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SalaryWe use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come… for our customers, our communities, and our planet.
Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light, and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL) and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.
We are positioned at the intersection of sustainability and technology. Our businesses develop technology that helps save our customers energy and reduce their carbon emissions. We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and location-aware applications.
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced and innovative Sr. Director Business Process Improvement (DFX) to join our dynamic Supply Chain Strategy team. In this position, you will play a pivotal role in driving the design for excellence philosophy into our culture and product development process. Your expertise will ensure that our products not only lead industry performance but also optimize for efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects of the product enhancing our operational productivity and competitiveness. If you are a visionary leader with a passion for design excellence in a collaborative environment, we invite you to join our team and shape the future of our products and processes. This role offers an exciting opportunity to drive innovation and contribute to the success of our organization.
Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)
- Strategic Planning: Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for incorporating DFX philosophy into our product development and supply chain processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align initiatives with business goals and objectives and bring this philosophy to life in select products.
- Project Management: Work closely with product design, engineering, sourcing and manufacturing teams to lead multi-functional, multi-faceted project. Lead the specific project planning and coordination from day to day tasks to high level planning, scheduling, risk management and budgeting. Champion needed change management activities.
- Product Development Process: Lead redesign of Product Development Process to incorporate voice of supply chain and the DFX philosophy. Set up continuous improvement process to ensure go forward optimization of DFX as the culture thrives.
- Design Optimization: Oversee portfolio of efforts to redesign existing products or develop new designs that are inherently compatible with outlined "Xs". Ensure that designs consider factors such as ease of assembly, modular components, and compatibility with automated assembly lines as well as packaging.
- DFX Expertise: Leverage DFX expertise to build acumen within in teams; establish DFX as a competency with needed training program and experiences; & cultivate a culture that enables DFX mindset.
- Collaboration: Foster strong collaboration between product design, engineering, sourcing and manufacturing teams to ensure seamless integration of principles. Facilitate communication and knowledge sharing to drive a unified approach to design.
- Risk Management: Anticipate and mitigate potential challenges related to automation integration. Identify design constraints, production bottlenecks, and potential failure points to develop proactive solutions that minimize disruptions
- Cross-functional Leadership: Lead and mentor a team of engineers and specialists. Provide guidance and expertise to guide the team's efforts in optimizing product design in all aspects. Establish a common ground, align on specific approach, and provide direction to individuals in multiple locations and disciplines.
- Performance Tracking: Develop metrics and KPIs to monitor the success and impact of the DFX program across existing product portfolio and new product introduction. Regularly assess the efficiency gains, quality improvements, and cost savings achieved.
- Develop and implement policies, standards and procedures for the discipline.
- Lead and participate in Art of the Possible events to improve ABL processes.
Skills and Minimum Experience Required
- 9-12 years of experience
- Strong appetite to innovate and lead with speed & accuracy.
- Proven experience (10+ years) in product design, manufacturing, or related engineering roles, with a focus on Design for Excellence in the development process.
- In-depth understanding of Design for Excellence (DFX) and related engineering practices.
- Should function at expert level to perform and analyze the mechanical design from start to finish.
- Strong track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving collaborative initiatives including Supplier Collaboration
- Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and address design and automation challenges.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with diverse teams and stakeholders. Must be able to communicate complex concepts to personnel at all levels of organization in written and verbal forms.
- Demonstrated strategic thinking and ability to translate business objectives into actionable plans for automation integration.
- Proven project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, manage timelines, and allocate resources effectively.
- Extensive knowledge of engineering practices and principles as well as understanding scientific methods of problem solving.
- Demonstrated ability with cost analysis, product design methods, interpersonal skills and the ability to integrate all of these skills to a productive cost-effective result.
- Excellent program and project management skills with a sense of urgency.
- Excellent analytical skills including the ability to analyze, troubleshoot, process, change and improve design and equipment.
- Experience and knowledge of Lean Principles, Lean Cell Design, Kaizen, and demonstrated ability in continuous improvement.
- Strong presentation, written and verbal skills.
- Able to communicate ideas and recommendations to non-engineer team members in a clear manner.
- Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent
Preferred Skills and Experience
- 10+ years of experience in the product development & manufacturing industry (Specifically DFX).
- 7+ years project management experience, with technical leadership skills for problem solving and conflict resolution.
- Knowledge of the Spanish language a plus.
- Preferred education: Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Light work
Travel Requirements
- 21-40%
We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities: As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Brands is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, you may contact us at (770) 922-9000. Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition.
Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Brands from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Brands mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Brands employees, or to Acuity Brands resume database will be considered Acuity Brands property. Acuity Brands will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.
Acuity Brands will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor, but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.
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The range for this position is $143,600 to $268,900. Placement within this range may vary, depending on the applicant’s experience and geographic location.
