Sr. Continuous Improvement Specialist

Xylem • Chaska, MN

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

Xylem is seeking a Continuous Improvement (CI) Specialist to support and elevate performance across 10 Resin Regeneration plants in the United States. This role is ideal for a CI professional who thrives in hands‑on, fast‑paced environments and enjoys partnering closely with operations and business leaders to standardize processes, improve productivity, and improve service to internal and external customers. Success in this role comes from turning complex operational and business challenges into clear, practical improvements that teams understand, adopt, and sustain. The CI Specialist works closely with plant leadership and cross‑functional partners to identify waste, improve flow, and translate improvement opportunities into measurable operational and financial results, including cost reductions tracked through metrics such as cost per cubic foot.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, or a related field.
• At least four years of relevant experience or equivalent experience demonstrating a strong foundation in process improvement.
• Proven experience in Continuous Improvement or project‑based operational improvement.
• Strong problem‑solving skills.
• Hands‑on application of Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Comfort working in environments where processes are similar but inconsistently applied.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, including the ability to translate data, CI concepts, and business priorities into clear, relatable messages for diverse audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple initiatives, adapt to changing priorities, and drive sustainable solutions in the face of resistance.

Nice To Haves

• Lean Certification
• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt
• PMP
• CQE
• CMQ/OE
• CPIM
• Willingness to obtain relevant certification

Responsibilities

• Drives end‑to‑end improvement initiatives focused on standardizing processes across similar operations while respecting site‑specific realities.
• Applies Lean and CI methodologies in practical, easy‑to‑understand ways that resonate with frontline teams and leaders.
• Focuses on value stream mapping, with particular emphasis on reducing lead time, removing waste, and strengthening process flow to better serve downstream service organizations.
• Works closely with both high‑impact (HI) and low‑impact (LI) segments to deeply understand pain points and translate those insights into targeted improvement initiatives.
• Plans, leads, and manages improvement projects from concept through implementation and sustainment.
• Defines scope and success metrics, develops timelines, manages risks, and ensures improvements are embedded into standard work so issues do not recur.
• Performs root cause problem‑solving and develops effective countermeasures.
• Analyzes operational and financial performance, identifies trends and sources of variation, and helps teams understand not only what needs to change, but why the change matters to customers, the business, and the broader organization.
• Delivers training and coaching in a highly practical manner, translating CI tools and concepts into non‑traditional, operator‑friendly language so teams can apply them confidently in daily work.
• Collaborates with plant leaders, segment partners, and functional teams to ensure improvement efforts align to business priorities and service needs.

Benefits

• Paid Volunteer Program, Xylem Watermark
• Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
• Reasonable accommodations to enable all employees to perform their essential job functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior