Operational Excellence Team Leader
About Babel Opex:
Babel Opex is a fast-growing startup specializing in providing overqualified contract workforce, helping start-ups and underperforming facilities stabilize operations and drive sustainable performance improvements using a proprietary Do, Teach, Release methodology.
With recently announced import tariffs in the U.S., domestic manufacturing is experiencing a significant boom—creating a wave of new plants and high demand for Babel Opex’s services. This is an exciting opportunity to join a company at the forefront of this movement and grow with us as we rapidly scale.
Job Summary
We are seeking a driven and experienced Operational Excellence Team Leader to lead a team of young, bilingual recently graduated engineers.
You will be responsible to train and support up to three simultaneous sites in implementing Babel Opex methodology which delivers hands-on support to manufacturing facilities in need of operational stabilization and OEE improvement.
This role offers a unique blend of leadership experience, travel, and impact. Its perfect for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments and wants to be part of building something transformative from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities
- Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and motivate up to three simultaneously deployed engineering teams across different client sites. Serve as a technical and strategic guide for young professionals.
- Methodology Deployment: Oversee the implementation of Babel Opex’s Show, Teach, Release process, ensuring each phase builds capability within client teams and delivers measurable improvements.
- Project Execution: Supervise stabilization projects for start-up and troubled manufacturing facilities. Guide teams through diagnosing inefficiencies, implementing improvements, and achieving sustainable OEE gains.
- Client Engagement: Act as the primary contact for client site leadership, ensuring high satisfaction, alignment on goals, and a collaborative improvement culture.
- Hands-On Supervision: Travel frequently to client locations to directly support, evaluate, and guide team activities. Ensure consistency and accountability across all projects.
- Performance Monitoring: Track KPIs, generate progress reports, and escalate risks or needs to senior leadership.
- Internal Growth Contribution: Play an active role in shaping Babel Opex’s culture, tools, and processes as we scale up and evolve with the industry’s changing needs.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field
- 5+ years of hands-on experience in Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement within manufacturing
- Strong command of Lean tools such as OEE, 5S, SMED, Root Cause Analysis, TPM, etc.
- Proven experience leading teams and executing multi-site improvement initiatives
- Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish (required)
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills
- Flexibility and enthusiasm for extensive travel (up to 80%)
Preferred Qualifications
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification
- Prior experience with start-up facilities or plant turnaround projects
- Familiarity with training or mentoring early-career engineers
- Experience working in diverse, multicultural environments
Why Join Babel Opex?
- Startup Energy + Big Impact: Be part of an ambitious startup positioned to grow rapidly as U.S.-based manufacturing surges.
- Growth Potential: With an expanding project pipeline, there are real opportunities for career advancement, increased responsibility, and long-term leadership roles.
- Diverse Experience: Work across different industries, plant setups, and team dynamics—no two projects are ever the same.
- Make a Difference: Help young engineers launch their careers while delivering high-impact results for manufacturers across North America.
- Foundational Role: Shape the future of Babel Opex by influencing culture, methodology, and expansion strategy during this critical scale-up phase.