LEAN COACH
University of Washington
Seattle, WA
Full-time
Education
Posted on June 11, 2019
Req #: | 168547 |
Department: | CONTROLLERS OFFICE |
Job Location: | Seattle Campus |
Posting Date: | 06/10/2019 |
Closing Info: | Closes On 06/17/2019 |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with education and experience. |
Limited Recruitment: |
Other
|
Limited Recruitment Other: | OPEN TO UW EMPLOYEES ONLY |
Shift: | First Shift |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
The Controllers Office has an outstanding opportunity for a Lean Coach. The Lean Coach position in the Lean Team for UW Finance supports, sustains and enhances core aspects of UW Finance’s improvement programs in place, with primary responsibilities for coaching development and Lean implementation across the enterprise. Reporting directly to the Associate Vice President/Controller, the Program Manager’s primary focus is on coordinating and resourcing the tactical operations of Lean: scoping, launching and preparing team leaders; identifying, guiding and developing ensuring that coaches are prepared and scheduled for developmental opportunities; overseeing the peer-coaching needed to support mature teams in Lean; and reporting on the attainment of program strategies and goals related to coaching and team progress.
The incumbent is equipped to support the Associate Vice President in management of Lean and operational excellence initiatives. The Lean Coach interfaces, on a frequent basis, with all levels of the UW Finance organization in carrying out very active program operations that engage leaders with working-level teams in collaborative improvement.
The incumbent is equipped to support the UW Finance in overall management of Lean and operational excellence initiatives, and in identifying opportunities to improve Lean implementation. The position serves as a consultant in Principle-based Lean to all of UW Finance. The Director interfaces-on a frequent basis-with all levels of the organization in carrying out active program operations that engage leaders with working-level teams in collaborative improvement. This position manages the rapid growth and expansion of the Lean program, from inception in 2010, to over 60 teams today. The UW’s reputation as effective Lean implementers is based on a fairly prescribed, stringent set of aggressive goals, and a set of internationally known principles of organizational change called the “Shingo Model of Operational Excellence”. Upon request of university and external parties and in consultation with the Finance Vice President and Executive Sponsors, the Director responds to requests to share information about our Lean culture, implementation and approach with those who seek to learn and improve their own organizations. Responsibilities require considerable professional independence, personal initiative, and the ability to effectively and quickly respond to a variety of situations involving University constituencies, at all levels.
With detailed and current knowledge about teams beginning their Lean work, Lean Coach identifies and builds relationships with all coaches and team leaders through training, launch-events, improvement cycles and meetings, affords him/her the unique ability to network university inquiries to a wide variety of expertise, examples, and innovative applications that match the need. This is a critical position that identifies Lean implementation gaps to be addressed with in-house coaching resources, using the network of coach experiences and expertise, on behalf of the overall Lean effort. It also serves as key external coach to the organization’s most mature teams; i.e., those teams with the most experience and proficiency in using Lean to improve their operations.
Responsibilities require considerable professional independence, personal initiative, and the ability to effectively and quickly respond to a variety of situations involving University constituencies, at all levels. The incumbent must possess and display a high degree of trustworthiness and integrity in the conduct of his/her responsibilities, and sensitive information about people, programs and strategy are often shared in the coaching relationship. The incumbent must possess extensive experience in deploying UW Finance’s Lean methodology to be able to apply first-hand knowledge to lead others in their Lean development.
The Lean Coach’s responsibilities are categorized as operational and technical, strategic, and programmatic:
Operational
•Support a portfolio of 15-30 Lean launch-events per year, engaging 400-500 UW Finance employees in learning and applying Lean concepts to business and operational problems. Some of these launches may be in non-traditional settings, modifying the current model to fit the work-units’ needs.
•Serve as “measure champion” for the UW Finance Lean goals and objectives, ensuring that information and data related to the various teams’ and individuals’ is captured.
•Plan, schedule, carry out and evaluate ongoing Lean Center operations, in consultation with the UW Finance stakeholders (Lean Team members, and Executive Sponsors).
•Provide leadership and direction to Lean teams by facilitating launches, supporting team leaders throughout the improvement cycles, and peer-coaching teams into daily kaizen development.
