKNA and that all locations are a model of a world class healthy and safe working environment
• Developing first-class leaders who are readily able to progress to the next level of leadership, when required, and who embody the GKNA culture principles
• Driving the disciplined and rigorous deployment of the Brilliant Basics across all GKNA sites.
• Coaching Site Leadership teams and Site Lean Deployment Leaders in their deployment of the Brilliant Basics and the associated site improvements projects and Improvement Events, in alignment with the Breakthrough Initiatives
• Delivering significant improvement in People, Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cash and Cost (PSQDCC) targets, meeting customer and stakeholder commitments through the development of high Brilliant Basics Maturity. The Global Lean Master should be able to demonstrate a finance approved portfolio of Brilliant Basics Events with savings to an annualised value of at least £10M per year.
• Role modelling and providing thought Leadership for the Brilliant Basics at the Enterprise level
• Actively sharing best practice sharing across sites, building knowledge and best practice networks both internally and externally, developing self as a thought leader in the field of Lean Thinking and Leadership
• Developing deep Lean Expertise, ensuring that they become self-sufficient in deploying the Brilliant Basics including the training and coaching of others at all levels of the organization.
• Complying with all legal and regulatory requirements and ensuring that staff are aware of the policies and their individual responsibilities and accountabilities:
  • The company’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action policies
  • Compliance and Ethics Policy on Contracting with the United States Government in all areas of responsibility involving direct and indirect contracting with the United States Government

Export Control regulations 

Job Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or equivalent in an Engineering or Science discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years relevant business experience. 
• A deep understanding of Lean Thinking and Lean Leadership and demonstrated ability to influence at the most Senior Levels.
• Ability to lead, coach and mentor highly skilled and experienced team members with a successful track record of Leadership and direction through effective communications, building effective teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• GKN experience
• A minimum of two years’ service in GKN Aerospace in the role of a Lean Expert or Site Lean Deployment Leader
• No PDP rating less than Good Performance in the past 2 years
• Second or advanced degree in Business
• Previous and significant experience in multi-site Lean Transformation
• A Lean Certification from a reputable certifying body or benchmark company
• Aerospace supply chain experience
• A passion for the Aerospace industry