Head of Lean & Process Excellence

Head of Lean & Process Excellence

Location: Dubai, UAE

Industry: Infrastructure / Industrial Operations

Scope: Regional / Multi-Country

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a growing regional infrastructure organisation to appoint a Head of Lean & Process Excellence , responsible for establishing and leading a comprehensive Lean transformation programme across multiple operating businesses.

This is a true greenfield opportunity. The organisation is at the beginning of its Lean journey and is looking for an experienced practitioner who can introduce structured processes, standard ways of working and a culture of continuous improvement across its operations.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in simplifying and standardising business processes, improving operational performance and establishing the foundations for the organisation's wider digital transformation strategy.

This is not a role for someone who simply manages improvement frameworks or methodologies. We are looking for a hands-on Lean leader who has personally delivered operational transformations, understands how to identify and eliminate waste, and can influence people at all levels of an organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a group-wide Lean and Process Excellence strategy, establishing standardised processes and operating practices across multiple countries and business units.
• Lead end-to-end value stream mapping, identifying inefficiencies, eliminating waste and redesigning processes to improve productivity, cost, quality and operational performance.
• Establish a structured Lean operating system, including standard work, performance measurement, governance and continuous improvement practices.
• Personally lead Kaizen events, Genba walks and root-cause problem-solving initiatives across operational sites, field activities and support functions.
• Work closely with operational leadership to drive behavioural change, overcome resistance and embed a sustainable culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensure business processes are simplified, standardised and optimised before being incorporated into digital transformation initiatives.
• Develop Lean capabilities across the organisation through coaching, mentoring and training operational leaders and teams.
• Establish appropriate performance indicators to measure and demonstrate tangible improvements in efficiency, productivity, cost and operational effectiveness.
• Build and develop internal Lean capabilities, including a network of continuous improvement champions across the operating businesses.

Experience & Requirements

• Minimum 10 years of hands-on Lean deployment and operational excellence experience , including at least five years leading improvement programmes across multiple sites, business units or countries.
• Proven experience personally leading at least one end-to-end Lean transformation , ideally establishing a Lean programme or operating system from the ground up.
• Strong background in large-scale industrial, engineering, telecommunications, utilities, energy or infrastructure-related environments.
• Demonstrable experience applying Lean methodologies, including Kaizen, Genba, Value Stream Mapping, standard work and structured problem solving.
• A track record of delivering measurable improvements in operational performance, including cost reduction, productivity, lead times and process efficiency.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder environments and successfully driving change across different functions, cultures and geographies.
• Strong coaching and influencing skills, with the patience and ability to embed new ways of working in organisations where Lean practices are not yet established.
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or a related discipline.

Additional Advantages

• Previous experience delivering Lean transformation programmes across the Middle East.
• Background in a multinational industrial organisation or established management consultancy, with substantial hands-on implementation experience.
• Experience introducing Lean practices into organisations with limited existing process standardisation.
• Formal Lean training or recognised Lean Six Sigma qualifications.
• Arabic language capabilities would be advantageous.
• Experience working across multiple operating companies or regional business units.

Location & Travel

The position is based in Dubai, UAE , with significant regional travel required, particularly during the initial transformation and implementation phases.

Candidates should be comfortable spending substantial time on operational sites, working directly with frontline teams and business leaders across multiple countries.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to build a Lean and Process Excellence function from the ground up, with significant visibility across the organisation and direct engagement with senior leadership.

Rather than inheriting an established programme, the successful candidate will have the opportunity to shape the organisation's approach to operational excellence, introduce new ways of working and deliver measurable, long-term improvements across the business.

Interested candidates are invited to apply in confidence through T4X.