Operational Excellence Champion in Solihull

We’re not just another bike brand - we're an iconic, British motorcycle brand with over 120 years of history behind us. Our new state-of-the-art facilities in Solihull, West Midlands are home to a tight-knit, but ever-expanding team that's passionate about delivering exquisite riding experiences to our customers.Under new ownership and proud to be part of the TVS Motor family, we're entering a new era of global success. And we want you to be a part of it!At Norton, we value respect, trust, and responsibility. We trust our employees to execute their roles exceptionally and professionally, and we value personal development, teaching, and learning. When you join our team, you'll have the opportunity to grow and learn alongside some of the most talented and dedicated people in the business.So if you're passionate about motorcycles and looking to join a team that's shaping the future of this legendary brand, we'd love to hear from you!The RoleThe Operational Excellence Champion is responsible for driving a culture of continuous improvement, Total Quality Management (TQM), and operational excellence across the organisation. This role serves as a catalyst for transforming business processes, improving productivity, enhancing quality, reducing waste, and embedding a customer-first mindset throughout the value chain.The incumbent will lead cross-functional improvement initiatives, coach teams on Lean and Six Sigma methodologies, establish operational standards, and ensure sustainable improvements aligned Duties/Responsibilities: Lead Norton's Operational Excellence strategy and deployment roadmapDrive continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, quality, maintenance, and support functionsIdentify improvement opportunities through structured data analysis, process assessments, and value stream mappingFacilitate cross-functional teams to deliver measurable improvements in Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Productivity, and Morale (SQCDPM)Establish governance mechanisms to monitor improvement projects and ensure sustainabilityChampion a company-wide quality culture by embedding TQM principles into daily operationsFacilitate structured problem-solving using PDCA, A3, 8D, Root Cause Analysis, and CAPAPromote process ownership and accountabilitySupport deployment of quality standards and management systemsDrive Zero Defect and Right First Time initiativesEncourage fact-based decision making using quality metricsStrengthen supplier and internal quality improvement collaborationPromote standardisation and process disciplineLead Lean transformation initiatives across the organisationDeploy Lean tools including; 5S Workplace Organisation, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping (VSM)etc.Facilitate Kaizen workshops and improvement eventsEstablish continuous improvement pipelinesCoach employees on Lean thinking and problem-solving methodologiesLead DMAIC projects to improve business performanceUtilise statistical analysis to identify process variationImprove process capability and reduce defectsDevelop KPIs and dashboards for operational performanceDrive productivity improvement and cost optimisation projectsMap, analyse, redesign, and optimise business processesRemove bottlenecks and non-value-added activitiesDevelop standardised operating proceduresSupport digitalisation and automation initiativesEnsure process sustainability through documentation and auditsDrive manufacturing excellence by promoting; Zero Loss mindset; Operational discipline; Stable and capable processes etc.Support implementation of world-class manufacturing practices while ensuring operational stabilityFoster a culture of ownership, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvementEncourage employee participation through suggestion schemes and Kaizen programsBuild problem-solving capability at all organisational levelsCoach leaders in servant leadership and continuous improvement behavioursRecognise and celebrate improvement achievementsMonitor and improve performance through; OEE; Productivity; First Pass Yield; Right First Time etc.Develop dashboards for management review and decision-makingLead organisational transformation initiativesManage change using structured change management methodologiesEnsure adoption and sustainability of improvement initiativesCoach leaders through transformation journeysDevelop Operational Excellence competency frameworksConduct training on Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, Quality Tools, and Continuous ImprovementMentor Green Belts, Yellow Belts, and improvement championsBuild internal capability for sustainable improvementEnsure adherence to operational standardsSupport internal and external auditsMaintain compliance with applicable quality, environmental, and safety management systemsEstablish operational excellence review mechanismsDrive risk-based thinking and preventive actionsQualifications & Desired Experience:Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Operations Management, or a related disciplineMaster's degree or MBA is desirableLean Six Sigma Green Belt required; Black Belt preferredCertification in Lean Manufacturing, TQM, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement is an advantage8 plus years of experience in manufacturing, operations, quality, or industrial engineeringMinimum 5 years leading Operational Excellence, Lean, Continuous Improvement, or Manufacturing Excellence initiatives in OEMsExperience in automotive, engineering, industrial manufacturing, or other high-volume manufacturing environmentsRewards of working for Norton:We like to take care of our Nortoneers and we think we offer some pretty decent rewards. Here's what you'll get when you join the team:Competitive salary package that recognises your skills and experience33 days of holiday (inc. Bank Hols) to relax and rechargeGenerous pension scheme that sets you up for the future, with access to personalised advice.Private Medical Insurance and a Cash Back Programme to keep you feeling your bestLife insurance (4x salary) because we've got your back no matter whatFREE fruit, got to have your five-a-day!WeCare Employee Assistance Programme, which includes access to online GP services, dietary advice, mental health support, bereavement counselling, and a fitness programmeExperience the thrill of an entrepreneurial environment within a larger, well-funded company with ambitious long-term goals.Elevate your career with our Ideas for Excellence scheme, where every brilliant idea is not just valued, but also rewarded!A diverse and international team that brings together different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences.Join the fun with our twice-yearly employee events, payday socials, and loads of exciting activities in between!Want to go green? You can enjoy free electric bicycle hirePlus, no need to stress about finding a parking spot - we've got on-site free parking covered and FREE electric charge points.We know how important it is to take care of our team, and we're committed to continually improving our reward offering in line with the business growth plan.Join us and see for yourself!PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT ACCEPT AGENCY APPLICATIONS