Operational Excellence Project Manager

Operational Excellence Project Manager

We are looking for an Operational Excellence Project Manager to join a leading engineering and systems manufacturing environment within the aerospace and defense industry.

This is a key role at the intersection of engineering, production, quality, procurement, and operations. The position is responsible for leading operational excellence initiatives from planning and initiation through execution, implementation, and performance tracking.

The ideal candidate will bring strong project management capabilities, a solid industrial engineering background, and hands-on experience in improving manufacturing processes in complex, technology-driven production environments.

Responsibilities

Lead operational excellence projects from initiation and planning through execution and implementation.

Drive the implementation of Lean, Agile, Kaizen, 5S, and continuous improvement methodologies.

Analyze manufacturing processes, identify operational gaps, bottlenecks, quality issues, and capacity constraints.

Promote engineering solutions to address production, quality, and capacity challenges.

Develop and implement information systems, reports, dashboards, and tools for project and shop-floor management.

Manage project budgets, including cost control, quotations, and financial tracking.

Monitor project progress against milestones, work plans, KPIs, schedules, and business objectives.

Work closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, production, quality, procurement, planning, and management.

Support the implementation of advanced manufacturing technologies, MES systems, and automation solutions.

Provide ongoing reporting and visibility to management and internal stakeholders.

Requirements

B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering and Management – mandatory.

At least 2 years of experience managing manufacturing or operational projects in a complex technological environment – mandatory.

Proven experience leading multidisciplinary projects – mandatory.

Strong command of Microsoft Office, Excel, and MS Project – mandatory.

Experience implementing Lean, Kaizen, 5S, Agile, or other operational excellence methodologies.

Ability to analyze production processes and translate findings into practical improvement plans.

Strong project management, execution, follow-up, and reporting skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, and perform under pressure.

High level of initiative, ownership, assertiveness, and broad operational understanding.

Experience with SAP, especially PP / PS modules – significant advantage.

Experience implementing MES systems for shop-floor management – significant advantage.

Experience defining or implementing robotic/automation solutions for manufacturing process improvement – significant advantage.

High-level technical English – advantage.

M.Sc. degree – advantage.

Familiarity with defense systems or aerospace manufacturing environments – advantage.