Sr. CI Manager

Xylem•Auburn, NY

9d•$155,000 - $165,000

About The Position

Xylem is a Fortune 500 global water solutions company dedicated to advancing sustainable impact and empowering the people who make water work every day. As a leading water technology company with 23,000 employees operating in over 150 countries, Xylem is at the forefront of addressing the world's most critical water challenges. We invite passionate individuals to join our team, dedicated to exceeding customer expectations through innovative and sustainable solutions. Job Summary: The Continuous Improvement Manager is a strategic leader responsible for driving the organization’s continuous improvement initiatives. They manage a team of analysts and specialists, developing and implementing strategies to optimize processes, reduce waste, and increase efficiency. This role involves analyzing current practices, leading improvement projects, and fostering a culture of innovation and excellence. The manager collaborates with all levels of management to ensure that improvement activities align with the company’s goals and objectives. Their leadership is key to sustaining long-term organizational growth and competitiveness.

Requirements

BS in Engineering or Technical field or comparable experience working within industrial and manufacturing industries
10+ years of successful leadership in executing continuous improvement / Lean / Six Sigma efforts and enabling efficiency, effectiveness resulting in demonstrable tangible financial benefit
6+ years in a management role with direct reporting personnel
8+ years’ experience facilitating multi-day rapid improvement events (e.g. strategy, VSM, flow, pull, 5S)
8+ years’ experience within a commercial or industrial manufacturing environments
10+ years’ experience developing, implementing and leading Continuous Improvement programs.
Experience training and certifying others in CI tools and methodologies
Experience coaching, mentoring, and leading individuals both directly and through influence
Proven leadership skills to coach and manage teams to fully deliver chartered objectives and projects.
Experience managing to a financial savings target
Must have strong data analytic capabilities with experience creating trend, histogram, and pareto charts
Experience managing complex projects, meeting set deadlines and budgetary requirements
Excellent communicator with the ability to create and present professional quality presentations and reports
Demonstrated experience with ensuring effective Change Management
Robust knowledge and experience using computer platforms and MS office applications
Strong knowledge of a P&L and understanding of financial acumen

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred
Extensive formal CI training with demonstrated hands-on usage of common Lean and Six Sigma principles
Certification in Continuous Improvement methodologies (e.g. Black Belt, Lean Master) preferred
Proficiency with MS Project, MS Visio, Smart Sheet, and Minitab preferred
Formal training in leadership competencies preferred

Responsibilities

Lead site level team of CI resources and professionals in driving the achievement of CI maturity and cost savings goals.
Drive the development and implementation of the CI program in support of the strategic direction and business operating plans.
Play a leadership role in influencing site strategies, planning, and execution.
Grow, harvest, and manage the cost savings improvement funnel for the region to achieve annual goals.
Drive a culture of continuous improvement by promoting engagement all levels of the organization.
Mentor, coach, and challenge employees of all levels to realize the benefits, methods, and behaviors of CI.
Act as a change agent to the region, removing organizational barriers to continuous improvement processes.
Coach and develop others in the facilitation of kaizen, rapid improvement events.
Perform regular coaching gemba walks with the local operations leaders and CI team.
Develop staff for advancement within the organization.
Lead goal setting, assignment of projects, review of progress, approval, and feedback for direct reports.
Develop, monitor, and forecast CI KPIs, implementing RCCA plans as required to achieve annual goals.
Develop, facilitate, and monitor CI training activities and certifications across the region.
Stay current with industry best practices, emerging trends, and technologies related to continuous improvement.
Benchmark against industry peers and incorporate best practices into the organization.
Additional duties and responsibilities may be required based on organization needs.
Lead process improvement projects and initiatives across departments and functions
Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce waste
Utilize Lean, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement methodologies to drive process improvements
Collaborate with stakeholders to identify and prioritize improvement opportunities
Monitor and track progress of process improvement projects and provide regular updates to senior management
Train and mentor employees on continuous improvement methodologies and tools
Foster a culture of continuous improvement by promoting employee involvement and ownership in improvement initiatives
Develop and deliver training programs to educate employees on continuous improvement principles and practices
Recognize and reward employees for their contributions to improvement efforts
Provide coaching and support to employees to help them effectively participate in improvement projects and initiatives.
Lead and manage a team, providing guidance, feedback, and support.
Set goals and KPIs for team members and monitor performance.
Foster a positive and collaborative work environment.
Develop and implement training programs to keep team members updated on trends and strategies.