Operational Excellence Specialist

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on the volume of applicants.

Further your career at Ball, a world leader in manufacturing sustainable aluminum packaging. Achieve extraordinary things when you join our team, and make a difference in your professional development, the community, and around the globe!

Ball is thrilled to receive Newsweek's 2023 Top 100 Global Most Loved Workplace award! As a sustainable product leader, we have over 16,000 global team members. From endlessly recyclable aluminum cans, and cups, to aerosol bottles, our goal is to contribute to a better community, society, and world.

Exciting News from Ball Corporation! 

We’re thrilled to announce that a brand-new location is coming to Millersburg, OR — and with it, some incredible career opportunities! 

As we begin building our presence in the area, we’re also kicking off recruitment efforts to bring top talent on board.

If you’re looking for a fresh opportunity with a company committed to innovation and excellence, now’s the time to apply!

Primary purpose of the position:

The Operational Excellence Specialist plays a pivotal role in driving a culture of continuous improvement and ensuring operational efficiency across the organization. The main priorities of this role are leading standardization of the management process at the plant through the implementation of the BOE pillars, working directly with employees on all shifts and teams; and leading various process improvement assignments and projects that yield bottom-line productivity, improved throughput and better quality.​

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Competencies​:

• Standardization & BOE/BME Execution: Ability to implement and sustain BOE pillars, establish consistency through SOPs, and embed best practices into daily operations.​
• Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence: Capability to lead CI initiatives that drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.​
• Process & Performance Management: Strength in analyzing and optimizing processes, defining and monitoring KPIs, and applying data-driven decision-making.​
• Change Leadership & Engagement: Effectiveness in leading change, influencing stakeholders, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.​
• Training & Capability Building: Competence in developing others by coaching, mentoring, and building CI capabilities across the plant.​
• Governance, Safety & Quality: Commitment to ensuring compliance, embedding safety and quality in all practices, and sustaining operational standards.​
• Strategic Alignment & Value Creation: Ability to connect plant-level initiatives to broader business priorities and translate strategy into executable roadmaps.​

Skills​:

• Knowledge of Continuous Improvement Methodologies - Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, PDCA, 5S, etc. Process mapping and analysis tools (e.g., VSM – Value Stream Mapping)​
• Performance and KPI Management - Ability to define, monitor, and analyze operational KPIs. Data-driven decision-making skills.​
• Problem Solving and Root Cause Analysis - Use of tools such as Fishbone Diagram, 5 Whys, Pareto Chart, etc. Identification of root causes and implementation of corrective/preventive actions.​
• Process Management Knowledge - Standardization of operational procedures and Identification of bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.​
• Strong leadership and people management skills.​

Accountabilities​:

• Drive Business Impact: Translate improvement opportunities into measurable gains in safety, quality, cost, delivery, and productivity.​
• Implement Standardization & BOE: Lead the execution and sustainment of BOE/BME pillars, SOPs, and best practices to ensure consistent and efficient operations.​
• Lead Continuous Improvement: Deliver cross-functional initiatives that optimize processes, reduce waste, and strengthen plant performance.​
• Enable Change & Capability Building: Act as a change leader by engaging stakeholders, while training and coaching employees to build lasting CI and OpEx capability.​
• Ensure Governance, Safety & Strategic Alignment: Embed safety, quality, and compliance in all processes, while aligning plant-level initiatives with regional and corporate strategies.​

Qualifications & Experience​:

• High School diploma or GED is required. 
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Science, Supply Chain or related field is preferred. ​
• Job related experience in process improvement or project management gained through coursework or internship; manufacturing experience (preferred).​
• Computer based skills (MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word)​
• Lean Six Sigma certification (preferred)​

Compensation & Benefits

• Hiring Salary Range: $66,000 - $92,200 (Salary to be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data).
• This role will be eligible to participate in the annual incentive compensation plan.
• Ball includes a comprehensive benefits structure, Go to our career site and click "Total Rewards" to learn more.
• Relocation assistance may be available

When submitting your application to Ball, we encourage you to emphasize your skills, experience, and qualifications that align with the role. Under Colorado, California, Connecticut, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania law, you have the right to exclude or redact age-related details—such as your date of birth, school attendance dates, or graduation dates—from your resume, cover letter, CV, or other supporting documents (e.g., transcripts, certificates). 

Ball Corporation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We actively encourage applications from everybody. All qualified job applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, aboriginality, genetic information, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran status, age, political affiliation or any other non-merit characteristic. 

When you join Ball you belong to a team of over 16,000 members worldwide. Our products range from infinitely recyclable aluminum cans, cups to aerosol bottles that enable our customers to contribute to a better world.

Each of us has a deep commitment to diversity and inclusion which is the foundation of our culture of belonging.

Everyone at Ball is making a difference by doing what we love. Because what we create may change, but what we will always make is a difference.

Please note the advertised job title might vary from the job title on the contract due to local job title structure and global HR systems.
No agencies please.