1

Lean Leader Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Residential Operations Leader

Portage, MI ยท On-site

$210K - $240K/yr

Implement lean, repeatable processes and dashboards to drive continuous improvement and innovation ... LEADERSHIP QUALITIES & COMPETENCIES Enterprise Ownership : Accountable for full lifecycle delivery ...

Drive continuous improvement and lean practices to eliminate waste, reduce variability, and improve ... Proven success leading multiโ€‘community homebuilding operations with large, multiโ€‘level teams.

Drive continuous improvement and lean practices to eliminate waste, reduce variability, and improve ... Proven success leading multicommunity homebuilding operations with large, multilevel teams. * Deep ...

Drive continuous improvement and lean practices to eliminate waste, reduce variability, and improve ... Proven success leading multi-community homebuilding operations with large, multi-level teams.

FLIGHT DECK Specialist

Muskegon, MI

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lean Leadership: Coach and deploy FLIGHT DECK fundamentals, including Standard Work, Daily & Visual Management, Value Stream Management, Operating Cadences, Action Planning, Problem Solving, 5S, and ...

FLIGHT DECK Specialist

Muskegon, MI ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lean Leadership: Coach and deploy FLIGHT DECK fundamentals, including Standard Work, Daily & Visual Management, Value Stream Management, Operating Cadences, Action Planning, Problem Solving, 5S, and ...

FLIGHT DECK Specialist

Muskegon, MI ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lean Leadership: Coach and deploy FLIGHT DECK fundamentals, including Standard Work, Daily & Visual Management, Value Stream Management, Operating Cadences, Action Planning, Problem Solving, 5S, and ...

FLIGHT DECK Specialist

Muskegon, MI ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Lean Leadership: Coach and deploy FLIGHT DECK fundamentals, including Standard Work, Daily & Visual Management, Value Stream Management, Operating Cadences, Action Planning, Problem Solving, 5S, and ...

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt - Sturgis, MI Plant

Sturgis, MI ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our ... Job Title Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow ...

Group Leader

Sturgis, MI ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

MORGAN OLSON LLC Morgan Olson is the leading walk-in van body manufacturer in North America ... Thorough understanding of lean manufacturing and team concepts. * Good problem solving and trouble ...

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt - Sturgis, MI Plant

Sturgis, MI ยท On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our ... Job Title Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow ...

Showing results 41-60

Lean Leader information

See Michigan salary details

$51.4K

$86.7K

$139.9K

How much do lean leader jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for lean leader in Michigan is $86,723.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $63,200.00 and $110,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a lean leader?

To thrive as a Lean Leader, you need a strong background in process improvement, data analysis, and Lean methodologies, typically supported by a degree in engineering, business, or related fields and Lean Six Sigma certification. Familiarity with value stream mapping, root cause analysis tools, and continuous improvement software is essential. Excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills help drive team engagement and sustain improvement initiatives. These skills ensure effective implementation of Lean principles, resulting in increased efficiency, reduced waste, and lasting organizational impact.

What is a lean leader?

Lean Leaders are professionals who guide organizations in applying Lean principles to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize processes. They facilitate continuous improvement initiatives, train teams on Lean methodologies, and lead projects aimed at increasing value for customers. Lean Leaders work across departments to identify inefficiencies, implement best practices, and foster a culture of ongoing process improvement. Their role is crucial in driving operational excellence and sustaining long-term business growth.

How to become a Lean Leader?

To become a Lean Leader, individuals typically gain experience in process improvement and operational management, often through roles in manufacturing or service industries. Earning certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt can enhance credibility, and strong skills in problem-solving, team leadership, and data analysis are essential for success in this role.

How does a lean leader typically collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive process improvements?

Lean Leaders work closely with cross-functional teams by facilitating workshops, leading kaizen events, and encouraging open communication across departments. They help identify inefficiencies, gather input from team members at all levels, and guide teams through problem-solving methodologies such as root cause analysis or value stream mapping. This collaborative approach ensures that improvements are sustainable and embraced by those directly involved in the processes. Lean Leaders also mentor team members in Lean principles, fostering a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.

What is the difference between Lean Leader vs Continuous Improvement Coordinator?

AspectLean LeaderContinuous Improvement Coordinator
CertificationsLean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Lean certificationsLean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Continuous Improvement certifications
Work EnvironmentManufacturing, production, or operational settingsOffice, manufacturing, or service environments
Employer & IndustryManufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and related industriesManufacturing, healthcare, and service sectors

The main difference is that a Lean Leader typically holds more strategic and leadership responsibilities in implementing lean methodologies, while a Continuous Improvement Coordinator focuses on supporting and executing improvement projects. Both roles require similar certifications and often work in similar environments, but the Lean Leader has a broader scope and leadership role in driving lean initiatives across departments.

Infographic showing various Lean Leader job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,723 per year, or $41.7 per hour.

