CI Manager

Lion•West Liberty, KY

About The Position

The Continuous Improvement Manager serves as a change agent, applying Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and data-driven methodologies to eliminate waste, improve productivity, optimize processes, and advance company objectives. The role works across sites and departments to deliver operational excellence initiatives with measurable business value. It partners with the Senior Vice President of Operations to shape and execute the Operational Excellence roadmap, advises senior leaders on performance and improvement opportunities, and builds a culture of accountability and structured problem-solving. The manager leads and sustains Lean Manufacturing initiatives across operations, including waste reduction, labor efficiency, setup reduction, throughput improvement, inventory optimization, quality improvement, and lead-time reduction. The role facilitates Kaizen events and value stream mapping; supports standard work, visual management, process controls, facility layouts, and pilot projects; and promotes Lean practices such as 5S, root cause analysis, and problem-solving. It also leads cross-functional projects from concept through implementation and sustainment, tracks KPIs and financial results, and reports project progress and ROI to leadership. The position analyzes operational data, maintains dashboards and KPIs, and validates savings. It develops employee capability through Lean and Six Sigma training, coaching, mentorship, and employee engagement initiatives. It partners with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, IT, Product Management and Development, Human Resources, and Finance, and supports facility modifications, automation, and operational transformations. Initiatives must support employee safety, ergonomics, regulatory compliance, company policies, quality systems, and customer requirements. Travel between manufacturing locations may be required.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
At least 5 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, operations, or continuous improvement.
At least 3 years of leadership experience driving Lean Manufacturing and Operational Excellence initiatives.
Demonstrated success leading enterprise-level process improvement projects with measurable business impact.
Experience in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout a manufacturing or warehouse environment for extended periods.
Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 30 pounds.
Ability to communicate effectively and safely in an operational environment.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to travel between manufacturing locations as needed.

Nice To Haves

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.
Certified Lean Practitioner.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or similar.

Responsibilities

Partner with the Senior Vice President of Operations to develop and execute the company's Operational Excellence roadmap.
Establish continuous improvement goals aligned with organizational strategic objectives.
Identify enterprise-wide opportunities in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost management, and track results using KPIs.
Promote accountability, problem-solving, and continuous improvement throughout the organization; advise senior leaders on operational performance and improvement opportunities.
Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, standard work exercises, cycle-time efficiency work, and mentorship on projects.
Partner on facility layouts and visual management systems, and create or support pilot projects for replication across manufacturing sites.
Promote Lean best practices, coach Green Belts and Yellow Belts, train employees on 5S and the 8 Wastes, and partner with Operations leadership on operational projects.
Lead implementation and sustainment of Lean Manufacturing principles across operations.
Drive waste reduction, labor efficiency, setup reduction, throughput improvement, inventory optimization, quality improvement, and lead-time reduction.
Develop and maintain standard work, visual management systems, and process controls, and promote 5S, Kaizen, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving.
Lead complex cross-functional improvement projects from concept through implementation and sustainment.
Develop and mentor project charters, timelines, milestones, and performance measures; ensure projects produce measurable operational and financial results.
Present project updates and ROI analyses to leadership and manage multiple improvement initiatives simultaneously.
Analyze operational data, identify trends and performance gaps, and develop and maintain dashboards and KPIs.
Use manufacturing and business systems to evaluate performance, support decisions, analyze improvement opportunities financially, and validate realized savings.
Develop and deliver Lean, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement training, and provide cost-saving initiatives in partnership with OLT.
Coach supervisors, managers, and plant leadership teams in structured problem-solving techniques.
Establish employee engagement and recognition programs that encourage participation in improvement activities, and build internal capability to sustain and expand continuous improvement efforts.
Partner with Operations, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance, IT, Product Management and Development, Human Resources, and Finance to improve business processes.
Support facility modifications, automation projects, and operational transformations; collaborate with site leadership to prioritize and execute initiatives.
Ensure improvement initiatives support employee safety, incorporate safety and ergonomic improvements, and comply with applicable regulations and company policies.
Support continuous improvement efforts related to quality systems and customer requirements.
Lead cross-functional teams and improvement initiatives across manufacturing sites, and coach and mentor operational leaders and site management teams.
Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.