Continuous Improvement Manager
About The Position
The Continuous Improvement Manager is a results-driven enterprise execution leader responsible for delivering financially validated, sustained operational improvements across multiple manufacturing sites. This role translates strategic CI priorities into measurable plant-level performance gains in safety, quality, delivery, labor productivity, and cost. This is not a Lean Coordinator or workshop facilitator. This is an operator–architect hybrid who drives large-scale turnarounds, installs durable operating systems, and builds site teams into high-performing execution engines. Enterprise Transformation (large-scale, multi-site) Opportunity Identification: Diagnose site-level constraints; identify labor, yield, throughput, and cost inefficiencies across the network; quantify opportunity before committing resources Financial Validation: Confirm savings sizing with Finance prior to launch; own forecast vs. actual tracking aligned to the CI Savings Bank methodology; no soft savings, no unvalidated claims Execution & Deployment: Lead line balancing, staffing optimization, standard work, and takt alignment across 5–7 facilities; replicate wins across sites — not one-off events Buy-In & Leadership Alignment: Secure Plant Manager and site leadership commitment before launch; hold structured weekly accountability reviews; escalate resistance early Sustainment & Closure: Validate post-implementation performance at 60–90 days; ensure results are durable before closing — no drift, no unfinished implementations Core CI Skills - Required for Success in this Role Lead and facilitate CI initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement across multiple sites. Identify, analyze, and resolve operational issues using structured problem-solving methodologies Apply and coach teams on Lean and CI tools, including: Fishbone Diagrams5-Why AnalysisLine BalancingTakt Time AnalysisStandard WorkRoot Cause Analysis Plan, lead, and execute multi-day Kaizen events and cross-functional rapid improvement workshops. Partner with site leadership to develop and execute enterprise-wide and site-level improvement roadmaps. Best-in-Class Impact Abilities (Proven Economic Drivers) Installs leader standard work and daily management routines so results do not erode after events — sustains gains through operating systems, not individual heroics Applies PDCA/scientific thinking to drive hypothesis-based testing — eliminates jump-to-solution culture and ensures every change is measurable Builds a repeatable Kaizen engine that makes improvement a daily operating rhythm, not a side initiative Financial ownership discipline: Validates all savings with Finance, tracks baseline-to-target performance, and ensures zero soft claims across the portfolio Cross-site replication mindset: Systematically documents and deploys successful implementations so every win scales across the network — multiplying impact without multiplying effort Develops site supervisors and leads to own CI execution daily — building organizational capability and removing dependency on the CI function Leadership Alignment & Accountability Model a high-accountability, floor-first performance culture across all sites Communicate savings performance and pipeline status directly to senior leadership Escalate risks, resource gaps, and organizational resistance early and clearly Build site CI capability so improvement continues between enterprise deployments
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field.
- 8+ years of CI / Operational Excellence leadership in manufacturing. Food manufacturing / fresh or cold-chain production experience preferred.
- Demonstrated history of savings validated by Finance — not self-reported
- Proven experience leading multi-site improvement initiatives, Experience operating within a formal CI operating system (daily management + leader standard work + Kaizen cadence) an asset.
- Strong financial acumen — can connect operational improvements to P&L impact
- Willingness to travel 30–40% regularly
- Comfortable confronting underperformance and driving accountability
Nice To Haves
- MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred
- Bilingual (English / Spanish)
- Familiarity with Power BI, ERP systems, and labor analytics platforms an asset.
Responsibilities
- Lead and facilitate CI initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement across multiple sites.
- Identify, analyze, and resolve operational issues using structured problem-solving methodologies
- Apply and coach teams on Lean and CI tools, including: Fishbone Diagrams5-Why AnalysisLine BalancingTakt Time AnalysisStandard WorkRoot Cause Analysis
- Plan, lead, and execute multi-day Kaizen events and cross-functional rapid improvement workshops.
- Partner with site leadership to develop and execute enterprise-wide and site-level improvement roadmaps.
- Installs leader standard work and daily management routines so results do not erode after events — sustains gains through operating systems, not individual heroics
- Applies PDCA/scientific thinking to drive hypothesis-based testing — eliminates jump-to-solution culture and ensures every change is measurable
- Builds a repeatable Kaizen engine that makes improvement a daily operating rhythm, not a side initiative
- Financial ownership discipline: Validates all savings with Finance, tracks baseline-to-target performance, and ensures zero soft claims across the portfolio
- Cross-site replication mindset: Systematically documents and deploys successful implementations so every win scales across the network — multiplying impact without multiplying effort
- Develops site supervisors and leads to own CI execution daily — building organizational capability and removing dependency on the CI function
- Model a high-accountability, floor-first performance culture across all sites
- Communicate savings performance and pipeline status directly to senior leadership
- Escalate risks, resource gaps, and organizational resistance early and clearly
- Build site CI capability so improvement continues between enterprise deployments
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- A robust health and welfare benefits package that includes Life, Health, Dental, Vision
- The opportunity to plan for the future with a strong 401(K) including company match
- Time to recharge with Paid Time Off annually + Paid Holidays
- Career Advancement opportunities and Tuition Assistance to help you achieve your goals and continue your career growth.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
