Lean Manager

About VAT Group

At VAT, we change the world with vacuum solutions. As the world’s leading supplier of high-performance vacuum valves, we have been driving innovation for more than 60 years. With over 3,200 employees worldwide, we operate from our headquarters in Haag, Switzerland, with manufacturing sites in Switzerland, Malaysia and Romania, as well as sales and service hubs around the world. We are guided by our passions integrity, teamwork, customer centricity, and innovation – always working together as #oneVAT.

Joining us means becoming part of a passionate, international team where your voice is heard, your ideas matter, and your career growth is supported.

1.    Continuous Improvement Execution & Impact Delivery
•    Lead and deliver structured improvement initiatives (Kaizen, VSM, flow optimization, waste elimination)
•    Translate site performance data into prioritized improvement actions
•    Drive measurable impact on productivity, lead time, quality, and cost
•    Ensure initiatives deliver sustainable results and are embedded into daily operations

2.    Lean Deployment & Shopfloor Integration
•    Act as the main Lean contact at site, supporting deployment of Lean principles and tools
•    Establish and sustain daily performance management routines (tiered meetings, Gemba, visual management)
•    Connect shopfloor performance to structured problem solving and escalation routines
•    Support implementation of stable processes (standard work, flow, takt, SMED, 5S)

3.    Digital-to-Shopfloor Value Realization
•    Translate digital dashboards and analytics into actionable shopfloor improvements
•    Ensure a closed-loop process: data → action → execution → KPI validation → sustainment
•    Work closely with digital, analytics, and industrial engineering teams

4.    Capability Building
•    Coach and develop operators, specialists, and leaders in Lean methods and problem-solving
•    Support development of Green Belt project pipeline and CI capabilities
•    Act as facilitator for structured problem solving (A3, DMAIC, 8D)

5.    Governance & Performance Tracking
•    Monitor and report Lean performance and project impact (aligned to DarWin / site targets)
•    Ensure prioritization of initiatives based on business impact
•    Support Lean assessments and ensure adherence to Lean standards

6.    Cross-Site Collaboration
•    Share and implement best practices across CH, RO, MY
•    Contribute to harmonized Lean systems and standards across sites
•    Collaborate with GIE, Operations Excellence, Quality, SCM, Production leaders

7.    Scope & Organizational Context

•    The Lean Manager is accountable for local execution and impact delivery, while methods, standards, and governance are defined by Global Industrial Engineering.
•    May coordinate or guide local CI resources (e.g. technicians, engineers), depending on site maturity
•    Works under functional guidance of Global Continuous Improvement leadership, while operating within local site structure
•    Accountable for local execution and impact, in alignment with global Lean governance

8.    Key Performance Indicators
•    Measurable improvement delivered (productivity, cost, quality, lead time)
•    Continuous Improvement pipeline value of projects and successful project execution rate (measurable impact on Cash Flow, P&L, and Cost Avoidance)
•    % of initiatives delivering validated and sustainable impact
•    Lean maturity improvement (assessment results from externally moderated facilitators e.g. UMS, Kaizen Institute)
•    Development of site CI capabilities (Green Belt pipeline of projects)

KEY EXPERIENCES

•    5 to 8 years of experience in Operations, manufacturing and Lean Six Sigma production methods
•    Experience leading Lean or CI initiatives in a manufacturing/industrial environment. 
•    Demonstrated ability to run Kaizen events, VSM, process mapping, and waste elimination activities. 
•    Proven facilitation experience: ability to mentor teams and influence across multiple levels of the organization.
•    Track record of delivering measurable improvements in throughput, quality, cost, or material flow. 
•    Experience with structured problem solving methodologies.

COMPETENCIES

•     Strong understanding of Lean principles and continuous improvement methods 
•     Hands-on mindset with ability to drive implementation on shopfloor 
•     Strong facilitation, communication, and change management skills 
•     Ability to engage with both frontline teams and leadership 
•     Analytical thinking with basic capability in data analysis (e.g. Excel, dashboards) 
•     Ability to translate data into actionable improvements

Our commitment to inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities

We believe in meaningful careers, continuous learning, and equal opportunities for everyone to drive our innovation and success. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. If you have concerns, our compliance channel is available at our website. All reports are handled with strict confidentiality and in accordance with our Code of Conduct.