Job Description Summary

Do you possess a deep understanding of Lean Six Sigma, as well as the creativity and resourcefulness to apply that knowledge to help tackle complex challenges? Do you share our passion for continually improving organizational effectiveness? If you like working in a collaborative, team-based environment, making positive, lasting improvements for customers, associates and our organization, we want to hear from you!

As a Lean Maturity Intern, you'll be responsible for the refinement and maturing of the enterprise Lean Management System model. We'll count on you to learn the Nationwide Commercial Lean Management System (LMS), assist in delivering training, coaching to deepen LMS effectiveness in the business, assist in reporting and analytics, assist in root cause problem solving (RCPS) and participate in Enterprise Lean Maturity education. You'll have opportunities to work with Lean Consultants to coach and educate associates and leaders to mature the capability and influence cultural transformation of Lean and continuous improvement.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities: 

Works in conjunction with a shared service area to coordinate and lead the overall Lean support for an area. Provides support to core Lean activities such as huddles, problem solving, 1:1s and "sit-with" sessions by monitoring adherence, conducting process confirmations, giving feedback and coaching to business partners ans calling out gaps of risks to leadership.

Works closely with business partners, other lean practitioners and the Business Transformation Office (BTO) to drive consistency across the enterprise. 

Improves and mature the use of Lean tools, with minimal guidance, to improve the business processes and identifies Green and Black Belt projects, standard work improvements and iterations, socializing successes from problem solving, improving face-to-face interactions of managers and associates, use of the skills matrix in managing and improving skills. 

Conducts in-depth analysis across the Lean System with minimal guidance/support; searches for correlations or relationships to improve the overall system.

Influences the continued use of visual management and active engagement of all leader levels, associates and key partners. Influences and coaches others in the use and maturation of Hoshin (strategy) management, value stream management, capacity and demand management, use and continued development of standard work. 

Participates in Lean Community of Practice events and other opportunities to learn from other practitioners or professional events (internal and external). 

Provides coaching to associates, business partners, and leaders at all levels on the use of Lean tools and methods. Conducts gembas, sit-withs and other techniques to support the business unit, assess areas of strength and opportunities, and provide appropriate coaching or support. May be involved with coordination of capability building (e.g. training material, standard courses, and/or using subject matter authorities with BTO) for consistency across the enterprise. 

Coordinates with the BTO to schedule an assessment aligned with the annual Enterprise Assessment roadmap. Coaches the business leaders in further developing action plans. Coordinates execution of the action item plan and provides visibility to the progress. 

Participates in other Lean maturity assessments to provide coaching and a third-party enterprise perspective. 

Supports continuity of Lean management systems in the business by providing or coordinating Lean onboarding training and capability building to new associates, leads, and leaders. 

Coordinates and aligns align with BTO Maturity & Center of Excellence for current trainings, curriculum and offerings. Plans and facilitates specialized sessions and CI events (e.g. Kaizen, brainstorming). 

Leads the ongoing development and refinement of Lean and continuous improvement measurement systems and reporting for the business unit. Develops reporting structure and mechanisms or requirements to enable other specialized groups for reporting. 

Coordinate with business unit reporting and data analytics. Conducts pulse surveys as needed to understand the attitudes and behaviors of the organization. With minimal guidance, uses regularly occurring scorecards and other data sources to analyze and trend health of the Lean management system.

Conducts analysis and presents findings with graphical outputs to leaders.

Supports and matures process changes implemented during the initial Lean deployment by ensuring adherence to the process as well as encouraging continuous refinement and improvements. Ensure projects are consistently aligned to Hoshin or business strategy. 

Manages small projects and participate in larger projects to achieve desired business objectives. Support may include coordination and prioritization of projects, including planning, communication, execution and completion. May manage and implement strategic business processes that support business requirements.

Supports deployment work in partnership with the BTO; conducts process confirmation/coaching for Managers, Supervisors, front line associates, and change agents.

Plans, leads and manages work streams to successful completion. Manages and implements communication plan; tracks impact.

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships: Reports to Manager/Director.

Typical Skills and Experiences: 

Education: Undergraduate degree in business, mathematics, engineering or related field preferred. 

License/Certification/Designation: Green Belt/Lean certification preferred. Kaizen certification preferred. 

Experience:

Four years of experience in business process design or operations preferred. Able to demonstrate experience leading projects/work streams to successful completion. Can demonstrate benefit identification and influencing benefit realization. Prefer one to three years of experience in Lean and/or continuous improvement work.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:

Working knowledge of business systems and data processing policies, practices, and procedures. Knowledge of business-related systems and concepts and requirements preferred. Maintains and comprehends business/systems process operations or redesign techniques, methods and tools. Maintains current understanding of insurance and financial services industry, focusing on the Nationwide enterprise and its key competitors. Lean-specific knowledge: value stream mapping; tiered visual management, metric and standard work development/maturation; designing and improving process to enable flow; structured problem solving techniques. Working knowledge of concepts and techniques to drive change management (e.g. ADKAR/Proci, Kotter) and relationship management (e.g. identify, build and manage). The overall ability to clearly and effectively portray concepts and ideas, collaborate, build work products and coach others towards greater common goals. Having a positive attitude and actions for the benefit of the team and greater initiatives. Use of appropriate, effective, and timely communication based on situation and context (verbal communication, body language, writing, interpersonal connection, presentation skills, etc.). Presenting ideas in the simplest possible form, without diluting the message, to allow for greater understanding and productive conversations. Work products are clear and key points are easily discerned. Ability to use A3s as a problem-solving methodology and to coach others for effective problem solving. The overall ability to use visual management systems and techniques; including huddle boards, visual metrics, and problem solving tracking; Ability to assist a team to develop a current state map, able to facilitate the identification of non-benefit waste and impediments to value stream flow.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence. 

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and HR Business Partner.

Values: Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions: 

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment; extended and/or non-standard work hours as needed. 

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.