Director, Continuous Improvement - Americas
About The Position
This is a remote-based role from anywhere in the US. The Director, Continuous Improvement - Americas will lead the deployment of the company’s Lean operating system across manufacturing, distribution, and commercial functions. This role establishes and manages a Kaizen pipeline aligned to strategic priorities and value streams, drives enterprise initiatives to improve SQDIPC performance, and embeds Lean thinking and structured problem-solving to support long-term cultural transformation. The position also involves leading and facilitating high-impact Kaizen events, identifying improvement opportunities, developing and executing rapid improvement plans, and ensuring improvements are standardized, sustained, and scalable. Additionally, the role focuses on building organizational Lean capability through coaching, training, and mentorship, developing Lean champions, and fostering a culture of disciplined problem-solving. Collaboration with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams is crucial, as is aligning Lean efforts with business strategy and operational priorities. The Director will also establish KPIs, dashboards, and governance structures to track progress, drive accountability, and ensure sustainability of improvement initiatives, reporting progress and insights to senior leadership.
Requirements
- 10+ years leading Lean transformations in manufacturing or supply chain environments
- Proven success implementing TPS/Lean across multi-site operations
- Demonstrated impact on SQDIPC performance metrics
- Experience leading Kaizen events across both operational and transactional functions
- Strong track record partnering with senior leaders and cross-functional teams
- Deep knowledge of Lean/TPS tools and methodologies, including: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, Standard Work / Transactional Process Improvement, Visual Management, Flow and Pull Systems
- Strong change leadership and transformation skills
- Ability to influence and coach at all organizational levels
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and business acumen
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field preferred
- Lean certification (e.g., Black Belt, Lean Practitioner) preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead deployment of the company’s Lean operating system across manufacturing, distribution, and commercial functions
- Establish and manage a Kaizen pipeline aligned to strategic priorities and value streams
- Drive enterprise initiatives that improve SQDIPC performance
- Embed Lean thinking and structured problem-solving to support long-term cultural transformation
- Lead and facilitate high-impact Kaizen events across operational and transactional processes
- Identify improvement opportunities through value stream mapping, Gemba observation, and data analysis
- Develop and execute rapid improvement plans to accelerate performance
- Ensure improvements are standardized, sustained, and scalable
- Build organizational Lean capability through coaching, training, and mentorship
- Develop Lean champions and continuous improvement practitioners across the network
- Foster a culture of disciplined problem-solving
- Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams to drive initiatives
- Align Lean efforts with business strategy and operational priorities
- Collaborate with senior leaders (e.g., Operational Excellence, Procurement, PMO) to ensure enterprise alignment
- Establish KPIs, dashboards, and governance structures to track progress
- Drive accountability and ensure sustainability of improvement initiatives
- Report progress and insights to senior leadership
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
