Continuous Improvement Manager

Valmont Industries, Inc. • Elkhart, IN

20h • Onsite

About The Position

Why Valmont We’re Here to Move the World Forward. Valmont impacts millions of people around the world every day, yet they might not realize the many ways. Our technology is helping feed the growing population, supplying the world with more reliable energy and access to renewables, enhancing connectivity in remote and urban locations to create a sustainable future and so much more. Simply put, Valmont is advancing agricultural productivity and reimagining vital infrastructure to make life better. Join a Fortune 1000 company that respects hard work, honors diversity and invests in our employees as we focus on creating the world of tomorrow, today. We are the modern workforce. Are you ready to move the world forward? Apply now. Essential Functions Lead and support the execution of the Site Continuous Improvement Roadmap, aligning initiatives with business objectives, KPIs, and customer requirements. Facilitate improvement events and projects (Kaizen, 5S, TPM, Standard Work, SMED, VSM, and RCA) to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Coach, mentor, and train employees and leaders at all levels to develop problem-solving capability and strengthen ownership of CI principles. Partner with the Plant Manager and regional CI leadership to ensure alignment of improvement efforts with strategic business priorities. Embed a culture of continuous improvement by modeling CI behaviors, developing leader standard work, and integrating CI practices into daily management systems. Implement and sustain visual management and performance systems that enable transparency, accountability, and proactive problem-solving. Support cultural transformation by engaging employees in daily improvement discussions, team huddles, and cross-functional collaboration. Identify bottlenecks, waste, and variation process, using structured problem-solving tools (PDCA, A3, DMAIC, Fishbone, Pareto) to develop sustainable countermeasures. Facilitate data-driven decision-making by tracking site-level CI metrics, analyzing trends, and communicating results to leadership. Collaborate with functional departments (EHS, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain) to improve flow, reduce rework, and strengthen process stability. Support and maintain 5S and workplace organization standards, ensuring safety, efficiency, and visual control throughout the facility. Celebrate and communicate success stories that reinforce positive change and recognize team contributions. Key Responsibilities Lead the site’s CI Steering Committee and provide updates to the Plant Manager and Regional CI Manager. Serve as the primary CI resource for plant-level improvement initiatives. Coordinate and sustain improvement actions through standard work and regular follow-up. Support the integration of continuous improvement practices into Daily Management Systems (DMS), production meetings, and Tiered Huddles. Drive engagement and ownership of CI at the operator and supervisor level.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of relevant manufacturing or operations experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success in applying Continuous Improvement methodologies (Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, TPM, SMED, Standard Work, DMAIC).
• Proven ability to lead and facilitate improvement events that deliver measurable results.
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; able to influence and engage across all levels of the organization.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Visio) and capable of using digital CI tracking tools.
• Effective facilitator and coach with the ability to train others and build capability.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 25%.

Nice To Haves

• Professional certification(s) in Continuous Improvement (e.g., Six Sigma Green/Black Belt, Lean Practitioner, TPM Certification).
• Experience leading cultural change or implementing a CI culture transformation.
• Knowledge of manufacturing operations, standard work systems, and performance management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the execution of the Site Continuous Improvement Roadmap, aligning initiatives with business objectives, KPIs, and customer requirements.
• Facilitate improvement events and projects (Kaizen, 5S, TPM, Standard Work, SMED, VSM, and RCA) to drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Coach, mentor, and train employees and leaders at all levels to develop problem-solving capability and strengthen ownership of CI principles.
• Partner with the Plant Manager and regional CI leadership to ensure alignment of improvement efforts with strategic business priorities.
• Embed a culture of continuous improvement by modeling CI behaviors, developing leader standard work, and integrating CI practices into daily management systems.
• Implement and sustain visual management and performance systems that enable transparency, accountability, and proactive problem-solving.
• Support cultural transformation by engaging employees in daily improvement discussions, team huddles, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Identify bottlenecks, waste, and variation process, using structured problem-solving tools (PDCA, A3, DMAIC, Fishbone, Pareto) to develop sustainable countermeasures.
• Facilitate data-driven decision-making by tracking site-level CI metrics, analyzing trends, and communicating results to leadership.
• Collaborate with functional departments (EHS, Quality, Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain) to improve flow, reduce rework, and strengthen process stability.
• Support and maintain 5S and workplace organization standards, ensuring safety, efficiency, and visual control throughout the facility.
• Celebrate and communicate success stories that reinforce positive change and recognize team contributions.
• Lead the site’s CI Steering Committee and provide updates to the Plant Manager and Regional CI Manager.
• Serve as the primary CI resource for plant-level improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate and sustain improvement actions through standard work and regular follow-up.
• Support the integration of continuous improvement practices into Daily Management Systems (DMS), production meetings, and Tiered Huddles.
• Drive engagement and ownership of CI at the operator and supervisor level.

Benefits

• Healthcare (medical, prescription drugs, dental and vision)
• 401k retirement plan with company match
• Paid time off
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid short-term and long-term disability including maternity leave
• Work Life Support
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $5,250 per year
• Voluntary programs like tobacco cessation, Type 2 diabetes reversal, one-on-one health coaching, mortgage services and more

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees