Operational Excellence Lead

As Operational Excellence Lead, you will play a key role in driving operational excellence, improving site performance, and embedding a culture of continuous improvement across the organisation.

Accountabilities

Lead the deployment and ongoing development of the DS Smith Way Continuous Improvement programme at site level.

Partner with central Operations Excellence teams to align improvement priorities and share best practices.

Champion Lean principles and continuous improvement methodologies, ensuring they are embedded into daily operations.

Monitor and report site performance KPIs, driving accountability and ensuring delivery of business objectives.

Lead the site's waste reduction strategy through accurate data collection, analysis, and performance monitoring.

Provide technical expertise to improve controllable waste performance and reduce raw material consumption, including paper, starch, and water.

Drive continuous improvements in waste performance through employee engagement, problem-solving methodologies, and cross-functional collaboration.

Develop and implement cross-functional improvement projects, bringing together teams to deliver measurable business results.

Support the development of robust audit and process confirmation systems, ensuring opportunities for improvement are identified and actions are effectively implemented.

Foster a culture of engagement, accountability, and operational excellence, empowering teams to identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities.

Build capability across the organisation through coaching, mentoring, and the delivery of continuous improvement training programmes.

Requirements

Strong manufacturing experience gained within a production environment, preferably in a fast-paced industrial setting.

Good knowledge of Continuous Improvement tools, Lean methodologies and operational excellence practices.

Experience with quality systems and root cause analysis.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.

Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional projects and managing stakeholders across multiple functions.

Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence, engage and drive change across the organisation.

Ability to analyse, interpret and present data effectively to support decision-making.

Degree-level education with significant industrial experience will also be highly valued.

Fluency in both Slovenian and English.

Six Sigma Green Belt or equivalent qualification is preferred.

What We Offer

Permanent employment contract with a 6 months probationary period

Career opportunity with a successful global company recognised for its commitment to sustainability.

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits.

A dynamic role offering interesting challenges and the opportunity to make a measurable impact within a fast-paced environment.

The opportunity to lead transformational improvement initiatives and contribute to operational excellence across the site.

Professional development opportunities within an international organisation.

Working location: Logatec / Rakek

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