The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Senior Lean Practitioner / Senior Process Improvement Specialist
5-8 years experience (of which 3-5 in a senior role)Skills to master
- Leading end-to-end projects, facilitating Kaizen events, advanced VSM, mentoring junior staff, presenting to mid-level management.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering projects with clear ROI.
- Being the 'go-to' person for complex process issues in your current team.
- Successfully mentoring 1-2 junior colleagues to take on more responsibility.
- Proactively identifying and scoping new improvement opportunities without being asked.
- 2
Consultant (Operational Excellence / Business Transformation)
7-10 years experience in consultingSkills to master
- Client management, rapid problem diagnosis, structured project delivery, executive communication, cross-industry best practices.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed multiple client engagements focused on operational improvement.
- Developed and delivered strategic recommendations to senior client stakeholders.
- Proven ability to quickly understand new business contexts and apply Lean principles.
- Strong track record of driving measurable impact in diverse client environments.
- 3
Operations Manager with Lean Focus
8-12 years experience (of which 3-5 in an operations management role with CI focus)Skills to master
- P&L management, team leadership, daily management systems, integrating Lean into daily operations, driving cultural change from within.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed an operational team, meeting or exceeding KPIs.
- Implemented significant process improvements within your own operational area.
- Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement within your team.
- Strong understanding of the operational realities and challenges of process change.