Vice President, Novanta Growth System and Continuous Improvement

Build a career powered by innovations that matter! At Novanta, our innovations power technology products that are transforming healthcare and advanced manufacturing-improving productivity, enhancing people's lives and redefining what's possible. We create for our global customers engineered components and sub-systems that deliver extreme precision and performance for a range of mission-critical applications-from minimally invasive surgery to robotics to 3D metal printing.

Novanta is one global team with over 26 offices located in The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Looking for a great place to work? You have found it with a culture that embraces teamwork, collaboration and empowerment. Come explore Novanta.

Job Summary

The Vice President of NGS and CI will be responsible for leading and accelerating the implementation of the Novanta Growth System (NGS) across Novanta , applying NGS tools to enhance performance in multiple areas including customer satisfaction, lead times, on-time delivery, direct and indirect labor productivity, gross margin profitability, inventory levels, and employee engagement.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serving as the worldwide champion of the Novanta Growth System (NGS), driving NGS best practices, tools and templates in CI and Lean, both in operations/manufacturing and more broadly in functions across the organization.
• Creating a culture of lean transformation, continuous improvement and operations excellence to increase critical key performance indicators such as on time delivery, lead times, gross margin, and days inventory outstanding.
• Providing leadership to strengthen problem solving capabilities across all levels of the organization.
• Leading Kaizen events on the most critical challenges facing the organization.
• Conducing NGS and Lean training for all levels of the organization.
• Championing the development of a Lean roadmap to drive strategic direction for the Continuous Improvement program, and significant impact on the business.
• Ensuring that implemented systematic improvements are sustained and the functional leaders are managing the processes independently.

Required Experience, Education, Skills and Competencies

• B.S. in Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineering preferred).
• M.S. or M.B.A. strongly preferred.
• 20+ years of demonstrated results in Continuous Improvement and operations leadership roles within a complex manufacturing environment.
• International lean company experience
• Strong interpersonal skills to positively influence all levels of the organization; excellent facilitation and presentation skills are required.
• Strong analytical skills, statistical process control background is preferred.
• Experienced as a practitioner of Lean tools including but not limited to Six Sigma (Blackbelt preferred), DMAIC and other advanced Problem Solving methods, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Visual and Daily Management, Transactional Process Improvement, Pull Systems, and 80/20. Knowledgeable about Shingo principles and similar organizational engagement models.
• Tough-minded but welcome team member, broad minded and cross-functional in thinking and approach. Strong sense of urgency.

Travel Requirements

• This role will be based in Bedford, MA with up to 50% travel, to Novanta facilities in the US and around the world.

Novanta is proud to be an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, military and veteran status, disability, genetics, or any other category protected by federal law or Novanta policy.

Please call +1 781-266-5700 if you need a disability accommodation for any part of the employment process.