Purpose: This research article presents a study conducted in a third-level educational institute in Ireland, focusing on the implementation of Lean Principles to optimise the tasks carried out by the Heads of Departments (HODs) within the School of Engineering. The research aimed to improve the efficiency and productivity of HODs by alleviating their workload burden by identifying and eliminating non-value-added activities. Methodology: Employing action research methodology, the study engaged HODs and administration employees from various levels within the institute to collaboratively identify pain points and inefficiencies in the current workflow. Using a triangular research approach, the investigation was initiated by conducting semi-structured interviews with HODs to collect fundamental data regarding their daily activities. Following this, a customised questionnaire was developed to explore each activity identified by the HODs in more detail. Additionally, a focused group discussion was employed for further analysis, incorporating a scoring model to prioritise activities according to their perceived value and time commitment. Findings: Data collection uncovered the top twenty-two time-consuming, low-value activities, which were subsequently targeted for improvement, with proposed solutions and subsequent implementation of some. Practical Implications: The practical implication of the project reveals significant improvements by reducing the unnecessary workload on the HODs, including reduced administrative tasks, and enhanced and optimised communication channels. Resistance to change was identified as one of the most prominent barriers to the implementation of the suggested improvements. Limitations: The research is limited in its generalizability due to its confinement to a single educational institution. Additionally, this restriction may hinder the applicability of the findings to broader contexts beyond the specific institution under study.