Manager - Continuous Improvement & Innovation

Who We Are

Kinross is a Canadian-based global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile and Canada. Our focus on delivering value is based on our four core values of Putting People First, Outstanding Corporate Citizenship, High Performance Culture, and Rigorous Financial Discipline. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol:K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol:KGC). 
 

Mining responsibly is a priority for Kinross, and we foster a culture that makes responsible mining and operational success inseparable. In 2021, Kinross committed to a greenhouse gas reduction action plan as part of its Climate Change strategy, reached approximately 1 million beneficiaries through its community programs, and recycled 80% of the water used at our sites. We also achieved record high levels of local employment, with 99% of total workforce from within host countries, and advanced inclusion and diversity targets, including instituting a Global Inclusion and Diversity Leadership Council. 
Eager to know more about us? Visit Home - Kinross Gold Corporation

Job Description

• To develops and implement a vision for Continuous Improvement and Innovation. 
• To manages the business, project and strategic planning of Kinross’ companywide Continuous Improvement program and initiatives.
• To actively facilitate the sharing of best practices throughout the company. 
• To work closely with the mine sites to drive increased adoption of a continuous improvement mindset and culture in order to increase shareholder value through cost reduction, operational full potential and waste eliminating initiatives. 
• To provide direct on-site supports towards the identification, execution and sustainment of critical site improvement activities. 
• To manage multiple direct or indirect reports, often providing leadership to multiple project teams that include many indirect reports in order to identify and resolve complex technical and operational problems. 
• To delivers training is and responsible for the development of a community of practitioners. 
• This role reports to Vice President, Global Maintenance and Continuous Improvement.

Job Responsibilities

1. 

Lead CI group with minimal supervision for the performance, results, and tactical implementation of Kinross’ Global Continuous Improvement and Innovation program 

People Development:

• Develop direct and indirect reports in line with the Kinross Way for Leadership. 

Continuous Improvement:

• Develop and Execute on the strategy of the global CI program. 
• Implement consistent standards for CI organizations, training, measurement, etc. 
• Continually review and monitor program progress, facilitate program improvements and, on an as-needed basis, lead site-level (though sometimes global) cross-functional initiatives that generate significant value. Coordinate closely with CI teams at site and key strategic vendors and suppliers. 
• Develop a global community of practitioners.
• Provides direct on-site supports towards the identification, execution and sustainment of critical site improvement activities.

Innovation:

• Drive Kinross’ High Performance Culture to the next level through the development and execution of the Innovation strategy. 
• Assist in the collection and prioritization – through vigorous vetting and study – of initiatives in the digital and non-digital innovation space. 
• Work across functions and with top Operations management to develop projects until their pilot and implementation stages. 

2.

Lead & Administer CI Program

• Develop and implement a 3-5 years strategic plan for Continuous Improvement.
• Collaborate, advises and challenge sites to establish robust CI plans which are linked to the Company and Site 4PPs.
• Audit the CI plans and the year-end results annually.
• Tracks maturity and progress of all continuous improvement programs at Kinross sites. Synthesize and communicate progress to SVPOs and Toronto leadership.
• Maintain the CI/AE expert-network with ‘council’-style calls, regular one-on-ones and conferences.
• Work collaboratively to set and draft Global Standards for CI (e.g. initiative valuation)
• Oversee the development of common training materials for CI concepts and on-boarding.
• Use all of the above to share best practices among our sites and challenge them to improve. 
• Provide direct on-site supports towards the identification, execution and sustainment of critical site improvement activities.

3.

Lead performance improvement projects:

• Act as the project lead (i.e. Project Manager, Champion or Advisor) on site-level and sometime global cross-functional initiatives that generate significant value. 
• Where appropriate, identify, coordinate and apply broad industry and commercial resources to drive financial and operational performance across operations. 

4.

Develop and Manage the execution of Kinross’ Innovation mandate

• Enhance the way that Kinross is able to exploit innovative ideas that help the company transform the way it does business. 
• Coordinate the development of relationships with academia, engineering firms, etc. to allow Kinross to be aware of cutting edge ideas, both digital and non-digital in nature. 
• Build capabilities to deliver on these innovation-driven initiatives, including Clearly defining our approach.
• Ensure a systematic way for successful ideas and implemented projects to be transferred to all sites.

5.

Developing skills, tools and training to support innovative ideas, as well as the funding and time to fuel it.

• Create and monitor the targets to guide performance, the measures to evaluate performance, the measures to evaluate progress, and the incentives to drive behavior.
• Work with other functions, especially Tech Services, in order to build out their own innovation projects, including the establishment of an ‘innovation council’ to foster idea generation and coordination. 
• Run pilots at one or more sites, including seeking out the right opportunities and needs that will drive adoption and success.
• Build a repository of ideas and the blueprint for the ‘ideal’ site that will allow us to build the best when we develop greenfield or major brownfield projects. 

6.

Support and/or advise on issues related to CI/Innovation to Operations leadership: GMs, CI leads, etc. (and when requested, CTO, SVPOs) 

• Through formal and informal interactions, help our site General Managers work through tough problems relating to behavioural change management, senior leadership management, etc.
• Add value to CI programs by sharing from vast experience, both from within Kinross (experience sharing) and outside the organization (prior industry experience, best practice sharing, etc.)

7.

Serve as an internal resource to our General Managers and our CI Managers

• Assist in creating CI programs ‘from scratch’ at sites that do not have a program (e.g., a newly acquired site); from proposing the org structure, roles and responsibilities, drafting role descriptions and participating in (or leading) the recruiting process.
• Perform or coordinate resources to provide on-site CI training in various areas (e.g. 5S). Importantly, train trainers to be able to train others. 

8.

Serve as an intermediary between CI/Innovation and other teams and functions

• Liaise with other departments and CI teams to participate in and drive specific improvement initiatives.
• Liaise with other corporate functional leaders to act as the voice for CI/Innovation at Kinross.

9.

Support other Operations Strategy projects, as needed and as requested

• Manage time, such that regular CI and Innovation obligations are met, while being able to work on other projects in the broader department.
• Flexibility to work on other projects outside CI/Innovation. 
• Evaluate Strategic Business Plans for CI opportunities. 

Qualifications & Skill Requirements

• Post-secondary degree in Engineering, Mathematics, etc.  
• 10+ years experience in Business or Continuous Improvement type activities in the mining sector.
• Experience working in business analysis or finance preferred.
• Formal training in CI methodologies preferred. (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, etc.)
• Administrative and technical writing skills.
• Experience with JDE, Oracle or SAP preferred.
• Strong analytical skill set, including ability to identify and manage data, execute quality control, build Excel models, and extract correct business insights and implications.
• Ability to break down problems into different elements to identify root cause and proper mitigation steps.
• Effectively communicate business insights and realistic solutions using both written and verbal communications.
• Strong leadership skills and proven ability to organize and manage projects with positive results.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, including an ability to connect , resolve conflict and work with all levels of employees and management.
• A combination of field and office work is required.
• Ability to manage time and work efficiently to achieve deadlines.
• Proficient knowledge of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.