Continuous Improvement Manager – Manufacturing

About the role

Responsibilities

• Design and manage continuous improvement initiatives that support business objectives and manufacturing priorities.
• Collaborate with operations and production leaders to identify inefficiencies, reduce operating costs, and increase productivity.
• Plan and lead Kaizen events, improvement workshops, and structured problem-solving activities.
• Apply Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis, and related methodologies to improve processes and support data-based decisions.
• Evaluate existing workflows, identify bottlenecks, and implement sustainable process improvements.
• Coach and train employees on continuous improvement practices, tools, and problem-solving techniques.
• Work directly with production teams to introduce process changes and reinforce standardized work practices.
• Develop communication and engagement strategies that encourage employees to participate in improvement initiatives.
• Establish, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate progress and measure results.
• Present project findings, performance updates, and improvement recommendations to plant leadership and senior management.
• Promote accountability, collaboration, innovation, and ongoing learning across the organization.
• Provide support across multiple shifts as needed to implement and maintain improvements.
• Improve labor efficiency through workflow redesign, process optimization, and evaluation of capital investment opportunities.
• Ensure improvement projects align with safety standards, quality expectations, and customer satisfaction goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business Management, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• At least 5 years of experience implementing or leading continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in operational performance.
• Strong understanding of Lean principles, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, Kaizen facilitation, and change management.
• Ability to gather, analyze, and interpret operational data to identify improvement opportunities and guide decisions.
• Strong leadership and collaboration skills, including the ability to influence teams across departments and organizational levels.
• Excellent communication, presentation, facilitation, and employee training skills.
• Strong project management, organizational, and time management abilities.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced production environment.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and process improvement.
• Commitment to workplace safety, product quality, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Experience in engineer-to-order (ETO) manufacturing, metal fabrication, industrial production, or similar operations.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or another relevant continuous improvement certification.
• Regularly walk the production floor and work directly with manufacturing personnel.
• Stand, bend, and move throughout production areas while evaluating processes and implementing improvements.
• Occasionally lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Work flexible hours and support multiple shifts when improvement projects require it.
• Divide work time between an office setting and an active manufacturing environment.