Operations Excellence Leader

Mission-Driven. Honor-Bound. Fairbanks Morse Defense. What's your calling? For the men and women of Fairbanks Morse Defense it's the rapid and effective support of the fleets that entrust us to design, develop, and deliver the best naval power technology on the planet. We're one of the nation's leading marine defense contractors because of the highly trained and dedicated teams that provide reliable power systems, parts, and aftermarket services to the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and Canadian Coast Guard.

When you join Fairbanks Morse Defense, you join a legacy of commitment that spans 150 years. Fairbanks Morse Defense offers competitive benefits with a wide range of training and development opportunities. Our world-class teams are dedicated to helping every individual achieve their full potential. Discover what it's like to be a part of the Fairbanks Morse Defense team here:

Position Overview
Fairbanks Morse is looking for an FMOS (Fairbanks Morse Operating System) Leader to join our team.

This role offers hybrid work potential, allowing for a blend of onsite and remote work depending on business needs and leadership alignment.

The FMOS Leader is responsible for driving a culture of continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and process excellence across the organization. This role focuses on identifying opportunities, implementing solutions, and enabling teams to achieve sustainable improvements in quality, productivity, and cost-effectiveness.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with hands-on Lean, Six Sigma, and change management experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies.
• Develop and implement strategies that promote operational efficiency and excellence across all business units.
• Conduct root cause analysis and data-driven assessments to identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements.
• Partner with leadership teams to establish KPIs, performance metrics, and process dashboards.
• Facilitate workshops, training, and coaching to develop Lean and Six Sigma capabilities across teams.
• Support strategic projects, including digital transformation, cost reduction, and process automation.
• Track and report on operational excellence project results and benefits realization.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance.
• Partner with operational site leadership to enhance functional efficiency, boost productivity, and drive business growth to achieve key organizational objectives.
• Provide formal and informal FMOS training and coaching, breaking down complex internal/external problems and recommending the best approach to solutions.
• Drive the Kaizen process, including funnel development, prioritization, resourcing, activation, execution, and sustainment of results.
• Promote and facilitate diagnosis of workflow impediments and eliminate waste across the business using appropriate tools and methodologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field (Master's preferred).
• Minimum 5 years of experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain, or logistics.
• Minimum 2 years applying Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Lean Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Strong project management and change management skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills.
• Experience with DMAIC, PDCA, Value Stream Mapping, and process improvement tools.
• Proficiency in Power BI or similar analytical/reporting tools.
• Ability to assess business metrics from a general manager's perspective and build execution roadmaps.
• Proven ability to influence without authority and drive change across all levels.
• Strong cross-functional leadership and matrix organization experience.

Preferred Traits

• Results-oriented with a strong continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder influence skills.
• Strategic thinker with disciplined execution.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Experience

• Value Stream Mapping (VSM)
• Transactional Process Improvement (TPI)
• Problem Solving Process (PSP)
• Daily Management systems
• Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
• War Room leadership experience

Additional Information

• Travel: