Director, Global Variable Cost Productivity at Dematic Corp in Atlanta, Georgia

Job Description:

Dematic is a leading supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimize the supply chain. Dematic employs over 7,000 skilled logistics professionals to serve its customers globally, with engineering centers and manufacturing facilities located around the world. Dematic is one brand under the KION Group of companies and has implemented more than 6,000 integrated systems for a customer base that includes small, medium and large companies doing business in a variety of market sectors.
 
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Dematic is a member of KION Group, a global leader in industrial trucks, related services and supply chain solutions. Across more than 100 countries worldwide, the KION Group designs, builds and supports logistics solutions that optimize material and information flow within factories, warehouses and distribution centers. The company is the largest manufacturer of industrial trucks in Europe, the second-largest producer of forklifts globally and a leading provider of warehouse automation.

Dematic is looking for a Director of Global Variable Cost Productivity (VCP).  This role will act as the face of VCP for Dematic and will own the coordination of activities to provide targeted cost reduction savings in 2021 and build the pipeline for increased savings in 2023.  This Director of VCP will establish a team of 7-9 direct reports this year with opportunity and expected team growth in 2022.  Those direct reports will have a focus across the functions (Finance, Procurement, Manufacturing, R&D, Installation, etc.) and across the key product lines (convey & sort, order fulfillment, pallet systems, etc.).  The VCP team will collaborate cross functionally and globally to build and execute on a prioritized list of cost reduction projects.

Select responsibilities include:

• Responsible for delivering sustainable year-over-year cost out and productivity to Dematic


• Create and own the VCP scorecard, which will be regularly presented to Executive Leadership


• Transform current VCP activities into an institutionalized Center of Excellence


• Develop governance and discipline around VCP project identification, execution, and tracking of savings


• Maintain and grow a prioritized list of VCP Projects


• Lead the top key VCP projects for the business with a cross-functional global team of stakeholders


• Facilitate and build organizational capability in VCP and other Cost Out and productivity related initiatives


• Collaborate with functional areas including sales, engineering, marketing, manufacturing, and operations to identify cost reduction and market opportunities


• Maintain close coordination with engineering and product managers relating to cost and strategies that can reduce piece part cost


• Support and help drive VCP project execution rigor, including project management and validation


• Drive VCP activities and lean initiatives in the supply base to optimize cost. These activities can include brainstorming sessions, value stream mapping, and other Kaizen tools


• Support future team activities with business case creations and ROI calculations


• Build a culture around LEAN and Cost Optimization inside Dematic

• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Engineering, Finance, or Mathematics


• 10+ years of successful experience in a directly related field or similar function


• Experience with Six Sigma, LEAN, Kaizen or other continuous improvement methodologies


• Past ownership of a business level metric with a track record of driving a cross functional team to positively impact that metric


• Demonstrates advance understanding and application of management approaches for work direction, motivation, and performance management.


• Proven success with change management on a large scale