Residential Operations Leader

AVB

Portage, MI โ€ข On-site

$210K - $240K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 16 days ago


Job description

COMPENSATION RANGE:

$210,000-$240,000 Annually


JOB SUMMARY:

The Residential Operations Leader is an enterprise-focused executive responsible for the full lifecycle performance of the Residential Group’s communities and homes, from infrastructure delivery through homebuilding and post-close homeowner service. This leader ensures land development, construction, project management, procurement, and customer care operate as a coordinated, outcome-driven production system, delivering on safety, quality, cost, schedule, and homeowner satisfaction.

Reporting to the President and serving on the Residential Group Leadership Team, this leader partners closely with Development, Sales & Marketing, Design, Finance, and HR to optimize production flow, capacity, and gross margin performance across multiple communities. Success comes from aligning horizontal and vertical delivery, building disciplined operating systems, leveraging data, and driving continuous improvement, innovation, and financial discipline.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:


Integrated Community Delivery

  • Lead end-to-end delivery of communities, ensuring seamless alignment from infrastructure to home completion and warranty.
  • Optimize lot release pacing, home starts, and production flow for predictable schedule and cost performance.
  • Implement lean, repeatable processes and dashboards to drive continuous improvement and innovation across all functions.
  • Ensure projects are delivered on-time, on-budget, and achieve targeted gross margins through disciplined cost management, accurate estimating, and proactive risk mitigation.

Land Development & Infrastructure

  • Oversee horizontal construction: grading, utilities, roads, stormwater systems, and site improvements.
  • Manage sequencing, budgets, and schedules to support vertical construction and production targets.
  • Apply lean principles to reduce delays, cost overruns, and rework, while maintaining safety and quality standards.

Construction Execution

  • Direct field execution of all homes, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and installation standards.
  • Oversee inspections, mockups, and close-out processes to reduce variability and defects.
  • Drive innovation in construction methods, materials, and tools to enhance productivity and homeowner experience.
  • Monitor labor, material, and subcontractor costs to ensure adherence to budget and margin objectives.

Project Management & Governance

  • Lead project management for infrastructure and vertical programs, ensuring schedule reliability, budget control, and risk mitigation.
  • Maintain portfolio-level visibility into production metrics (linear scheduling, critical path, releases, home starts, cycle times, completions), capacity, and financial performance.
  • Establish governance frameworks that support operational clarity, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Procurement & Trade Strategy

  • Oversee estimating, purchasing, and trade partner strategy across horizontal and vertical scopes.
  • Ensure cost modeling integrity, disciplined procurement, aggregate and detailed capacity planning, and supplier accountability.
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement and innovative sourcing strategies to increase efficiency, throughput, and profitability.

Customer Care & Warranty Performance

  • Drive homeowner satisfaction and post-close service excellence.
  • Use warranty and service data to implement continuous improvement initiatives and inform upstream operational decisions (e.g., warranty performance tracking, defect trend analysis).
  • Ensure close-out practices minimize long-term service exposure while protecting financial outcomes.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Architecture, Business, or related field.
  • 15+ years of residential construction and operations experience, including 10+ years in senior leadership across multiple functions (construction, PM, procurement, operations, customer service).
  • Proven experience managing multi-community delivery portfolios with 30+ direct and indirect reports.
  • Strong expertise in construction financials, estimating, procurement, scheduling, and operational risk management.
  • Experience implementing lean operating systems, PMOs, KPIs, procurement, and continuous improvement frameworks.
  • Proficiency with construction management platforms, ERP/reporting tools, and familiarity with regional permitting processes, utilities coordination, and municipal interfaces.

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES & COMPETENCIES

Enterprise Ownership: Accountable for full lifecycle delivery and cross-functional operational outcomes.

Operational Excellence: Builds disciplined systems that ensure safety, quality, cost control, schedule adherence, and reliability delivery.

Lean & Continuous Improvement: Embeds lean principles, iterative improvement, and innovation into all functions.

Financial Stewardship: Drives accountability for cost control, estimating integrity, and gross margin delivery.

People Development: Builds strong leaders and high-performing teams across disciplines.

Client Stewardship: Treats homeowner experience as a key operational metric.

Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses analytics and leading indicators to anticipate risk, optimize costs, and improve outcomes.

Cross-Functional Influence: Aligns diverse stakeholders toward shared delivery goals.

Resilient Executive: Navigates complexity, growth, and market shifts with clarity and confidence.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:


This role operates across office and field environments and includes regular travel to active communities and construction sites. Responsibilities include walking job sites, navigating uneven terrain, reviewing plans and reports, communicating with clients and trades thus requiring utmost presence and professionalism, and occasional lifting of materials or documents up to 25 pounds. Exposure to outdoor weather conditions, construction noise, and typical jobsite hazards is expected, with appropriate safety equipment provided.