Continual Improvement Manager

Orenco Systems•Sutherlin, OR

About The Position

Orenco Systems, Inc., a subsidiary of Infiltrator Water Technologies, manufactures onsite and decentralized wastewater collection and treatment technologies. The Continual Improvement Manager leads the organization’s structured approach to operational excellence, using Lean, Six Sigma, and other proven improvement methodologies. The role works across Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and other business functions to identify, prioritize, validate, and execute opportunities that increase productivity, improve quality, reduce waste, and strengthen business performance. The manager oversees the productivity project portfolio, validates financial impact with Finance, provides Lean/Six Sigma training and coaching, and helps build a data-driven improvement culture informed by current best practices and emerging operational excellence trends. The role develops improvement strategies and plans, facilitates cross-functional projects, supports sustainable process improvements, and reports project and business results to leadership. Work is generally performed during manufacturing business hours, with occasional work outside business hours and extended hours possible to support business needs. The position is primarily office-based, with regular work sessions in manufacturing, production, warehouse, and other operational settings. Travel, including driving, air travel, and overnight stays, may be required. Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, operations management, industrial technology, quality, supply chain, or a related field.
Five or more years of experience leading continuous improvement, operational excellence, Lean/Six Sigma, productivity, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, or operations improvement initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to apply Lean/Six Sigma methodology and improvement tools in business or operations environments.
Experience managing a portfolio of productivity, quality, cost reduction, or process improvement projects.
Strong financial acumen, including the ability to develop business cases and partner with Finance to validate savings, cost avoidance, and productivity impacts.
Proficiency in data analysis, project management, and Microsoft Office Suite, and ability to learn new systems, reporting tools, and analytics platforms quickly.
Strong facilitation, training, coaching, communication, change management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while maintaining focus on measurable results.
Ability to stay current with trends in Lean/Six Sigma, operational excellence, automation, digital transformation, analytics, and productivity improvement.
Ability to use sound judgment and follow through in problem-solving and decision-making processes.
Willingness and ability to travel when business needs require, and ability to comply with current travel regulations and guidelines.
Must meet and maintain Orenco’s approved driver criteria, including a valid driver’s license, satisfactory driving record, current insurance on a personal vehicle if used for business, and company insurability requirements.
Ability to meet the physical requirements of the role, including prolonged sitting and computer-screen viewing; intermittent reaching, bending, twisting, kneeling, crawling, squatting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs and ladders; unassisted lifting or carrying under 20 pounds; and occasional unassisted lifting or carrying up to 50 pounds. Lifting or carrying over 50 pounds must be assisted.
Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is required.

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
History of progressive responsibility.

Responsibilities

Promote safety, safe work practices, a positive safety culture, employee engagement, respect for people, and sustainable process improvement.
Develop and maintain the continual improvement strategy, roadmap, governance process, and project portfolio in support of corporate and operational objectives.
Establish standard processes for identifying, evaluating, prioritizing, approving, tracking, and closing productivity and quality improvement projects.
Maintain project documentation, charters, action plans, benefit tracking, dashboards, and leadership updates using approved systems and tools.
Partner with Finance to validate projected and realized financial benefits, including productivity gains, cost reduction, cost avoidance, and quality improvements.
Improve standard operating procedures, workflows, and visual management practices used to manage and sustain improvement activity.
Facilitate cross-functional teams, remove barriers, reduce silos, and solve problems using structured Lean/Six Sigma methods.
Coach employees and leaders in problem solving, root cause analysis, standard work, visual management, and sustainment practices.
Develop annual and multi-year improvement plans aligned with operational priorities, business objectives, quality goals, and productivity targets.
Use data analysis, process mapping, value stream mapping, Gemba observations, Pareto analysis, and related tools to identify and prioritize opportunities.
Partner with leaders to define project charters, success measures, milestones, owners, resources, and sustainment plans.
Stay current with Lean/Six Sigma practices, automation, digital tools, analytics, artificial intelligence, and operational excellence trends that may improve business performance.
Manage productivity and continual improvement projects from opportunity identification through implementation, financial validation, and sustainment.
Lead and facilitate improvement projects using methods such as DMAIC, PDCA, Kaizen, 5S, standard work, mistake proofing, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, and visual management.
Ensure projects have clear business cases, defined owners, measurable targets, realistic timelines, documented control plans, and transparent status reporting.
Identify and reduce waste, variation, defects, rework, downtime, excess motion, waiting, overproduction, inventory, transportation, and processing inefficiencies.
Partner with Quality and Operations to improve first-pass yield, process capability, product quality, and customer satisfaction.
Develop and support standard work, visual controls, daily management systems, tiered accountability processes, and performance metrics to sustain improvement gains.
Facilitate root cause analysis and corrective action using tools such as 5 Why, fishbone diagrams, FMEA, control plans, process capability analysis, and statistical problem solving.
Provide Lean/Six Sigma training, mentoring, and facilitation for employees, supervisors, managers, and project teams.
Report productivity, quality improvement, project execution, validated savings, cost avoidance, and portfolio health metrics through regular leadership updates.
Keep project dashboards, financial validation records, benefit tracking, and sustainment documentation accurate, current, and available to stakeholders.
Travel when business needs require, comply with applicable travel regulations and guidelines, and meet Orenco’s approved driver criteria.
Perform other duties as assigned.