Continuous Improvement Manager

QualificationsEducationBachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field requiredLean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certificationExperienceProven experience leading Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Operational Excellence initiatives within a manufacturing environmentHands-on Industrial Engineering experience requiredExperience leading plant-level continuous improvement programs Multi-site manufacturing experience Strong background in Lean Manufacturing tools and methodologiesDemonstrated success driving waste reduction, operational improvements, and KPI performanceThe Continuous Improvement Manager will lead Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives across multiple manufacturing facilities throughout North America. This role is responsible for driving continuous improvement programs, waste-reduction initiatives, KPI development, industrial engineering activities, and operational performance improvements throughout the organization.This position partners closely with operations leadership, engineering, supply chain, and plant teams to build a culture focused on safety, efficiency, standardization, accountability, and sustainable operational excellence.Key ResponsibilitiesOperational Excellence & Lean LeadershipLead the development and execution of the company’s Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence strategy.Drive continuous improvement initiatives aligned with operational and business objectives.Manage and track Lean roadmaps, improvement initiatives, project timelines, and operational results.Establish measurable targets focused on waste reduction, labor efficiency, productivity, and cost savings.Champion a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and operational discipline across manufacturing sites.Continuous Improvement InitiativesStandardize continuous improvement processes and Lean methodologies across all manufacturing locations.Lead Kaizen events, value stream mapping activities, root cause analysis efforts, and process optimization projects.Identify operational inefficiencies and coordinate improvement initiatives throughout manufacturing and supply chain operations.Support site leadership teams with continuous improvement tools, training, and implementation strategies.Drive best practice sharing and operational standardization between facilities.Industrial Engineering & Manufacturing PerformanceLead Industrial Engineering activities, including labor optimization, workflow analysis, process improvements, and operational standards development.Support facility layout optimization, capacity analysis, labor utilization, and productivity improvement initiatives.Drive equipment effectiveness and manufacturing performance improvements across all production facilities.Develop standardized KPI reporting and operational performance metrics.KPI Development & ReportingEstablish and maintain operational KPIs across manufacturing sites.Track and communicate operational performance, continuous improvement progress, and cost reduction results.Develop reporting structures and dashboards to support operational visibility and data-driven decision-making.Ensure consistency in operational reporting, metrics, and continuous improvement tracking.Cross-Functional CollaborationPartner with operations, engineering, supply chain, sales, and leadership teams to support operational initiatives.Support value stream mapping and operational integration activities across the organization.Participate in benchmarking initiatives and operational excellence programs.Lead and support employee-driven continuous improvement and suggestion initiatives across manufacturing sites.Leadership & CulturePromote a strong safety-first and customer-focused culture throughout operations.Support organizational change management initiatives related to operational transformation.Mentor and support site-level continuous improvement coordinators and operational leaders.Foster engagement, accountability, and continuous learning across manufacturing teams.