Lean Hiring Heats Up: 25% Spike in Demand for Transformation Leaders

Lean transformation roles are surging in Q4 2025.

According to recent LinkedIn data, demand for candidates with Lean skills and experience has increased by 25% late in 2025 – a clear sign that organizations are now prioritizing transformation talent to navigate today’s challenges.

This data confirms what we’ve been hearing in conversations with our clients and candidates as Operations leaders face increased margin pressures.

What this means for those hiring Lean leaders

Even before the year, you already knew transformation leaders shine brightest in times of uncertainty. Now it seems the rest of the country is catching up, and as a result, competition for top-tier Lean talent is increasing. Attracting the right candidates continues to hinge on the critical combination of leadership commitment, career growth path and company / sector stability.

For a better understanding how the current market's reacting, below is a quick recap of candidates we’ve recently placed in Lean leadership roles:

Recently completed Lean placements

Role: Transformation Leader
Company: Water technology
Annual Revenue: $3B
Location: Illinois
Who was hired

• Operations leader with early career roles at Toyota.
• Led Lean manufacturing, supply chain restructuring and operational turnarounds at multiple global companies.
• Led multi-site, multinational operations (up to 13 locations across the Americas, Europe and Asia), implementing centralized systems, supply chains and quality standards, while driving S&OP and inventory reduction.
• Served as COO for three different companies with an annual revenue range from $300M to $1.2B.

Role: Director, Continuous Improvement
Company: Medical apparel and linens
Annual Revenue: $100M
Location: Delaware
Who was hired

• Multi-site Lean implementation in high-volume/low-mix environments.
• Led site-level CI for discreet and process manufacturing organizations including Kimberly-Clark.
• Mentored and developed talent in Lean fundamentals and problem solving.
• Experience leading kaizen events, coaching on daily management, tier boards, TAKT based throughput and VSM.
• Local candidate.

Role: Director, Operational Excellence
Company: Private investment firm
Annual Revenue: $1.5B AUM
Location: New York
Who was hired

• Early Lean training and mentorship were acquired via several roles within a Shingijutsu-coached GE Division.
• Additional cross-functional experience gained through Operations leadership and engineering roles.
• Led Lean system development initiative across domestic and global manufacturing footprints.
• Previous PE portfolio company experience.

Role: Continuous Improvement Site Leader
Company: Electrical power transmissions
Annual Revenue: $6B
Location: Kentucky
Who was hired

• Multi-faceted continuous improvement leader with cross-functional experience in roles including Value Stream Leadership, Commercial/Account Management and Distribution operations.

• Over four years of experience working in the Crane Business System (CBS).

• Lean certified through the University of Kentucky/Toyota program.
• Local candidate.

Do you have critical Lean hiring needs on the horizon?