Director, Continuous Improvement

Novolex•,

4d•$170,000 - $220,000•Remote

About The Position

The Director, Continuous Improvement (CI) – QSR owns CI strategy and execution across the QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) business unit, aligned to enterprise-wide standards and initiatives. You will deploy the company operating system, OPX360, define processes, and build the scorecards used to identify, plan, and support the attainment of the BU annual KPIs. Reporting to the VP, Operations – QSR, you will manage the QSR Regional CI Managers across multiple operating units and plants. You will serve as the subject matter expert who develops leaders in every functional area, presenting them with equal credibility on the shop floor and in front of senior leadership. Success in this role calls for a proven track record of driving cultural transformation through change management, the ability to lead multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment, and in-depth knowledge of lean methodologies and tools. You will balance strategy with execution and stay comfortably hands-on.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline; Master’s degree or MBA strongly preferred
10+ years leading continuous improvement in a multi-site manufacturing environment; converting, packaging, or another high-speed process industry preferred
Lean certification (Green or Black Belt) and formal project management credentials
Management-level leadership of engineering, continuous improvement, and technical resources, including indirect and matrixed teams
Track record of championing change management to build cultural adoption across sites, cultures, and geographies
Deep working knowledge of manufacturing and distribution operations, with fluency in Kaizen, Six Sigma, and structured problem solving
Strong facilitation, influencing, and coaching skills, with credibility from the shop floor to the executive team
Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Office
Ability to travel up to 75% to provide multi-site support for OPX360 deployment, leadership development, and Kaizen facilitation

Responsibilities

Deploy the OPX360 Operating System across the BU that translates enterprise strategy into focused initiatives with measurable top and bottom line impact
Provide vision and leadership for lean deployment across QSR sites, embedding common standards that shift culture and sustain results
Advance Novolex cultural transformation through knowledge transfer, collaboration, and shared recognition of wins across sites and geographies. Model servant leadership and humility on the shop floor, build an environment where people feel safe to speak up, and champion leader standard work.
Partner with operating unit and plant leaders to identify capability gaps and target opportunities for rapid process improvement (RPI)
Lead the determination of CI projects needed to align to the annual productivity improvement targets for the BU. Manage CI projects from inception through delivery against defined plans, budgets, and schedules, with timely status reporting to senior leadership and stakeholders
Develop leaders who can independently run Kaizen events. Facilitate cross-functional Kaizen events that move core operating metrics: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Inventory
Create a culture of daily problem solving. Lead, coach, and mentor a team of CI and Operations professionals, both direct and indirect, to build bench strength across the business unit
Build and execute a training strategy that develops lean capability at every level, from the shop floor to senior leadership, and pair it with hands-on project work that eliminates waste in manufacturing, administrative, and support functions
Other duties, as assigned