Key Responsibilities

1. Spearheading initiatives to enhance R&D and engineering value streams by integrating process excellence methodologies with digital technologies
2. Managing and executing value stream transformation projects independently for internal R&D stakeholders, ensuring smooth alignment between engineering, prototyping, and manufacturing readiness
3. Leading change management efforts to ensure successful adoption of new engineering processes and practices among highly technical teams, minimizing resistance and maximizing engagement
4. Work closely with stakeholders across departments to design and implement process changes that align with organizational goals
5. Identify opportunities for automation and digital tools to enhance process efficiency and effectiveness
6. Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and other process improvement methodologies to streamline operations, reduce cycle times, and eliminate non-value-added activities
7. Develop a structured qualification program encompassing various levels (e.g., Green Belt, Black Belt) to standardize process excellence competencies across the organization
8. Ensure comprehensive documentation of processes, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and best practices to maintain consistency and compliance
9. Be open to participate or lead process audit efforts for identified value streams
10. Familiarity or hands-on experience in R&D, product development lifecycle, vehicle architecture is highly desirable
11. Advanced proficiency in analyzing workflows, mapping current vs. future states, and identifying bottlenecks, waste, and friction points
12. Ability to add value in areas like reducing design rework loops, managing engineering capacity, and accelerating Time-to-Market
13. Deep understanding of DMAIC frameworks, waste elimination (Muda, Mura, Muri), cycle-time reduction, and root-cause analysis. Given the requirement to build a training program, the candidate should ideally hold a Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification
14. Ability to design, document, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and best practices to ensure compliance and quality control
15. Understanding of structured audit execution, compliance monitoring, and root cause analysis (5-Why, Fishbone, FMEA)
16. Strong coordination and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence without formal authority
17. 100% on-schedule completion of process development and deployment for the identified value streams
18. Minimizing recurring value stream process gaps and operational bottlenecks via improvements - process and technology level

Ideal Candidate

1. Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations, or a related discipline
2. Demonstrated experience (8+ years) specifically driving process improvement or project management within R&D, product development, or automotive engineering sectors
3. Certifications as a Lean Practitioner/Green Belt, Six Sigma, or ISO/Automotive Internal Auditor will be an added advantage