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At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make “good things, for life.” As the fastest-growing appliance company in the U.S., we’re powered by creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We believe in the power of our people and in giving them the freedom to explore, discover and build good things, together.

The GE Appliances philosophy, backed by three simple commitments defines the way we work, invent, create, do business, and serve our communities: _we come together_ , _we always look for a better way_ , and _we create possibilities_ .

Interested in joining us on our journey?

The Director – Lean Supplier Excellence is a senior leadership role within GE Appliances’ Supplier Quality Organization, with dotted-line collaboration to the Central Lean Manufacturing Team.

This position leads a team focused on creating the best processes and supply chain designs for our incoming purchased materials; specializing in Molding Excellence, Labor Excellence, Material Flow Excellence, Advanced Manufacturing, and Supplier Productivity and is also responsible for guiding enterprise initiatives, including incorporating AI into Supplier Quality.

This role is critical to GE Appliances’ success in supplier capacity, cost competitiveness, operational growth, and lean maturity, and offers frequent engagement with senior leadership across GE Appliances and key suppliers.

Position

Director, Lean Supplier Excellence

Location

USA, Louisville, KY

How You'll Create Possibilities

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Leadership

+ Develop a multi-year Hoshin plan to advance supplier capabilities and sustain a culture of continuous improvement across all Lean Supplier Excellence disciplines.

+ Set and align strategic priorities for supplier performance improvement with enterprise goals for cost, quality, delivery, and productivity.

+ Partner with Sourcing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Product Management to define and execute strategies for:

+ Expansion of the Container Management Center strategy.

+ Operationalization of Packaging Engineers and integration into NPI and supplier support processes.

+ Supplier-Held Equipment strategy development and governance.

+ Sub-assembly development programs.

+ Standard work creation and tolling enablement across suppliers.

+ Acceleration and tracking of productivity initiatives across the supplier network.

+ Leverage the Appliance Production System (APS) roadmap to guide both su/pplier-facing and internal SQ initiatives.

Internal Process & System Improvement

+ Lead the design and deployment of SQ processes, tools, and systems that improve efficiency, standardization, and performance visibility.

+ Lead the AI initiative across SQ organization to generate and implement use cases for SQ process improvements and efficiencies.

+ Develop dashboards, reporting mechanisms, and knowledge-sharing platforms to monitor and communicate progress on supplier productivity and lean transformation.

+ Ensure process improvements are institutionalized across the Supplier Quality organization and connected functions.

Supplier Engagement & Lean Execution

+ Oversee lean-based improvement activities across key suppliers to drive measurable results in cost, quality, delivery, and capacity.

+ Ensure consistent use of best practices such as SMED, OEE measurement, TPM, PFEP, standard work, and value stream mapping.

+ Drive transformation at supplier sites through coaching, APS assessments, and best practice deployment.

Education & Capability Development

+ Create and implement structured training and education programs to raise lean IQ across Supplier Quality, Sourcing, and supplier teams.

+ Mentor Senior Managers and their teams to deepen expertise in lean thinking, problem solving, and change leadership.

+ Document and share best practices and lessons learned across all excellence areas.

Stakeholder & Change Leadership

+ Influence and guide senior leaders within GE Appliances and supplier organizations to align on improvement priorities and investments.

+ Represent Supplier Quality in enterprise-level forums, capital investment boards, and cross-functional transformation initiatives.

Champion a culture of innovation, problem-solving, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring to Our Team

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Bachelor’s degree in engineering, supply chain, materials management, business, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.

+ 10+ years of leadership experience managing people and processes in supply chain, supplier quality, or lean operations.

+ 5+ years of experience in process improvement, lean expertise, change management, and/or process redesign within a manufacturing environment.

+ Strong background in materials management or supply chain operations, including container programs, packaging, sub-assembly, and equipment strategies.

+ Proven track record of delivering measurable cost, quality, and delivery improvements through supplier engagement and lean methodologies.

+ Strong financial acumen, including ROI analysis and cost-benefit assessment.

+ Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.

+ Demonstrated ability to lead process/system improvements and embed organizational change.

+ Expertise in lean tools and continuous improvement frameworks.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Experience leading cross-functional teams in a global manufacturing environment.

+ 7+ years of relevant experience in supplier quality, sourcing, or advanced manufacturing.

+ Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification.

+ Experience creating enterprise-wide training and capability-building programs.

+ Strong ERP/MES and operational analytics proficiency.

Additional Details:

+ Working conditions are normal for both an office and manufacturing environment.

+ May require lifting materials and products up to 25 pounds and use of standard safety equipment in manufacturing areas.

+ Occasional weekend and/or evening work may be required.

+ Up to 30% domestic and international travel

Our Culture

Our work is centered on our People and Culture as reflected in our Zero Distance philosophy and we recognize the importance of reaffirming our commitment to inclusion and diversity (I&D). This underscores our commitment to fostering an environment where every individual feels valued, connected, and empowered to contribute, while positioning our organization to adapt seamlessly to the evolving needs of our workforce and communities.

This reflects our dedication to creating solutions that: Empower colleagues by fostering an environment where all voices are heard, valued, and encouraged to contribute. Strengthen communities where we live and work. Reinforce a culture of belonging, purpose, and engagement. Reflect the diversity of the communities we serve through our workforce, products, and practices.

By further embedding Zero Distance into our People and Culture framework, we will continue to build a deeply connected organization. We are cultivating a culture of engagement, belonging, and connection, because while attracting new talent remains a priority, retention is a cornerstone of our strategy.

GE Appliances is a trust-based organization. It is important we offer our employees the flexibility they need to do their best work while balancing the needs of the business and individuals. When you join GE Appliances, you will have the opportunity to work with your leader to create a flexible work arrangement that balances the needs of the individual, team, and organization.

GE Appliances is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Appliances participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S

_If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance or an accommodation to use our website or to apply, please send an e-mail_ _to [email protected]_