Continuous Improvement Coach 1, 2, or 3

Woodward is committed to creating a great workplace for all team members. Our company and its members are committed to acting with integrity, being respectful and accountable to one another, and staying humble and driven, while maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards.

We are steadfastly committed to attracting the best talent across our communities, creating a rewarding workplace. Together we are fulfilling our purpose to design and deliver energy control solutions our partners count on to power a clean future.

Woodward supports our members' wellbeing and regularly benchmarks with other companies in our industry to offer an extensive Total Reward package for this position. Salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Level I

• Estimated annual base pay: $74,000(minimum) - $96,000(midpoint) - $118,000(maximum)

Level II

• Estimated annual base pay: $85,000(minimum) - $110,000(midpoint) - $136,000(maximum)

Level III

• Estimated annual base pay: $105,000(minimum) - $136,000(midpoint) - $168,000(maximum)

• All members included in annual cash bonus opportunity.
• 401(k) match (4.5%)
• Annual Woodward stock contribution (5%)
• Tuition reimbursement and Training/Professional Development opportunities for all members
• 12 paid holidays, including floating holidays.
• Industry leading medical, dental, and vision Insurance upon date of hire
• Vacation / Sick Time / Vacation Buy-up / Short Term Disability / Bereavement leave.
• Paid parental leave.
• Adoption Assistance
• Employee Assistance Program, including mental health benefits.
• Member Life & AD&D / Long Term Disability / Member Optional Life
• Member referral bonus
• Spouse / Child Optional Life / Optional AD&D / Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending
• Voluntary benefits, including:
• Home / Auto Insurance discounts
• Whole Life Insurance / Critical Illness Insurance / Legal Assistance / Military Leave

Level I

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in Lean Projects: Provide support for Lean initiatives, workshops, and process improvement activities under the guidance of coaches or leaders.
• Facilitate Basic Lean Tools: Apply foundational Lean tools such as 5S, visual management, Standardized Work, and Daily Management Systems to improve processes and reduce waste.
• Participate in Kaizen Events: Assist in planning and executing Kaizen events, contributing to activities such as data collection, process mapping, and action plan development.
• Support Daily Management Systems: Help teams establish and maintain Daily Management practices, including huddle boards, visual metrics, and performance tracking.
• Assist Leaders in Problem-Solving: Support managers and supervisors in applying structured problem-solving techniques, such as root cause analysis and PDCA cycles.

Key Skills:

• Basic Knowledge of Lean Tools: Familiarity with foundational Lean methodologies such as 5S, Standardized Work, PDCA, visual management, and Kaizen.
• Problem-Solving Foundations: Understanding of basic problem-solving techniques, including root cause analysis and PDCA cycles.
• Process Mapping: Ability to support process mapping exercises and identify inefficiencies in workflows.
• Data Collection and Analysis: Basic skills in collecting and analyzing data to measure performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Team Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with teams and build rapport with employees at all levels.
• Communication Skills: Clear communication and active listening skills to explain Lean concepts and engage employees in improvement efforts.
• Facilitation Skills: Capability to assist in facilitating small improvement discussions and workshops.
• Attention to Detail: Careful attention to detail when documenting processes, tracking metrics, or supporting improvement activities.
• Empathy and Approachability: Strong interpersonal skills to connect with employees and foster a supportive environment for improvement.
• Eagerness to Learn: Desire to grow and develop knowledge of Lean principles, tools, and coaching skills.

Level II

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement Standardized Work: Assist teams in developing and maintaining Standardized Work procedures to ensure consistency and sustainability of improvements.
• Conduct Kaizen Events: Plan and lead Kaizen events or rapid improvement workshops to address specific operational challenges and achieve measurable results.
• Support Lean Initiatives: Facilitate the implementation of Lean methodologies and tools across departments to improve processes, reduce waste, and enhance value delivery.
• Support Daily Management Systems: Work with teams to implement Daily Management practices, including huddle boards, visual management, and performance tracking.
• Facilitate Problem-Solving: Guide teams through structured problem-solving processes, such as A3 reports and root cause analysis, to resolve issues and improve processes.

Key Skills:

• Working Knowledge of Lean Tools: Proficiency in Lean methodologies such as Standardized Work, Value Stream Mapping, PDCA, Kaizen, 5S, and visual management.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to facilitate structured problem-solving processes, including root cause analysis and A3 problem-solving.
• Process Improvement Expertise: Strong understanding of process analysis and improvement techniques to identify waste and enhance efficiency.
• Data Analysis: Capability to use data and metrics to identify trends, measure success, and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Coaching Ability: Coaching with guidance, support, and feedback to teams and leaders to help them adopt Lean practices.
• Training Delivery: Experience in delivering Lean training sessions for employees at various levels.
• Effective Facilitation: Strong ability to lead workshops, Kaizen events, and team discussions, ensuring engagement and actionable outcomes.
• Clear Communication: Skill in articulating Lean concepts and engaging employees and leaders in improvement efforts.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Strong interpersonal skills to connect with employees, build trust, and foster collaboration.
• Continuous Learner: Commitment to improving personal Lean knowledge and staying current with best practices.

Level III

Key Responsibilities:

• Implement Lean Tools: Lead initiatives that utilize Lean tools such as 5S, Value Stream Mapping, PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act), Standardized Work, Flow / Pull, and visual management systems.
• Support Problem-Solving: Facilitate kaizen events and structured problem-solving sessions using methodologies such as root cause analysis, A3 reports, and countermeasure development.
• Optimize Processes: Work with teams to identify and eliminate non-value-added activities and improve workflows, reducing lead times and increasing efficiency.
• Sustain Lean Improvements: Ensure that improvements are standardized, documented, and sustained over time, fostering continuous improvement and refinement.
• Deliver Lean Training: Design and deliver Lean training programs to employees at all levels of the organization, ensuring understanding and adoption of Lean principles.

Key Skills:

• Lean Tools knowledge: Deep knowledge of Lean methodologies, including Standardized Work, Daily Management Systems, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, PDCA, Kaizen, Kanban, and visual management.
• Problem-Solving Mastery: Proficiency in structured problem-solving approaches such as A3 thinking, root cause analysis, and countermeasure development.
• Data Analysis: Ability to analyze data and metrics to identify trends, measure progress, and prioritize improvement opportunities.
• Project Management: Strong skills in planning, organizing, and executing Lean initiatives and cross-functional teams.
• Coaching Expertise: Proven ability to coach individuals and teams, developing leadership capabilities and fostering a culture of accountability and ownership.
• Change Management: Experience in leading organizational change, overcoming resistance, and driving cultural transformation.
• Communication Skills: Clear and effective communication skills to articulate Lean principles, engage stakeholders, and deliver training.
• Influencing and Facilitation: Ability to inspire and influence leaders and teams to adopt Lean practices and facilitate productive discussions during Lean events.
• Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Strong interpersonal skills to build trust, foster collaboration, and connect with employees at all levels.
• Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying current with Lean practices and methodologies and continuously improving coaching skills.

This position requires use of information which is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). All applicants must be U.S. Persons within the meaning of the ITAR and EAR, or eligible to obtain all required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State and/or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The ITAR defines a U.S. Person as a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident (i.e., 'Green Card holder'), or a protected person (e.g., asylee, or refugee).

Woodward is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local laws.