Team Lead (CI)

Element Six (E6), is a global leader in the design, development and production of synthetic diamond and tungsten carbide supermaterials. Part of the De Beers Group, our primary manufacturing sites are located in UK, Ireland, Germany, South Africa and the US. 

Our mission 
We put our customers first. Using our technological expertise and industrial leadership we deliver innovative solutions to achieve competitive advantage. 

Our vision 
With access to the most sophisticated R&D technology and the best minds in the business, the future is full of possibilities… 

Employment Equity & Inclusion and Diversity 
We are committed to fostering a vibrant workplace culture that is inclusive and embraces our diversity, where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfil their potential, and thrive. 

You can find out more about who we are and what we do on our website:  
e6.com/en/about/corporate-information 

• The Team Lead (Continuous Improvement) role is a key leadership position within Operations, responsible for driving Operational Excellence through Lean Manufacturing, data-driven decision making and structured problem solving.
• The role is accountable for identifying, leading and sustaining improvements that enhance safety, quality, throughput, equipment performance and employee engagement
• Success in this role requires strong collaboration across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance and Planning functions to identify opportunities, eliminate losses and deliver sustainable improvements through Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement methodologies

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Drive and embed the ‘Safety First’ culture across the Department
• Develop people capability in Continuous Improvement through coaching, mentoring and knowledge sharing
• Analyse operational performance data, conduct loss analysis and identify improvement opportunities using Power BI, Databricks and other business systems
• Lead Continuous Improvement projects using Lean Manufacturing, structured problem solving and data-driven decision making to improve safety, quality, throughput, process capability and equipment performance
• Facilitate Practical Problem Solving (PPS) activities, ensuring root causes, corrective actions and effectiveness checks are defined and sustained
• Own the development and governance of Standard Work to ensure improvements are effectively embedded and sustained
• Work collaboratively with Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Planning teams to deliver sustainable performance improvements
• Engage and influence employees at all levels to identify, implement and sustain continuous improvement opportunities

• Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills
• Demonstrated experience applying Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence methodologies in a manufacturing environment
• Experience implementing and sustaining Standard Work, Visual Management and structured problem-solving practices
• Strong analytical capability with experience using operational data to identify losses and drive sustainable improvements
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional improvement initiatives across Operations, Engineering, Quality and Maintenance teams
• Relevant manufacturing experience with a recognised Continuous Improvement qualification; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt (or equivalent) is highly desirable