Continuous Improvement Manager

Alcoa • Massena, NY

21h • $127,200 - $190,600

About The Position

Alcoa Massena Operations is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to advance operational excellence and continuous improvement across the site. The role partners with leaders and employees across operations, maintenance, support functions, and leadership teams to drive sustainable business improvements using the Alcoa Business System (ABS), Lean Manufacturing principles, and structured problem-solving methodologies. It combines strategic thinking, change leadership, coaching, and hands-on execution to strengthen operational performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• 4–6+ years of experience leading process improvement, operational excellence, continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, or related initiatives.
• Strong understanding of budget development, implementation, and performance management processes.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Lean Manufacturing principles and driving measurable operational improvements.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, and change management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, including the ability to translate data into actionable improvements.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all organizational levels without direct authority.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams and driving results in complex environments.

Nice To Haves

• Previous leadership experience in a manufacturing, industrial, metals, mining, chemicals, or heavy industrial environment.
• Formal training or certification in Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Experience leading large-scale organizational change initiatives.
• Knowledge of industrial production processes and value stream optimization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the deployment and sustainability of Lean Manufacturing systems and continuous improvement initiatives across Production, Maintenance, EHS, Procurement, Human Resources, and other support organizations.
• Partner with leaders and employees to identify opportunities that improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost performance.
• Facilitate improvement projects from concept through implementation, aligning actions with site objectives and measurable business value.
• Lead process optimization, cost reduction, operational effectiveness, industrial engineering studies, and business planning activities.
• Develop, coach, and mentor employees and leaders in continuous improvement tools and methodologies.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving using A3 methodology, standardized work, root cause analysis, and other Lean principles.
• Drive organizational change initiatives that improve customer-supplier connections, eliminate waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Track, validate, and document business improvements and savings through established reporting systems and performance metrics.
• Support the development of annual operating plans, performance targets, and departmental budgets in partnership with site leadership.
• Advise teams and support adoption and sustained use of organizational best practices.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation, including pay-for-performance variable pay and recognition and rewards programs.
• Flexible spending accounts and a generous employer contribution to the HSA.
• 401(k) with employer match up to 6%.
• Additional employer retirement income contribution with no vesting period.
• Non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
• 15 vacation days, prorated in the first year based on hire date.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager