Senior Lean Coach

Address: 1110 W. Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Mission Partners Division

Grade: 25

Closing Date:
Open Until Filled (First Review 2/11/2026)

We have an excellent opportunity for a Senior Lean Coach to join our team. In this role, you will mentor leaders and empower teams to build a sustainable culture of continuous improvement by integrating Lean methodologies across all agency functions. You will serve as lead for high-visibility projects—driving measurable waste reduction and transforming organizational efficiency.

This position is available for remote work on a full-time basis within Arizona (including virtual office arrangements). The State of Arizona strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many agencies, boards, and commissions, many State employees participate in the State’s Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces.

All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona unless an exception is properly authorized in advance.

• Operational Excellence Support: Partner with unit leadership to drive daily continuous improvement initiatives. You will integrate Lean tools and methodologies across the value stream, collaborating with cross‑functional leaders to achieve strategic project goals.
• Training & Development
  :
  Coordinate and facilitate specialized Lean training, including AMS Tools and Principles, AMS Behaviors and Coaching, Standard Work, Kaizen, Visual Management, and New Employee Orientation (NEO).
• Project Facilitation: Lead project team meetings and provide expert guidance to Project Team Leaders. Facilitate collaborative problem‑solving to analyze data and implement process solutions, proactively identifying barriers and soliciting help from leadership when needed.
• Performance Tracking: Maintain regular engagement with teams to ensure project milestones are met. Develop and maintain visual management tools to track value stream performance and reports to section unit leadership as required on progress of projects.
• Strategic Selection: Support the identification, prioritization, and selection of high‑impact projects. Focus on optimizing existing processes to drive waste reduction, cost control, and overall organizational efficiency.

• Knowledge of Lean concepts, principles, and tools focused on maximizing customer value, minimizing waste, and fostering a culture of continuous problem‑solving.
• Knowledge of process improvement methodologies and management frameworks.
• Knowledge of business operations, Kaizen facilitation, and the integration of continuous improvement into daily workflows.
• Knowledge of section‑specific services and customer needs, and how state and federal regulatory frameworks affect value stream products, services, and processes.

• Excellent analytical skills with ability to focus on high‑level strategic plans down to detailed project plans.
• Strong skills in program and project management, data‑driven analysis, cross‑functional team facilitation, and relationship building.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Visio, Access) and digital collaboration tools such as Mural, and Trello.
• Proficiency implementing process improvement within section unit projects.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively interact with a wide range of internal and external customers.

• Ability to promote effective team development, encourage collaboration across large teams, address conflicts and obstacles and guide teams to achieve desired results.
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with team members, peers, and management at all levels.
• Ability to thrive in a challenging work environment to consistently deliver quality service and help section units serve the citizens effectively.
• Ability to transform a project vision into a defined scope and drive results while working with available resources and timeline requirements.
• Ability to speak to all audiences through the organization, understanding the various needs of audience members, and tailoring the message to address their concerns.
• Abi…