Continuous Improvement Lead

Role purpose:

• Act as a leading core team member of the Syngenta center of Continuous Improvement with a lead proficiency in the Syngenta Operational Excellence methodology.
• Build Continuous Improvement capability in Syngenta by leading initiatives that bring the methodology into high priority company projects and target areas.
• Coach Syngenta leaders and teams to develop their knowledge and capability to use Continuous Improvement in their own areas.
• Line manage, project manage and develop Coaches in Continuous Improvement to build their capability in the Operational Excellence methodology and perform in role as coaches.
• Act as an ambassador and champion for Continuous Improvement within Syngenta.
• Drive an active learning community with the aim of developing team capabilities and improving the Operational Excellence methodology through practitioner experience.

Accountabilities:

• Act as a lead practitioner in Operational Excellence methodology capable of delivering the methodology and developing others in its use.
• On an ongoing basis lead priority Continuous Improvement initiatives working with different project teams and functions to shape, project manage and implement Operation Excellence interventions ensuring delivery on time, to target and within budget.
• Act as an Continuous Improvement coach to senior Syngenta leadership and teams.
• Provide one to one coaching and conscience for coaches in Continuous Improvement and develop their skills in both the Operational Excellence methodology and also in coaching others in the organisation to use it, ensuring a relevant and balanced representation of both technical and change management mindset.
• Communicate and champion the use of Syngenta’s Operational Excellence approach and support the sustainable development of Continuous Improvement within Syngenta in the long term through other teaching and implementation interventions aimed at delivering Continuous Improvement processes and capabilities to the organisation.
• Use expert knowledge to work with the Operational Excellence Methodology and Sustainability Leads to develop and refine the Continuous Improvement approach within the organisation.

Critical success factors & key challenges:

• Demonstrated mastery of full complement of Continuous Improvement techniques and methodologies and experience of application in real situations;
• Ability to rapidly understand complex operational situations and to support and coach managers and Coaches in Continuous Improvement to identify routes to improvement using the Operational Excellence methodology;
• Ability to effectively and rapidly develop and coach others;
• Line management of a team of high performance staff in a fast paced delivery and development orientated culture;
• Lead a project team to ensure that benefits are identified and delivered through the Continuous Improvement projects;
• Communicating effectively and engaging/influencing widely to support a cultural change through which we will embrace, own and use new Continuous Improvement approaches;

WL4B

At Syngenta we are highly people focused – we look for professionals who are engaged, collaborative and excellent in execution. Leaders are expected to communicate effectively, develop teams and lead by example. Our industry and our function are changing rapidly so we are looking for new team members with a strong desire to develop themselves.

Knowledge, experience & capabilities:

• Fluent in English, any additional language will be highly beneficial for work with teams having other native language;
• Bachelor degree or equivalent;
• Expert practitioner knowledge of Continuous Improvement philosophy and methodologies e.g. Six Sigma Master Black Belt certified, Shingo philosophy trained, Lean Office & Manufacturing Specialist;
• Advanced knowledge on management system methodologies (PDCA, PDSA, Balanced Scorecard, Lean Management System) or ability to attain this rapidly;
• Data and process driven;
• Proven record in the application of project and program management methodologies;
• Change and/or operational management experience;
• Strong capability to develop, coach & teach others in delivering change;
• Proficient user on Microsoft Project and Office and other tools e.g. Minitab;

Critical experience:

• Experience of operational management role or several years with management consultancy;
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills;
• Ability to think and work in complex structures;
• Demonstrated people management capabilities;
• Delivery of continuous improvement or similar project activities within a large organisation, combined with the ability to prioritize, plan, organize, and monitor multiple concurrent activities in order to meet aggressive timelines, influencing teams over which they have no line management accountability;
• Several years as a “change agent”;
• Several years delivering Continuous Improvement / Lean Six Sigma projects;

Critical technical, professional and personal capabilities:

• Track record of high performance in current and previous roles;
• A consultancy mindset or background – flexible and passionate and able to inspire & engage others;
• Technically competent with a broad-based management/functional knowledge, ability to learn quickly to understand diverse activities;
• A good communicator with strong interpersonal skills, able to use different styles to influence and build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and leaders;
• Coaching / catalyst skills within a senior management context;
• Persuasive, able to build support for proposals and gain commitment to take action;
• Strong facilitation skills to plan and manage effective meetings and decision making;
• Excellent analytical thinking and planning ability;
• Strong teamwork skills;
• Ability to translate different and incomplete requirements into a definitive program of work.

Critical leadership capabilities

• Lead self: apply specialist knowledge to maximum effect & seek constant growth and improvement;
• Lead others: Unlock the potential of others;
• Empathetic: leads with humility, empowers & involves others, develops people;
• Ambitious: determination to achieve more than thought possible;
• Accountable: taking personal ownership of actions & outcomes even whilst empowering and developing others.

• Must be mobile to travel and deliver project activity in a range of different locations;
• Must be able to influence and successfully deliver across a wide range of international cultures;
• Must have a passion for Continuous Improvement.

Beyond just believing in the power of diversity, Syngenta promotes an inclusive culture that includes differences in all its forms. We believe that the feeling of belonging allows people to become their best version, building an increasingly welcoming and productive environment.

All qualified candidates will be considered for our positions, without distinction of race, gender, age, nationality or disability.

Be part of a leading company that brings plant potential to life

As a world market leader in crop protection, we help farmers to counter these threats and ensure enough safe, nutritious, affordable food for all – while minimizing the use of land and other agricultural inputs.

Syngenta Crop Protection keeps plants safe from planting to harvesting.  From the moment a seed is planted through to harvest, crops need to be protected from weeds, insects and diseases as well as droughts and floods, heat and cold.

Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Switzerland.

Location: São Paulo – SP