Continuous Improvement Leader 5

ULA•Decatur, IL

6d•Onsite

About The Position

At ULA, success comes through the efforts of a strong, united team. As a ULA employee, you'll have the opportunity to grow in your career while working in a team-oriented culture that combines technology, innovation, ingenuity and a commitment to the extraordinary. This role requires a blend of technical expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and other improvement methodologies with leadership and change management skills. The Continuous Improvement Leader is responsible for driving and embedding process improvement across the factory to enhance efficiency, quality, and performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related technical field from an accredited college or university
8 years of relevant experience including continuous improvement or process improvement roles, preferably in manufacturing, operations, or industrial environments
A minimum of 2 years of leadership, team leadership and/or project management experience
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Gemba, or Obeya methodology certification
Proficiency in data analysis, problem-solving, and improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen)
Strong communication, collaboration, facilitation, and influence skills
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines
Must be a U.S. Person as defined in ITAR 22 CFR 120.62 (e.g., U.S. Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or protected individual).

Responsibilities

Drive, facilitate, and support continuous improvement activities across all areas of the business, acting as a catalyst for a continuous improvement mindset
Promote and guide the adoption of Lean Enterprise systems, including Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, 5S, Standard Work, Continuous Flow, TPM, Root Cause Analysis, and other process improvement tools
Partner with senior leaders to develop transformation strategies, annual improvement plans, and long-range strategic plans aligned with organizational goals
Lead and participate in kaizen events, track progress, and ensure sustained gains; facilitate cross-functional improvement projects
Deliver coaching, mentoring, and training on Lean principles, tools, and behaviors to empower employees at all levels
Develop and maintain KPIs, dashboards, and reports to measure improvement impact and present progress to leadership
Work with department leaders, field teams, and stakeholders to standardize processes, reduce waste, and improve operational performance
Manage change effectively, ensuring smooth implementation of new processes and systems