Black Belt

Flex-Tek is a global manufacturing company for products in Aerospace, Construction and Heating markets. 

The Smiths Excellence (SE) team delivers results and drives a culture of continuous improvement by analyzing existing processes, identifying areas of improvement, and building business cases with a clear focus on delivering significant results for the organization. Our focus is on delivering sustainable change from the top down which is aligned to strategic business priorities, and maximum business and commercial value. How we empower and upskill internal teams to maximize our organizational capability and promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement is key.

SPECIFIC DUTIES, ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

• Work with leaders to understand priorities linked to the Y-Tree, creates Hoppers and assist prioritization on an ongoing basis
• Apply statistical tools to define, measure, analyze, improve, and control change in our processes
• Lead project teams that deliver hard hitting results that are connected to the strategic business priorities for the organization
• Demonstrate leadership skills by challenging projects with more uncertain outcomes
• Synthesize large amounts of data into clear management communication
• Maintain strong communication with sponsors and process owners to ensure effective project management
• Effectively deploy Lean tools to reduce waste and improve standard work
• Actively coach Green Belts (GBs) to ensure strong project attainment in a timely fashion
• Select high potential employees to train and develop further in process improvement methodologies

Process Improvement Culture

• Act as SE ambassadors in their area, sharing best practices with leadership and other BBs and GBs
• Support strong SE communication rhythm for their area
• Demonstrate enthusiasm and create a positive team spirit to maximize project outcomes
• Ensure continuous utilization of SE capability throughout improvement projects

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Preferred Education, Qualification and Experience:

• Continuous improvement mindset and interest – either demonstrated by previously acquired Yellow Belt, Green Belt, or further qualification at Smiths, or willing to pursue these qualifications to become certified.
• Project Management experience – both knowledge on the core principles and practical application of the skills at each project phase
• Complex process efficiency, effectiveness or improvement experience – likely focused on growth or customer experience
• Experience managing a team – direct or matrix
• Stakeholder management experience in a business and complex change context
• Exceptional knowledge and demonstration of the SLB
• MBA and/or consultancy experience
• Lean Six Sigma experience would be an advantage but not an essential prerequisite

Skills:

• Strong leadership: Change management, coaching, interpersonal and communication skills. Engaging leadership style with proven ability to drive change. Ability to develop high-potential talent and build organization capabilities. Lives the Smiths values and leadership behaviors

• Driving Change: The candidate will be a strong advocate for change and is able to communicate a clear and compelling new direction. Sets clear targets in line with a larger change effort to focus people on accomplishing the change. Engages others by using data / analytics to proactively monitor and review plans to hit or exceed targets and drive continuous improvement
• Resilience and Determination: ability to thrive in ambiguity. The ability to stay committed to each core process and step in the project, whilst continuously aligning and realigning stakeholders on complex challenges and topics, and ensuring benefits stay aligned and embedded
• Governance Mindset: Starts with and holds firm to the standard. Seeks to understand others’ agendas and make practical decisions, but comfortable to hold tension and challenge divergence. Comfortable to measure compliance and deal with non-compliance through data. Comfortable to escalate if required
• Results Orientation: Typically, is energized by a challenge, sets new and stretching goals for self and team, and achieves beyond what is expected. Exploits opportunities to exceed goals and works towards them, even under adverse circumstances
• Stakeholder impact: Ability to engage and gain buy in from senior leaders and stakeholders throughout the organization. Understands the customer perspective and uses knowledge to anticipate the customer’s requirements
• Collaboration and Influencing: The successful candidate will motivate others to work with self and is able to use the informal structure, dynamics and culture of an organization to get things done. Actively seeks input in decision-making, showing others how their objectives align with their own. Shows a clear understanding of the implications their decisions have. Works well in a team environment
• Solution minded: Strong analytical skills, requirement to understand the application of statistical methods to problem solving. Brings a broad range of inputs together, both internal and external, to provoke and promote practical and effective solutions to business problems

Planning and Decision Making:

• Ability to make strategic decisions within project scope
• Ability to work under limited supervision, an ability to manage conflicting priorities with a can-do approach
• Ability to set and communicate clear targets in line with a larger change effort to focus people on accomplishing the change
• Shows initiative and ability to challenge the status quo
• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to suggest solutions

Key Internal and External Relationships: 

• Interacts regularly with other Smiths colleagues and senior leaders across all functions of the business.

Impact and Scope: 

• Geographic scope of the role is global. Eagerness to travel and spend time going to “where the work is done”
• Erroneous decisions or recommendations may result in failure to achieve major goals and objectives of the Group organization
• Interacts regularly with senior leaders and managers across the business
• 2 to 3 years assignment / or permanent

We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity.

At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website (Careers - Smiths Group plc)