Lean Practitioner, Japan

Posted:
1/20/2026, 2:36:15 PM

Location(s):
Shibuya, Japan

Experience Level(s):
Senior

Field(s):
Business & Strategy

Key Responsibilities

  • Resource for the organization to lead Regional-based problem-solving engagements
  • Cascade strategic goals from regional leadership down to individual contributors, ensuring everyone understands their role in achieving the company's vision.
  • Initiative / self-starter: able to execute within strategic vision with motivation and resiliency
  • Work closely with the regional leadership team, facilitating effective communication and collaboration to drive strategic initiatives.
  • Serve as a liaison between the regional leadership team and key stakeholders, ensuring transparent and effective communication.
  • Champion a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging Lean methodologies to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring the organization's long-term sustainability and success.
  • Coach and develop Lean Practitioners, Process Owners, and other leaders within the organization, fostering a culture of growth and development

What You Will Do

  • Aligns with global lean program, and supports regional implementations
  • Implement process improvement methodologies and tools.
  • Support integration and alignment vertically and horizontally across the organization.
  • Lead improvement projects aligned with business strategies and priorities.
  • Utilize Lean methodologies to drive process improvements in key areas.
  • Conduct and manage Lean training sessions for all personnel.
  • Conduct root cause analysis to identify improvement opportunities, recommending appropriate technology and business solutions.
  • Facilitate Obeya Room Set-ups, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), Kaizen workshops, Daily Work Installations, and driving action closure.

How You Will Do It

  • Work closely with local leadership to implement and deliver improvements in process performance.
  • Mentor other project leaders to accelerate results and improve the culture of continuous improvement.
  • Identify key process improvement opportunities and lead process standardization.
  • Conduct training sessions and workshops to promote Lean methodologies.
  • Facilitate workshops and training sessions, balancing theoretical knowledge with practical application.
  • Foster innovation by introducing new CI techniques, methodologies, and tools, sharing insights broadly across CI Team.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Quality, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Minimum 5 years of experience in Continuous Improvement.
  • Experience leading business transformation projects - track record of delivering tangible, recognized business & customer results
  • Demonstrated leadership capability, ability to align change management approach to business needs.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills. Ability to establish rapport with leaders, customers and peers.
  • Proven analytical and systems-thinking: design & deployment of end-to-end solutions that exceed requirements.
  • Excellent facilitation and strategic thinking skills
  • Experience in training, and coaching Lean and 6Sigma methods & tools.
  • Strategic thinking: translating stakeholder inputs, performance metrics, and directives into actionable plans
  • Proactive risk management and issue resolution skills with appropriate escalation practices
  • Fluent Japanese and business level English language skill
  • Travel Requirements: 25-50%