PMO/ Ci Leader

**PURPOSE**

AGR Automation is looking to fill an exciting new role in project management and continuous improvement management within our growing business which has an unrivalled reputation globally as a leading designer and manufacturer of high-speed automated machinery.

The **PMO / CI Leader will be **a pivotal member of the AGR business unit, which covers three sites in Arbroath, Ballymena and Aylesbury. Reporting directly the business unit President you will also coordinate with the VP, Continuous Improvement & PMO for Convergix Automation based in the US and Canada. In this role you will have responsibility for leading the implementation of project management standards in partnership with the functional managers. We are in the middle of a significant growth period and are evolving our systems, processes and practices to meet these new needs. This role and will suit someone from an engineering background who is keen to join us during this growth period.

To be successful in this role you will:
**PMO Responsibilities**:

- Act as the Convergix PMO representative and PMO Process Owner for AGR
- Drive a sense of urgency and accountability relative to project performance and key milestones
- Guide AGR employees in developing new or revising existing standard operating procedures
- Act as a Project Manager in exceptional circumstances
- Provide formal and informal coaching to PMs, Project Engineers and project team members in:

- Convergix PM fundamentals
- Project execution map and associated stage deliverables
- Beat the budget mentality and tools
- PM workbook (Risks, Issues, Change Management, lessons learned, financial summary etc)
- Root cause and corrective action relating to degradation
- Percentage of completion project accounting with emphasis on Estimate at Completion
- Project planning and scheduling

**CI Responsibilities**
- Plan, develop and execute Continuous Improvement activities within the assigned Business Unit(s) utilizing Lean Six Sigma tools.
- Provide insights and recommendations to AGR annual strategic planning process
- Assist in the prioritization of CI initiatives
- Establish measurement criteria, quantify targeted results, and identify anticipated benefits
- Improve processes by eliminating waste
- Maintain Convergix database of continuous improvement activities
- Monitor LeanDNA and coach the organization towards best in class use of the tool
- Manage cross-functional teams to successful completion of continuous improvement initiatives by:

- Generating clear problem statements/gap analyses
- Identifying actionable metrics and benchmarks to track improvements
- Training and empowering each team to lead projects and work to share best practices with other Business Units
- Providing motivation, a sense of urgency, focus, and direction to team members
- Preparing and presenting regular updates summarizing project results
- Evaluating and ensuring project effectiveness
- People management responsibility for Project Managers, including performance development and review
- Facilitate for targeted activities in support of the business including, but not limited to:

- Lessons learned documentation
- Value-stream mapping
- Rapid Improvement Kaizen events
- Identify and eliminate barriers to continuous improvement
- Train others (managers and individual contributors) in Lean and Six Sigma tools and methodologies with emphasis on problem identification, establishing base lines, and root cause analysis.
- Coach/mentor individuals at all levels of the company who are engaged in process improvement, problem identification and solution implementation.
- Look for and anticipate the need for improvement and serve as a catalyst for change.
- Establish and maintain strong working relationships across all business functions and all levels of the organization.

**What you’ll bring to the role**:

- Degree in a relevant discipline and a minimum of 5 years experience deploying Lean Six Sigma, including experience in both direct and indirect (transactional) processes.
- Experience in a custom engineered solution businesses and ideally factory automation
- Knowledge of and practical experience with PMBOK. PMI certified preferred.
- Six Sigma Green Belt and/or SME Silver Lean certification required; Black Belt certification highly desirable
- Have led at least 10 continuous improvement projects and/or formal Kaizen events
- Must have the ability to become proficient in company systems, processes, and tools
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and ideally MiniTab
- 3+ years supervisory experience of at least 5 direct reports would be preferred
- Willing and able to travel frequently to AGR locations in the UK, infrequent travel to Convergix in North America
- May require customer site visits internationally

**Behavioural Skills**
- Communication
- Influential
- Problem Solving
- Inclusive and collaborative style
- Conflict Management
- Leadership

**What we expect from you**:

- A proactive can-do attit