Continuous Improvement Consultant

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CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 150 years.

Our Vision: Our vision is to become the most admired utility in the United States through the execution of our long-term growth strategy. We have an unwavering commitment to safely and reliably deliver electricity and natural gas to millions of people.

Our Commitment: CenterPoint Energy is committed to creating an inclusive work environment where business results are achieved through the skills, abilities and talents of our diverse workforce.

At CenterPoint Energy, individuals are respected for their contributions toward our company objectives. We strive for an inclusive work environment across all levels that is reflective of the available workforce in the communities we serve.

With limited supervision, the Continuous Improvement Consultant identifies, plans, participates in, and facilitates Lean Continuous Improvement projects and activities that align with the organization’s enterprise-level strategic initiatives around revenue, cost, quality and service. The consultant is responsible to learn business processes in a wide range of organizational areas and to use structured process improvement and problem-solving methods that will add sustainable value, as well as aid the business in implementing various lean practices such as visual management, standard work, streamlined workflows, daily improvements, and end-to-end process optimization projects.

The consultant can lead any business unit functional area. The consultant works cooperatively with cross functional teams and departments to seek improvements and solve specific problems along with aiding in defining and delivering the value proposition. The consultant is capable of pro-actively building on prior projects to identify and extend improvements in related areas.

• Understand the corporate strategic plan to assist in evaluation and determination of improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate cross-functional teams to create standardized processes and implement continuous improvement in support of business unit plans.
• Be a change agent and champion of a continuous improvement culture focused on waste elimination across the organization using lean methods, processes, and tools, such as 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Analysis, Structured Problem Solving, etc.
• Work with the business to develop and implement high level and detailed key performance indicators.
• Teach others to develop reliable measurement methods and communications tools to report results.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of data produced and results reported; accept accountability and work cohesively in a team environment that stresses attention to detail.
• Develop project charters for process improvement efforts including defining project requirements, scope, baseline metrics, resources, team members, deliverables, and project and task owners.
• Develop financial acumen to ensure priority actions are focused on driving the right improvements in the business, impacting the bottom line.
• Perform financial and cost-benefit analyses using a wide variety of analytical tools and methods.
• Support the implementation of visual management and processes for regular review.
• Facilitate efforts to re-design processes and procedures demonstrating advanced analytical skills and creative solution planning.
• May be called upon to provide training to other staff members in the use of data, statistics, performance improvement tools and problem-solving processes.
• Present team outcomes to peers and management for review, comment, and approval, overcoming barriers and addressing concerns.
• Perform periodic "go and see" activities and data collection for the purposes of understanding improvement opportunities in designated area.
• Develop business cases and project plans using company standards.
• Demonstrate excellent business acumen in communications, behavior, dependability, and teamwork.
• Continually work with leadership to ensure continual progress is being made in all production areas to affect lean systems and culture.
• Ensure 30, 60, 90-day Kaizen reviews are proactive and completed in a timely manner.
• Manage schedules and provide updates assuming multiple concurrent assignments.
• Regularly develop and add to own skills.
• Teach colleagues to competently apply Lean continuous improvement methods and principles as a trusted business resource.
• Lead and contribute to continuously improving tools and…