Director, Continuous Improvement and Industry 4.0

Job description

Are you ready to architect the future of Advanced Manufacturing? At the Materials Group (MG), we are not just optimizing operations, we are redefining them. We are seeking a visionary and dynamic Director, Continuous Improvement and Industry 4.0 to lead our central Enterprise Lean System (ELS) function. This is a high-impact, regional executive role designed for an operational architect who can bridge the gap between world-class, foundational Lean Six Sigma methodologies and cutting-edge Industry 4.0 technologies (AI, Predictive Analytics, and Cognitive Automation).

Based in our Rodange facility, you will hold the keys to regional standardization, capability building, and digital supply chain transformation across Europe. The Challenge & The Vision As the Director of Central ELS, you will play two pivotal roles: the Guardian of Standards and the Pioneer of Innovation. You will lead a high-performing central team to drive continuous improvement, establishing a high-margin production environment.

Concurrently, you will orchestrate the transition from manual Lean frameworks to an AI-driven "Lighthouse Factory" footprint, leveraging predictive models, virtual environments, and connected systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Guardian of Operational & Supply Chain Standards Act as the regional "Center as Guardian," serving as the sole architect of operational standards in the Regional Playbook. Govern all core manufacturing work standards (5S, Standard Work Audits, Daily Tier Meetings, Kaizen, SMED, TPM, and OEE Tracking/Loss Analysis). Establish robust supply chain standards, covering Production Planning Logic, Inventory Buffer Protocols, Freight Spend Governance, and S&OP Integration. Govern and standardize Data Science & AI models across the region.
• Capability Builder & Training Academy Leader Standardize regional workforce mindsets and skillsets through a centralized regional training engine. Maintain the end-to-end certification pathway for Yellow, Green, and Black Belt mastery, alongside modern Digital Literacy pathways. Design functionally deep training curricula and scale execution through "Train-the-Trainer" initiatives with local site leaders.
• Orchestrator of Strategy Deployment Lead the Yearly Strategic Deployment process ensuring 100% functional alignment between Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, and IT. Utilize the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and key performance metrics to establish regional breakthrough targets. Facilitate the collaborative "Catchball" process to negotiate and lock departmental action plans. Manage the monthly governance framework for PDCA reviews at executive and functional levels.
• Pioneer of ELS 4.0 & Digital Twin Innovation Drive the shift to automated, AI-driven operations, implementing predictive models that empower local sites to preempt issues. Lead shopfloor IoT integration, ensuring machines feed real-time performance data directly into core IT systems. Deploy a Regional Control Tower live-dashboard to visualize the entire end-to-end supply chain. Deploy advanced solutions for AI-Driven Predictive Quality, Maintenance, Cognitive Automation, and dynamic 3D Digital Twin simulations.
• Champion of the Hub & Spoke Model Serve as the central regional filter and amplifier for operational innovation. Capture best-in-class local site innovations directly from the Gemba, codifying validated successes into the "Gold Standard" regional playbook for network-wide deployment.
• High-Performing Team Leader Cultivate an inspiring team culture rooted in high performance, psychological safety, and radical accountability. Mentor and coach a dedicated central team, providing clear career development pathways and fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

Who You Are

The Expert: You possess extensive experience leading Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Improvement functions on a regional or global scale.

The Digital Native

You have a proven track record of implementing Industry 4.0 solutions (IoT, Predictive Maintenance, AI, or Digital Twins) within a manufacturing environment.

The Architect

You excel at designing, documenting, and scaling operational systems and standards from scratch.

The Communicator

You are an expert at navigating Hoshin Kanri / Strategic Deployment, bringing diverse stakeholders (from the shopfloor to the C-suite) along on the transformation journey.

The People Developer

You love building capability, leading academies, and mentoring future operational leaders.

Location

We welcome candidates residing near any of our major manufacturing hubs in Luxembourg, France, the UK, Germany, or Belgium.