Continuous Improvement/itm Lead

**Description**

At Hitachi Energy our purpose is advancing a sustainable energy future for all. We bring power to our homes, schools, hospitals and factories. Join us and work with fantastic people, while learning and developing yourself on projects that have a real impact to our communities and society. Bring your passion, bring your energy, and be part of a global team that appreciates a simple truth: Diversity + Collaboration = Great Innovation

We are seeking Continuous Improvement/Integrated Transformer Management (ITM) System Lead for the APMEA Hub (Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) driving operational excellence across our front-end processes in the Transformers business unit. The ITM system is the global Transformers business unit Lean management system defining how we operate as an organization and how we run the business. You will be responsible for leading and driving sustainable and transformational change across multiple APMEA Hub Factories and functional teams, focused on process improvement, ITM system maturity and demonstrated improvement in Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

**How you will make an impact**:

- Partner with the cross-functional leadership team to develop and operationalize the Strategy Deployment process. Facilitate the creation of breakthrough objectives, action plans, KPIs (Bowlers), and Kaizen plans to support organizational needs. Ensure effective Leader Standard Work (LSW) and a connected Lean daily management system.
- Change agent and champion of a continuous improvement culture focused on waste elimination across the organization using ITM lean methods, processes and tools, such as 5S, Daily Management, LSW, Value Stream or Process Mapping, Kaizen, etc. Lead all activities in the organization to implement the ITM system and drive improved maturity scores to advance the organization through the ITM phases of deployment. Closely monitors ITM Maturity Development results and facilitates implementation of actions to lead the organization through the maturity phases; drive to the ideal state in which ITM is how we operate as an organization.
- Drive optimization of KPIs across factories and functional organizations. Lead and facilitate process improvement initiatives and partner with cross-functional teams at all organizational levels to drive productivity using ITM tools. Develop financial acumen to prioritize actions that drive business improvements and impact the bottom line.
- Create, manage, and facilitate cost-out and productivity projects to achieve targets. Train team members in utilizing RELEX reporting for improvement projects. Ensure effective sustainment of results and support problem-solving (Root Cause Countermeasure) to close gaps to targets and drive transactional process improvements.
- Build continuous improvement capability through training and implementation of ITM tools and methods. Serve as the ITM system expert, focusing on training and coaching others to build organizational capabilities. Foster a coaching culture with a focus on employee engagement and accountability. Combine technical knowledge with people and organizational skills to deliver maturity and KPI improvements.

**Your background**:

- Bachelor’s degree in engineering or business. MSc/MBA equivalent is advantageous.
- Experience in transformers, automotive, or industrial equipment parts manufacturing.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in facilitating and leading Kaizens and major improvement projects.
- Proficient in lean tools (Value Stream Mapping, Problem Solving, Standard Work, Strategy Deployment, 5S/Waste Observation, Daily Management, SMED, TPM, Process 3P, ToC, DMAIC, etc.).
- Certified lean practitioner (BB Lean 6 Sigma, Train-The-Trainer certified, etc.). Quality-related certification is advantageous.
- Fluent in written and spoken English with excellent communication skills.
- Disciplined, systematic, and passionate about lean methodologies. High personal integrity.
- Strong "results-oriented, people-centered, do-what-it-takes, never-give-up" mindset.
- This role may require travel within the HUB APMEA region, up to 35%.