Director of Continuous Improvement

MAS HVAC INC•Maple Grove, MN

About The Position

MAS creates custom-engineered thermal management solutions for markets that thrive on flexibility, creativity, and bold ideas. From humble beginnings to becoming an emergent multi‑brand manufacturing leader, we’ve grown by bringing in great people and empowering them to do great work. At MAS, we believe innovation happens when everyone contributes, diversity of thought is celebrated, and people feel supported in their growth. We take pride in working hard together—tackling challenges, solving problems, and having fun along the way. As we expand into both emerging and mission-critical industries, we stay committed to delivering efficient, competitive, and sustainable heating and cooling technologies. And throughout your career here, you’ll have the chance to directly shape the foundation for what's next in our industry. Position Summary: The Director of Continuous Improvement / Lean Manufacturing is responsible for leading the design, deployment, and sustainment of a comprehensive Lean Operating System across the organization. This role is highly implementation-focused and charged with elevating the organization’s Lean maturity by establishing strong material flow principles, Lean Management Systems (LMS), and foundational Lean practices such as Daily Accountability, 5S, TPM, Standard Work, Value Stream Flow, and Kanban. The Director will act as a hands-on Lean leader and change agent, working directly with executive leadership, operations, supply chain, engineering, and frontline teams to drive measurable improvements in safety, delivery, cost, quality, and employee engagement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field (Master’s degree preferred)
10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing or operations, with significant hands-on Lean deployment responsibility
Proven experience leading Lean transformations beyond kaizen events—focused on systems, flow, and sustainment
Deep working knowledge of: Lean Manufacturing and Lean Management Systems Material flow design and pull systems 5S, TPM, Kanban, Standard Work, and Daily Management
Strong change leadership skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization

Nice To Haves

Experience scaling Lean across multi-site or complex operations
Background in discrete manufacturing or high-mix/low-volume environments
Lean certification (Lean Leader, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Shingo, or equivalent)
Experience working closely with executive leadership to align CI strategy to business objectives

Responsibilities

Lean Strategy & Operating System Deployment Lead the development and deployment of a standardized Lean Operating System, aligned with business strategy and operational goals
Establish and sustain Lean Management Systems, including: Tiered daily accountability meetings Visual management and performance boards Leader Standard Work Structured problem-solving routines (A3, PDCA, DMAIC)
Define Lean maturity expectations and roadmaps for sites/functions across the organization
Material Flow & Value Stream Excellence Drive the design and implementation of robust material flow systems that support: One-piece or small-lot flow Pull-based replenishment Takt-driven production Reduced WIP, inventory, and lead time
Lead value stream mapping and future state design for end-to-end flows (supplier to customer)
Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to implement: Kanban and supermarket systems Line-side presentation and point-of-use material strategies Layout optimization and cellular manufacturing
Foundational Lean Capability Building Lead organization-wide rollout of core Lean fundamentals, including: 5S and workplace organization (design, audit, sustainability) Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Standard Work (operator, leader, and support functions) Visual management and abnormality recognition
Ensure Lean tools are applied with discipline and tied to real operational problems
Cultural Transformation & Leadership Development Serve as a hands-on coach and mentor to leaders at all levels on Lean leadership behaviors
Build internal Lean capability through training, coaching, and structured problem-solving
Reinforce a culture of: Accountability Fact-based decision making Continuous improvement and waste elimination Employee engagement and ownership
Performance & Business Impact Translate Lean initiatives into measurable business results such as: Improved safety performance Reduced lead time and inventory Increased throughput and capacity Improved quality and delivery performance Reduced operating costs
Establish metrics and dashboards to track CI performance and Lean maturity
Ensure improvements are standardized and sustained over time