Divisional Director of Excellence

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Divisional Director of Excellence to join John Crane, reporting directly to the VP Customer Operations. This is a key leadership role responsible for translating the Group Excellence strategy into measurable divisional outcomes, driving operational performance, capability development, and a culture of continuous improvement across our global operations. As the senior Excellence leader within the Division, you will work closely with the Divisional Leadership Team to define and execute strategic improvement priorities, delivering sustainable business results through operational excellence, Lean transformation, and disciplined execution. You will lead high-impact, cross-functional initiatives, build organisational capability, and ensure alignment with Group Excellence standards and governance. The successful candidate will bring strong operational excellence leadership experience from complex manufacturing and/or aftermarket service environments, with a proven track record of leading transformation programmes, developing high-performing teams, and delivering measurable business value. John Crane is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Duties & Responsibilities (not limited to) Act as the senior Excellence leader and trusted advisor to the Divisional Leadership Team. Translate Group Excellence strategy, standards, and frameworks into executable business plans that improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. Lead high-impact, cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives that deliver measurable business value. Ensure compliance with Group Excellence governance, standards, and reporting requirements. Build sustainable operational excellence capability across the organisation through coaching, mentoring, and capability development programmes. Lead, develop, and prioritise the Divisional Excellence team and associated resources. Act as the primary interface between the Division and the Group Excellence organisation. Support business continuity planning and operational resilience initiatives across the Division. Drive the deployment and adoption of Lean, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving methodologies. Partner closely with senior leaders across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Commercial, Service Operations, Digital, and HSE functions. Lead organisational change initiatives that support transformation, productivity improvement, and operational effectiveness. Drive a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement across multiple sites and functions. Establish robust performance management, governance, and value tracking mechanisms to ensure benefits are sustained over time. Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline. Postgraduate qualification (MBA or equivalent) desirable. Formal Lean and/or Continuous Improvement certification such as Lean Leader, Six Sigma Black Belt, or equivalent. Significant senior leadership experience in operational excellence, transformation, continuous improvement, or related disciplines. Experience within manufacturing and/or aftermarket service environments in complex global organisations. Demonstrated success in translating strategy into operational execution and measurable business outcomes. Deep expertise in Lean methodologies, continuous improvement frameworks, and structured problem-solving approaches. Strong financial acumen with the ability to quantify, track, and sustain business value. Proven ability to lead organisational change across matrixed and multi-site environments. Experience building capability, coaching leaders, and developing high-performing teams. Strong governance, prioritisation, and execution discipline. Exceptional communication and influencing skills with credibility across executive, functional, and frontline levels. Collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively across functions, regions, and cultures. Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating within evolving business environments. Strong coaching mindset with a passion for developing people and driving accountability. With colleagues stretching across the globe, we are proud of our diversity. To foster inclusivity, we run employee resource groups (ERGs) to provide a safe space for employees to connect and support each other. Our cross-business ERGs include Veterans, Pride Network, Black Employee Network, Women@Work Network, and Neurodiversity. Across our company, we recognize excellence, culminating in the Smiths Excellence Awards, our annual celebration of the most extraordinary activities, people, and projects that best showcase our strengths and help drive our business forward. We announce these on our annual Smiths Day, a global celebration of Smiths around our network. We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics. We are proud to be an inclusive company with values grounded in equality and ethics, where we celebrate, support, and embrace diversity. At no time during the hiring process will Smiths Group, nor any of our recruitment partners ever request payment to enable participation – including, but not limited to, interviews or testing. Avoid fraudulent requests by applying jobs directly through our career’s website ( Careers - Smiths Group plc ) Company Description John Crane, a business of Smiths Group, is a global leader in mission-critical flow control solutions for energy and process industries that enable efficient and sustainable operations. Our products include mechanical seals and systems, couplings, bearings, filtration systems, and predictive digital monitoring technologies. We have a global network of more than 200 sites in over 50 countries and employ more than 6,000 people worldwide. We partner with our customers to help them keep their operations safe, reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and meet the latest environmental standards. John Crane is part of Smiths Group. For over 170 years, Smiths has been pioneering progress by engineering for a better future. We serve millions of people every year, helping to create a safer, more efficient, productive, and better-connected world across four global markets: energy, security & defence, space & aerospace, and general industrial. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Smiths employs approximately 16,000 colleagues in over 50 countries.