•Be a visible, engaged presence at launch report-outs, step-backs, gemba visits, training sessions, and all coach-related events, and design and deliver coaching support activities as identified by the F2 Lean Team and coach cohorts.
Technical
•Prepare proposals, informational materials, internal guidance, visual aids, job instructions, and other materials needed to educate UW Finance’s Lean-focused development.
•Provide leadership and coordination to the cadre of up to 10-15 equipped, trained and enthusiastic Lean coaches in-house employees who dedicate a portion of their time to supporting Lean teams through facilitating launches, supporting team leaders through improvement cycles/projects, and peer-coaching within their own mature Lean work-units.
•Assist teams, as requested, with their visuals which may include the use the program “in-design” to create visual boards or other visual aids used for tracking progress toward goals.
•Assist in the design, and delivery of formal training sessions for all UW Finance employees engaged in active development of Shingo-based continuous kaizen.
•Consult with leadership in setting up visual management; establishing daily, weekly and monthly meetings to monitor, assess and adjust performance; and identifying methods for following up and escalating roadblocks and issues.
•Serve as a Lean coach, supporting the coaching cadre in the development and maturation of 48 existing Lean teams (approximately 375 employees) at various stages of knowledge and expertise.
•Assist in setting program goals, targets and interconnected strategies, sufficient to map a holistic framework for Lean implementation to UW Finance’s current and future employees.
•Suggest and incorporate indicators, measures, targets and trends that assess the viability of Lean operations and impact.
•Seek appropriate training opportunities, including particularly training necessary for proficiency in the Shingo Model of Operational Excellence, and other advanced, international approaches to operational excellence.
Strategic
•Work with the current Lean Coach and/or the Associate Vice Controller to identify prospective teams and work units where Lean learning is timely and viable, conceiving of creative ways to modify the standard launch process to fit the units’ unique and challenging schedule/location/operational requirements. Assist in implementing these opportunities.
Programmatic
•Play a key role in UW Finance’s Lean team, with specific responsibility for tracking and reporting on UW Finance’s Lean program goals.
•Responsibility for tracking and reporting on ongoing coaching activities and peer-coach development.
•Advise the Associate Director on the establishment of policies, procedures and standards for Lean in UW Finance, to facilitate sustainable program operations.
•Serve as effective spokesperson for Lean implementation, on behalf of the UW.
•Other duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President/Controller with oversight of the current Lean Coach and/or Executive Program Sponsors.
As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.
Required Qualifications:
•BA in Business or related field, plus 4-5 years in a field with active, ongoing quality improvement, with concentrated work in Lean. A strong, applied background in Lean is required, and demonstrated leadership on a team using UW Finance’s Lean methodology.
•Knowledge and experience in launching, coaching and facilitating officially sponsored improvement teams, chartered by executive-level leaders.
•Applied knowledge of operational excellence and Shingo Model criteria and principles, based on personal experience and interaction in leading a Lean improvement effort, sufficient to apply them to teams, leaders and organizations working through Lean development phases.
•Experience with facilitating goal-setting, alignment of strategy and operations, and incremental process measures and indicators.
•Demonstrated ability to connect with and successfully interact with executives, leaders, managers, and staff, guiding them to set and attain performance goals.
•Experience in building measurement and assessment tools related to Lean implementation.
•Demonstrated ability to network teams and efforts together, leveraging affinities to move the program forward.
•Strong written and oral communication skills.
•Ability to inspire and engage teams and individuals, particularly those who seek counsel and advice related to the program.
•High degree of professionalism, integrity and personal ownership of program objectives. Results-oriented and positive motivation.
•Computer skills: proficient in Excel and Word.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except where there are legal requirements such as license/certification/registration.
Desired Qualifications:
•Relevant experience in organizational development and/or performance measurement.
•Experience with In-Design or equivalent visual programs to be able to assist teams with visual needs
•Experience as an UW Finance Lean coach is preferred.
•Working knowledge of operational excellence and Shingo Model criteria and principles, sufficient to apply them to teams, leaders and organizations working through Lean development phases.
•Experience in leading and building effective cross-functional teams across a diverse organization
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.