Alcoa Business Systems (ABS) Manager, North America

Shape Your World

At Alcoa, you will become an essential part of our purpose: to turn raw potential into real progress. The way we see it, every Alcoan is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper & world-shaper.

As a leader within Alcoa, you can help shape the future of Alcoa by leading the transformation of our world-class Alcoa Business Systems (ABS). As an integral member of the Global COE, ABS Team you will drive strategic deployment of ABS across North America operations, ensuring sustainable performance and operational excellence. 

About the Role:

It’s an exciting time at Alcoa as we transform our industry-renowned Global Alcoa Business System (ABS) into a future-ready, sustainable model that drives operational excellence worldwide. In this pivotal role as Alcoa Business Systems (ABS) Manager, North America, you’ll partner closely with operations to connect ABS strategy to business goals, lead change with clarity and influence, and build capability through coaching and collaboration – ensuring every site is supported and empowered throughout the transformation journey. 

Primarily located in North America, you will be required to travel extensively (50%) and potentially take on international assignments to support the deployment of our ABS ensuring that its implementation helps operations to achieve improved performance and stability for a long-term sustainable future.  

Key Responsibilities:

• Execution & Delivery - Ability to drive initiatives to measurable outcomes.
  • Implements global standards and assists in regional deployment with clear priorities and maturity progression at sites. Use project management to deliver ABS improvements.
  • Demonstrates accountability and ensures follow‑through on commitments.
  • Drive Continuous Improvement: Continuously refine ABS tools, standards, and education, replicate best practices globally (process & results discipline).
  • Coach and Build Capability: Develop leaders and teams through training, kaizen facilitation, and problem-solving coaching to accelerate ABS maturity.

• Collaboration & Relationship Building - Building strong partnerships across sites, regions, and functions.
  • Act with customer-centric mindset: Drive collaboration and positively integrate teams, functions, and regions.
  • Serves as a connection point between Regional ABS Director, site OMs, site ABS roles, Global ABS Director, and CoEs.
  • Builds credibility with operations and functional leaders; fosters aligned goals and shared purpose.
  • Strengthens site connections through coaching, visits, assessments, and best‑practice sharing.
  • Communicate and align stakeholders: simplify complex concepts, ensure clarity, and align goals across global stakeholders.

• Strategic & Systems Thinking - Ability to connect ABS to business strategy and long‑term transformational improvements.
  • Thinks at an organizational and systems level, links ABS deployment to strategic business goals.
  • Drives global ABS strategy deployment and integrates ABS with systems such as OPD, Asset Management, HR behavior model, and EHS.
  • Uses data‑driven measurement, maturity assessments, and health checks to identify opportunities for improvement.
  • Make Strategic Decisions: Prioritize initiatives based on business impact using data-driven assessments and KPI’s.

What you can bring to the role:

The ideal candidate brings deep operational excellence and lean expertise, strong strategic and systems thinking, and proven ability to lead change in complex global environments. They excel at building relationships, coaching teams, and fostering collaboration across diverse regions. With a disciplined approach to execution and delivery, they ensure measurable results while maintaining a customer-focused mindset. Their sound judgment, ability to prioritize for impact, and commitment to continuous improvement make them a catalyst for transformation and operational excellence.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Tertiary degree in Engineering, Science or Business.
• Experience deploying Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence Systems at a regional / global level.
• Extensive experience in Operations / Technical / ABS / Business and Leadership roles in a mining, process, or heavy industrial manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of production system implementation/ LEAN in large manufacturing processes.

• Strong understanding and analytical skills for improving operational stability and discipline. Kaizen facilitation, coaching, and team development to accelerate ABS maturity and drive value-creation.

• Experience in leading change, building relationships, and working collaboratively through influence.
• Highly effective communication and interpersonal skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in English and French (verbal and written)
• Heavy industrial experience
• Experience working in a global or multi-regional environment, collaborating across diverse cultures and time zones
• Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative and drive results independently.
• Experience deploying and or knowledge of TPS methodologies

About the Location

Alcoa is an international company with multiple locations and joint ventures across six continents. Wherever you choose to join us, you'll be joining a global team committed to advancing sustainability and delivering excellence and innovation. As industry pioneers, we are redefining what it means to be a sustainable aluminum company, bridging the journey from mines to metal.

We are values led, vision driven and united by our purpose of transforming raw potential into real progress.  Our commitments to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity include providing trusting workplaces that are safe, respectful and inclusive of all individuals, free from discrimination, bullying and harassment and that our workplaces reflect the diversity of the communities in which we operate.

As a proud equal opportunity workplace and affirmative action employer, Alcoa is dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of a person’s gender, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, nation of origin, disability, veteran status, language spoken or any other characteristic or status protected by the laws or regulations in the places where we operate.

If you have visited our website in search of information on U.S. employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation, please contact Alcoa Recruiting via email at [email protected].

This is a place where you are empowered to do your best work, be your authentic self, and feel a true sense of belonging. Come join us and shape your career!

Your work. Your world. Shape them for the better.