Continuous Improvement Project Manager

Freeman•Orlando, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

As part of The Freeman Company, Event & Exhibit Services designs and delivers unforgettable moments that create a bond between audiences and our clients. It’s just one reason why we’re the leader in live events. The Continuous Improvement (CI) Project Manager independently plans, manages, and delivers Continuous Improvement projects across an assigned set of CI project areas. This role owns end-to-end project execution — scoping, planning, implementation, benefits tracking, and closeout — for warehouse optimization initiatives, Lean Management System deployment, Kaizen events, and 6S/Gemba programs within their assigned scope. The CI Project Manager partners closely with the CI Director and VP of Continuous Improvement but operates with autonomy, managing day-to-day project decisions within assigned areas and escalating only items that affect broader CI strategy, resource allocation, and budget limitations. This position will support our Event & Exhibit Services team. The position follows an in-person schedule working full-time in-office and/or show-site based out of Orlando, FL.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
5–7+ years of experience leading project management within manufacturing, warehousing/distribution, or operations, ideally across multiple sites or regions.
Strong proficiency with project tracking tools, dashboards, and reporting (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, project management or Power BI software).
Experience using AI tools (i.e., Claude, ChatGPT, etc.).
Demonstrated ability to independently manage multiple concurrent projects across assigned areas, with minimal day-to-day oversight.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level presentation development.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification required

Nice To Haves

Experience leading Lean, Continuous Improvement, or operational excellence projects preferred.
PMP (Project Management Professional) certification preferred.
Black Belt certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Independently manage assigned CI projects end-to-end, from project charter and planning through execution, benefits realization, and close-out.
Build and maintain project plans, schedules, and milestones; proactively resolve at-risk items within assigned scope.
Own standard reporting for assigned projects: project status updates, CI scorecard contributions, savings tracking, KPI trends, and benefit realization.
Identify and manage risks and dependencies within assigned projects, resolving issues directly and escalating only those outside assigned authority.
Manage workload and prioritization within assigned CI project areas; contribute to the annual project roadmap for assigned scope.
Independently lead warehouse optimization projects and Lean transformation within assigned regional branches.
Develop project documentation, including charters, business cases, meeting minutes, and steering committee presentations.
Manage implementation of layout changes, process changes, equipment, and technology deployment within assigned projects through completion.
Support daily management system deployment within assigned project areas; support the rollout schedule and site plans.
Lead or support performance board and daily huddle implementation, standardize templates, and verify visual management and KPI compliance.
Support LMS sustainment activity within assigned scope, including maturity assessments, coaching session tracking, and leadership audit scheduling.
Plan and lead Kaizen events within assigned project areas: scoping, scheduling, participant coordination, baseline data collection, and charter/current-state documentation.
Manage events in progress: owning the action tracker, documenting decisions, updating project boards, and producing daily summaries.
Drive post-event follow-through independently: implementation plans, completion tracking, action owner follow-up, and escalation of overdue items outside assigned authority.
Track and report Kaizen benefits for assigned events, including cost savings, productivity gains, space reduction, safety, and service improvements.
Manage the 6S audit calendar and scorecards within assigned regional branches; consolidate results and trend findings.
Own corrective actions from audits within assigned scope, following up directly with site leaders and escalating overdue items outside assigned authority.
Publish audit summaries, branch rankings, compliance trends, and repeat-issue reporting for assigned scope.
Develop presentations for monthly business reviews, quarterly operating reviews, KPI Reports and consolidated executive steering committee decks.
Contribute to CI communications, including newsletters, project updates, and success stories from assigned areas.
Other Duties as Assigned