Director, Continuous Improvement

TOPS products•Union, MO

About The Position

The Director of Continuous Improvement partners with operations and site leadership to design, deploy, and oversee organization-wide operational excellence and continuous improvement strategies. The role strengthens operational performance, reduces waste, improves process reliability, and enhances customer satisfaction. As an enterprise-wide change agent, the Director challenges the status quo and introduces structured methodologies to optimize workflows, improve financial outcomes, and sustain measurable performance gains. The position connects strategic corporate vision with hands-on frontline execution. Success is measured by cost savings and avoidance from executed projects, improvements in process efficiency such as lead times, defect rates, and waste, and employee training and adoption of continuous improvement practices. The role is performed primarily in an office environment, with regular visits to manufacturing areas and travel to additional facilities or vendor locations, which may include overnight stays.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field.
7–10+ years of progressive experience in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, or corporate process optimization.
Minimum 3–5 years in a dedicated management or directorial capacity driving change, including without direct hierarchical authority.
Proficiency in Lean, Six Sigma, Total Quality Management (TQM), or Agile principles.
Advanced skills with data analysis tools such as Minitab, Excel, or Power BI and process mapping tools such as Visio or Lucidchart.
Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, conflict resolution, and storytelling skills to influence cross-functional teams.
Observation, analysis, and communication skills to support improvement initiatives.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, solve problems, and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to travel to additional facilities or vendor locations, including overnight stays when necessary.
Ability to stand and walk frequently during manufacturing-area site visits.
Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally for job-related activities.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment in production areas and adhere to safety policies and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA.
Six Sigma Master Black Belt or Black Belt certification from an accredited body.
Lean certification, such as SME, AME, or equivalent institutional certification.

Responsibilities

Define and execute a multi-year continuous improvement strategy aligned with overarching business objectives.
Promote an enterprise-wide culture of process excellence, accountability, innovation, and Kaizen.
Collaborate with executive leadership to prioritize projects and manage operational change.
Apply Lean and Six Sigma methods, including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Root Cause Analysis, and Kaizen events, to eliminate waste.
Link operational improvements, including cycle time, capacity, and quality gains, to financial results.
Lead complex, high-impact projects across business units and manufacturing sites.
Design and launch training programs to educate and certify internal Lean/Six Sigma champions.
Coach site-level continuous improvement leaders, plant managers, and frontline teams in structured problem-solving.
Establish performance dashboards and KPIs to track the measurable impact of improvement initiatives.
Use statistical tools to identify performance gaps and communicate recommendations through clear storytelling.
Share responsibility with plant and functional leaders for process improvement and operational performance.