Lean and Continuous Improvement Leader

Location: Templecombe, United Kingdom

Thales is a global technology leader with more than 83,000 employees on five continents. With over 7,500 people in the UK, operating across defence, space, aerospace, and digital security, we help build a future we can all trust. Thales supports the security and stability of our nation by providing extraordinary technology to our customers, as well as delivering social value to the UK with our products and services.

Lean and Continuous improvement leader

Templecombe

At Thales Under water Systems our purpose is to be the leading provider of underwater sensors and decision superiority, helping navies across the world keep our friends, families and all of us safe. We cover four sectors: Mine Counter Measures, Anti-Submarine warfare, Services and Future Capabilities. We don't want someone who talks about continuous improvement. We want someone who lives it — on the shop floor, with the teams, every day. Thales UK builds technology that matters. As our Lean Leader in one of our manufacturing facilities in Templecombe, your mission is to make our operations sharper, faster, and better — for good.

The role

In this role, you’ll become a trusted go‑to expert for Lean Continuous Improvement across our Templecombe site. You’ll be embedded in the rhythm of day‑to‑day manufacturing life — weaving robust problem‑solving and Lean thinking into how work actually happens, not just facilitating workshops. Through coaching, mentoring, and hands‑on leadership, you’ll help teams grow their capability and confidence while delivering meaningful improvements across Quality, Delivery, and Cost.

This is a high‑visibility, highly collaborative position, with real influence. You’ll work closely with Site Production, Engineering, our Autonomous Production and Repair Unit (APRU) Managers, the Head of Manufacturing, and the UK Head of Lean Continuous Improvement. Your impact will go beyond metrics and dashboards — you’ll help shape behaviours, ways of working, and a culture of continuous improvement that people feel proud to be part of.

What you bring

• A genuine passion for Lean manufacturing, backed by strong, hands‑on experience applying Lean principles and practices — whether through formal qualifications such as Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt+) or experience you’ve built and proven on the shop floor.

• A natural problem solver, with the curiosity, analytical thinking, and resilience to get to the root of issues and turn insight into action.

• Deep, practical fluency in Lean tools, including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, flow optimisation, and visual management — and the ability to use them in ways that truly support people and performance.

• Proven success in low‑volume, high‑complexity manufacturing environments, where every improvement counts and no two challenges look the same.

• The ability to lead through influence, building trust and momentum across production cells, cross‑functional teams, and senior stakeholders — guiding change with clarity, confidence, and collaboration.

Due to the nature of the work that we do at Thales, many of our roles are subject to security restrictions.  This role requires you to be a UK National and achieve Security Clearance (SC) without any caveats. It would be advantageous if currently held, however, if not currently held, it is a requirement that the successful applicant undergo, achieve, and maintain SC Clearance prior to commencing employment.  If approved by the MOD, a dual national from a non-ITAR country may be considered. 

To be eligible for full SC, you generally need to have resided in the UK for the last 5 years.  In some circumstances, a minimum of 3 years’ residence in the UK over the last 5 years may be accepted, with additional overseas checks.

Please visit the UKSV website for further guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels.

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At Thales, we ensure equal opportunities, pay and working conditions for all. The benefits we offer include private medical insurance, buying or selling annual leave, cycle to work schemes, employee discounts, paid volunteering day, stocks and shares, annual bonus and much more depending on the role. Read more about our benefits here.

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued for who they are and the unique strengths they bring. Discover more about our programmes, employee networks, wellbeing policies, and inclusive features here.

If this role isn’t quite right for you, we encourage you to join our talent community where your details will be shared with our recruitment teams for other potential opportunities. Join the Talent Community here.

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