Job Description

Business Excellence Manager

Spennymoor, UK

SpotLIGHT of the job

The Zumtobel Group is an international lighting group and a leading supplier of innovative lighting solutions, lighting components and associated services. With its core brands, Zumtobel, Thorn and Tridonic, the Group offers its customers around the world a comprehensive portfolio of products and services.

As Business Excellence Manager at Thorn Lighting, you will drive operational excellence across the organisation by leading continuous improvement, cost reduction and strategic business improvement programmes. You will champion Lean thinking, innovation and data-driven decision making, while playing a key role in digital transformation, Industry 4.0 and the responsible adoption of AI.

Working cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales and IT, you will improve productivity, profitability, customer satisfaction and overall business performance. You will also support sustainable growth through value engineering and new business development activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the company continuous improvement roadmap and support Hoshin deployment across the business.
• Lead strategic improvement projects from concept through to implementation, delivering measurable operational and financial benefits.
• Facilitate Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen and 6S activities, while coaching managers and teams in structured improvement methodologies.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and support the implementation of Hydra, digital dashboards and connected factory solutions.
• Improve data visibility through real-time reporting and analytics, and support predictive maintenance and smart manufacturing initiatives.
• Identify practical AI applications across manufacturing, engineering, quality and business processes, promoting responsible adoption, governance, security and compliance.
• Develop sustainable 6S standards, conduct audits and maturity assessments, and strengthen visual management across manufacturing and support functions.
• Lead value analysis and value engineering activities to reduce product and process costs while maintaining quality and customer requirements.
• Partner with Engineering, Procurement and Production to optimise designs, manufacturing methods and Design for Manufacture and Assembly initiatives.
• Build internal Business Excellence capability through coaching, mentoring and structured training, while encouraging employee engagement, innovation and knowledge sharing.
• Identify opportunities to develop new business and support cross-functional strategic projects, business cases and budget management.

Skills & Experience

• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management or a related discipline.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt or equivalent qualification.
• Significant experience in a manufacturing environment, with proven leadership of Lean transformation programmes.
• Experience leading Six Sigma, cost reduction and value engineering projects with measurable financial benefits.
• Working knowledge of AI-enabled business improvement, digital factory or Industry 4.0 initiatives.
• Formal project management experience, including leadership of cross-functional strategic projects.
• Experience of new product introduction, business development, business case development and budget management.
• Strong leadership, coaching, stakeholder management, analytical and problem-solving capability.

What matters to us

We understand not only the power of the visible, but also the invisible. Like light, diversity is intangible, but it is perceptible. We value the uniqueness of every person and see this as a driver of innovation. Qualified applicants will be considered regardless of, for example, origin, skin color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or disability.

As the contact person for this position, a great candidate experience is important to me! I will reach out to you within 7 days. Please inform me of any assistance you may need, so I can best support you throughout the hiring process.

Talent Acquisition Partner

Andrew Walker

andrew.walker@zumtobelgroup.com

Who we are

At the Zumtobel Group, we are passionate about designing and producing light that empowers humans and brings architecture to life. We continuously push the boundaries in our search for perfection through timeless design, technical excellence and efficient performance. Through light, we create spaces that inspire. As we develop the next generation of lighting, we consider the wellbeing of people and nature. Our lighting is designed for our customers and their individual aspirations. We guide them into a new world of opportunities – as a group, and through all our individual brands, Thorn, Tridonic and Zumtobel.

Learn more about our Group in our enlightening video - where WE LIVE LIGHT and thrive together! The result is a series of personal and authentic insights into our corporate culture - illustrated from different perspectives.

Follow us:

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT LIGHT.

We share a passion for light, creating aesthetic, functional, and sustainable lighting solutions that enhance quality of life.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT CREATING INNOVATIVE LIGHTING SOLUTIONS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

Sustainability and innovation drive everything we do — shaping a responsible, climate-neutral future.

WE ARE INTERNATIONAL AND PERSONAL AT THE SAME TIME.

While we have grown from a family business into a global organization, our collaborative spirit and familial culture remain integral to our identity.

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