Manager, Operational Excellence Engineering

Job ID: 18825

Title: Manager, Operational Excellence Engineering

Function: Global Automation Operations

Reports To: Senior Manager, Operational Excellence Engineering 

Location: Within 2 hours of a Newell office or Facility

Travel: Up to 50%, primary focus on North American distribution and manufacturing sites, with potential for global travel as the program scope expands.

Newell Brands is a leading consumer products company with a portfolio of iconic brands like Graco®, Coleman®, Oster®, Rubbermaid®, Sharpie® and Yankee Candle® - and 24,000 talented teammates around the world. Our culture is built on values in action: Integrity, Teamwork, Passion for Winning, Ownership, and Leadership. We work together to win, grow, and make a real impact—supported by a high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative environment where you can be your best, every day. 

Position Overview

The Manager, Operational Excellence Engineering leads the site-level configuration, deployment, and adoption of Newell's internally developed digital operations and operational technology (OT) applications across manufacturing and distribution sites, tailoring enterprise-built solutions to the specific workflows, data structures, and operational requirements of each location. This position directs site readiness activities and oversees validation of site infrastructure, operational data, and application integration requirements with the responsible site and technical teams. The role also leads testing, training, stabilization, and transition to ongoing operational support, helping sites build sustained adoption of deployed solutions. In doing so, this position supports Newell's operational excellence objectives by promoting standardized processes, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision making through the successful deployment and adoption of digital solutions.

Role Boundaries

The Manager, Operational Excellence Engineering leads site-level readiness, configuration, and deployment execution within approved program standards. The role partners closely with Regional Digital Champions, Site Digital Coordinators, operations leaders, application teams, central application and analytics teams, and technical functions including information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and controls teams. Application strategy, software development, infrastructure ownership, production release approval, and permanent site support remain with the designated owners. The role provides day-to-day direction, coaching, and performance oversight for assigned personnel supporting deployment activities.

Key Responsibilities:

Site Discovery & Readiness Assessment

• Assess site readiness ahead of each deployment by documenting application prerequisites, data availability, connectivity, equipment structures, integration requirements, and site constraints, including relevant OT environment conditions, in partnership with site operations and technical teams.

• Build and validate site asset inventories, equipment hierarchies, and line configurations as the verified foundation for application configuration and deployment planning.

• Identify and escalate infrastructure gaps, data-source limitations, missing prerequisites, site constraints, and scope changes early enough for assignment, resolution, and adjustment of deployment plans before implementation begins.

• Capture site-specific workflows, shift structures, and operating conditions that influence how enterprise-standard applications are configured locally.

Deployment Preparation & Site Readiness

• Lead the completion and documentation of approved site configurations for Newell's digital operations applications, adapting enterprise solutions to site-specific workflows, user roles, reference data, reporting requirements, and operational processes.

• Develop and maintain site-readiness checklists for each deployment, covering environment setup, data validation, connectivity, integration points, site resources and points of contact, and user acceptance testing readiness.

• Oversee the completion and validation of approved predeployment workbooks for each site, including, where applicable, equipment master data, line and machine definitions, downtime-code mappings, user roles, and site-specific parameters. Ensure configuration inputs are verified with site operations and engineering teams before deployment begins.

• Partner with Regional Digital Champions, Site Digital Coordinators, central application and analytics teams, operations leaders, IT, automation controls, and application teams to coordinate readiness, define configuration requirements, and verify required system data before go-live.

• Support sites in maintaining configuration documentation, version control, site configuration baselines, and approved change records to ensure implementations remain controlled and auditable.

Deployment Execution & Go-Live Support

• Lead and coordinate site deployment activities in partnership with site operations, application owners, and IT, including workflow testing, user acceptance testing, go-live cutover, and confirmation that readiness criteria are met before launch.

• Compile required deployment evidence, including training completion, test results, defect disposition, support readiness, and site or business acceptance, before requesting production release approval from the authorized owner.

• Maintain a controlled record of open defects, workarounds, risks, and unresolved actions, with status, accountable owner, target date, and disposition tracked through release or formal transfer to ongoing support.

• Support site stabilization after go-live by diagnosing configuration issues, implementing or coordinating approved corrections, validating data quality outputs, and escalating software defects with clear documentation.

• Support hypercare exit using defined acceptance criteria and ensure unresolved defects, risks, and actions are transferred to the permanent support owner before exit.

Hypercare & Adoption Enablement

• Serve as the primary deployment lead during deployment and hypercare, directing training, floor walks, side-by-side coaching, and post-go-live support that help site associates, supervisors, and operations leaders incorporate deployed applications into daily work.

• Partner with Regional Digital Champions and Site Digital Coordinators to coordinate adoption activities, reinforce site priorities, and transfer knowledge and ownership as deployments stabilize.

• Provide structured feedback to the application and development teams on usability, adoption barriers, and enhancement opportunities grounded in direct site observation.

• Monitor early indicators of adoption and agreed performance measures, and coordinate corrective actions with site leadership and application owners.

Sustainment & Continuous Improvement

• Guide each site in establishing sustainment processes, including daily management routines, data quality checks, system health reviews, and clear local ownership, so deployed capability endures beyond the deployment window.

• Follow up with sites after deployment, on-site or remotely, to assess adoption health, verify sustainment processes, and identify where reinforcement is needed.

• Assess site requests, complete or coordinate approved configuration changes, and document software enhancement requests for application owner and development team review.

• Contribute to the deployment playbook, capturing lessons learned, site-readiness standards, and configuration best practices to accelerate future rollouts.

• Support standardized business processes, continuous improvement, and operational excellence by leading application configuration and deployment in accordance with approved standards and promoting sustained adoption across assigned sites.

Qualifications:

• Five or more years of relevant experience in operations, industrial engineering, systems configuration, business analysis, or application deployment within a manufacturing or distribution environment.

• Experience providing direction and coaching to assigned employees or project resources in a field execution or deployment context.

• Experience gathering and validating site, process, equipment, and data information used to support application configuration and deployment readiness.

• Experience implementing or configuring enterprise operational systems, such as warehouse, labor, maintenance, or manufacturing execution platforms.

• Experience configuring site workflows, user roles, reference data, equipment structures, reports, and system integration points.

• Strong analytical, data-validation, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to learn new applications quickly.

• Experience supporting concurrent site deployments and partnering with operations, application, IT, and automation controls teams.

• Strong documentation, communication, and training-development skills, including the ability to explain technical requirements clearly to operational users.

• Familiarity with data quality controls, requirements-to-test traceability, retained evidence, configuration management, and controlled production releases.

• Working knowledge of integration among operational applications, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and OT environments; SAP experience is preferred.

• Exposure to OT environments, SCADA platforms, connected reporting tools, or platforms such as Ignition is preferred.

• Experience using Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Smartsheet, Power BI, or comparable tools for collaboration, documentation, project tracking, and operational reporting.

• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methods; certification is a plus.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Information Systems, or a related discipline preferred; equivalent practical experience will be considered.

• Willingness to travel up to 50% across manufacturing and distribution sites; primary scope is North American, with potential for global travel as the program expands.

The Remote base pay range for this position is from $123,200 to $169,400. Salary will be based on prior experience related to the skills required for this position.

Newell Brands (NASDAQ: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. We are focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. Newell Brands and its subsidiaries are Equal Opportunity Employers and comply with applicable employment laws. EOE/M/F/Vet/Disabled are encouraged to apply.