Lean Champion

at Salina Vortex Corporation in Salina, Kansas, United States

Job Description

Are you ready to lead meaningful change in a company that values your ideas, your drive, and your attention to detail?

Join a growing, family-oriented team where continuous improvement isn't just a concept-it's how we operate. Vortex Companies, a global leader in manufacturing solutions, is looking for a Lean Champion to be at the forefront of optimizing our processes. In this role, you'll be driving operational excellence in products that touch lives across the globe every single day.

Key Responsibilities:

• Promote a Culture of Continuous Improvement Across the Organization: Act as a visible and vocal advocate for continuous improvement in both manufacturing and office settings, inspiring employees at all levels to identify and address challenges within their processes.

• Facilitate Training and Education: Deliver training and coaching on continuous improvement tools—such as Lean principles, problem-solving techniques, and waste identification—tailored to the needs of both production and office teams. Equip individuals to independently apply these tools within their respective areas.

• Identify and Highlight Opportunities: Support all departments in identifying potential areas for improvement by asking questions, facilitating discussions, and encouraging data-driven analysis, whether on the shop floor or in the office.

• Coach, Support, and Mentor: Guide leaders and team members across the company in thinking critically about their processes, empowering them to own and lead improvement initiatives within their functions.

• Champion Communication and Sharing: Promote the sharing of continuous improvement wins across departments to encourage broader adoption of effective practices and foster a sense of accomplishment throughout the company.

• Support Measurement and Reflection: Assist teams in establishing simple, meaningful metrics to track the impact of their improvements—whether operational efficiency on the shop floor or administrative process improvements in the office—and encourage regular reflection on progress.

• Be a Resource, Not the Owner: Avoid owning or executing specific improvement projects. Serve instead as a catalyst, sounding board, and resource for all employees.

This position requires working fixed days Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What We're Looking for:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• A bachelor's degree in a related field, such as business administration, engineering, or information technology is preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing, operations, or administrative environment with exposure to continuous improvement practices.
• Strong knowledge of Lean principles, problem-solving tools, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the confidence to inspire, influence and coach across diverse teams.
• Ability to facilitate discussions and ask thought-provoking questions that will spark critical thinking.
• Self motivated with a passion for helping others grow and develop.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.

What we Prefer (Non-Requirements):

• Prior experience leading or supporting continuous improvement efforts in Manufacturing (both office & production settings).
• Experience delivering trainings or developed workshops.
• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or a similar methodology.