About this role
Company / Location Information
A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom
Primary Function
The Transformation Leader & Coach is a senior, hands-on transformation practitioner with Master Black Belt-level expertise. The role responsibility will include both direct delivery and coaching Forward Deployed Transformation Leaders (FDTLs) through live initiatives. This leader will set a high standard for data-driven diagnosis, solution design, implementation, change adoption, and value realization while developing FDTLs into independent transformation leaders.
Responsibilities
• Lead or materially support the most complex transformation initiatives from diagnosis through implementation, stabilization, and handoff, with accountability for measurable operational and financial outcomes.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma and DMAIC methods to define problems, verify measurement systems, identify root causes, test countermeasures, improve process performance, and establish sustainable controls.
• Conduct advanced analysis using process data, statistical methods, hypothesis testing, regression, process capability, FMEA, experimentation, and related tools as appropriate to the business problem.
• Coach FDTLs alongside live work by challenging their thinking, observing performance, providing direct feedback, and helping them build independent problem-solving, implementation, and leadership capability.
• Establish and reinforce Transformation Office standards for charters, diagnostics, analytics, tollgates, solution design, control plans, change leadership, and value realization.
• Lead or support phase-gate reviews and determine whether the evidence, analysis, and implementation plan meet the standard required to advance.
• Partner with initiative sponsors, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Commercial, IT, HR, and business-unit leaders to mobilize resources, resolve barriers, and sustain results.
• Translate complex analysis into clear executive recommendations, decisions, and actions; communicate candidly when evidence does not support a proposed conclusion or path forward.
• Continuously improve the Transformation Office methodology, tools, curriculum, and case examples based on lessons from the field.
Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree is a plus.
• 10+ years of experience leading complex operational and enterprise transformations, preferably in industrial goods, manufacturing, building products, durable goods, industrial distribution, or related sectors.
• Master Black Belt-level practical expertise in Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, applied statistics, measurement-system analysis, root-cause analysis, process capability, FMEA, experimentation, and control planning; Master Black Belt certification preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated success delivering measurable results across manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and cross-functional or transactional processes.
• Experience coaching Black Belts, transformation leaders, or comparable practitioners through real initiatives while maintaining high standards and avoiding unnecessary takeover of their work.
• Executive presence and the ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge assumptions, navigate resistance, and lead across functions without formal authority.
• Based in Nashville, Tennessee, or willing and able to travel regularly to Nashville, manufacturing facilities, and other project locations.
We Offer
Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.
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ADA Statement & EEO Statement
In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.