Global Director, Operational Excellence COE

Global Director, Operational Excellence COE

At Nouryon, our global team takes positive action every day, to reach higher collectively and individually. We create innovative and sustainable solutions for our customers to answer society’s needs – today and in the future.

We are looking for team members who bring ideas forward, champion others and work together to do better. Does that sound like you?

The Global Director, Operational Excellence (OpEx) COE is a senior leadership role responsible for defining the strategic direction, standards, and governance of Nouryon’s global OpEx program. This role owns the organizational design, frameworks, methodologies, and capability pipelines that enable sustainable continuous improvement across 63 manufacturing sites in the Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) organization – spanning the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific.

This role is the architect of OpEx productivity engine. The COE Director owns the design of the systems, standards, and organizational capabilities that enable VMC and FMC delivery – including ownership of the enterprise systems of record for productivity tracking (ANT) and performance reporting (PowerBI). Execution of productivity targets is driven through the regional OpEx Manager network; this role ensures those teams are equipped, aligned, and operating within a governance structure capable of sustaining results.

This role leads a newly consolidated Center of Excellence that brings together CI methodology and Lean/Six Sigma certification, ISC Learning & Development, End-to-End Process Management, and Manufacturing Excellence under a single governance structure. The COE Director sets priorities, establishes the program architecture, and holds accountability for outcomes – operating through a team of direct reports who own execution across regions. Key relationships span the COO, regional OpEx Managers, Site Directors, and ISC functional leaders across three regions.

This is a permanent, full‑time position reporting to the VP, Global Operational Excellence & Digital Manufacturing, based in a Nouryon regional hub (Amsterdam, Houston, or Shanghai) with global travel of 15–25%.

CI Methodology, Standards & Governance:
Own the global Operational Excellence methodology, ensuring a consistent, fit‑for‑purpose CI framework is deployed across all 63 Nouryon manufacturing sites. Define and govern the Lean/Six Sigma certification pathway from Yellow Belt through Master Black Belt, establishing quality standards for program content, assessment, and progression. Partner with regional OpEx Managers to translate global standards into site‑level execution plans, maintaining strategic alignment while enabling regional adaptation.

Establish and sustain a durable CI Governance model – defining the review cadence, accountability structure, and performance mechanisms that ensure CI maturity compounds over time across the Nouryon network. Own the enterprise systems of record for productivity tracking and performance reporting, including the ANT productivity platform and PowerBI reporting architecture, ensuring data integrity and leadership visibility across all sites.

ISC Learning & Development:
Lead the design and continuous improvement of the ISC Learning & Development program, spanning CI capability, technical skills, and leadership development for the ISC organization. Direct the L&D team to build and maintain a structured curriculum that supports onboarding, role progression, and organizational capability uplift. Connect L&D investment directly to VMC and FMC delivery targets, ensuring program outcomes are measurable and business‑relevant.

Own the design mandate…