Continual Improvement Manager

Job Description

Job Description

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Company Description:

Orenco Systems, Inc. (subsidiary of Infiltrator Water Technologies) is a manufacturer of innovative onsite and decentralized wastewater collection and treatment technologies. Solutions include community collection systems, advanced secondary treatment systems, watertight fiberglass tanks, and in-tank pumping and filtration systems. Orenco also manufactures high-quality standard, custom, and OEM controls, along with state-of-the-art fiberglass buildings, tanks, and enclosures.

Infiltrator Water Technologies is a market leader within the onsite wastewater treatment industry, Infiltrator manufactures a variety of revolutionary products and innovative, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional stone and pipe leachfield and concrete septic wastewater system components. We sell our products through wholesale distribution across the United States and Canada for use on properties with onsite wastewater treatment systems.

GENERAL POSITION SUMMARY:

Orenco's Continual Improvement Manager leads the organization's structured approach to operational excellence by applying Lean, Six Sigma, and other proven improvement methodologies. This position partners across Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and other business functions to identify, prioritize, validate, and execute opportunities that increase productivity, improve quality, reduce waste, and strengthen business performance.

The role manages the productivity project portfolio, validates financial impact with Finance, provides Lean/Six Sigma training and coaching, and builds a data-driven improvement culture that reflects current best practices and emerging operational excellence trends.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & KRAs:

> Safety/Culture

• Continuously maintains Orenco management's safety, cultural, and professional standards.
• Promotes, encourages, and reinforces a positive safety culture, safe work practices, and a safe work environment for all employees.
• Applies continuous improvement methods in a way that supports employee engagement, respect for people, and sustainable process improvement.

> Administration

• Develops and maintains the continual improvement strategy, roadmap, governance process, and project portfolio in support of corporate and operational objectives.
• Establishes standard processes for identifying, evaluating, prioritizing, approving, tracking, and closing productivity and quality improvement projects.
• Maintains project documentation, charters, action plans, benefit tracking, dashboards, and leadership updates using approved systems and tools.
• Partners with Finance to validate projected and realized financial benefits, including productivity gains, cost reduction, cost avoidance, quality improvements, and other measurable business outcomes.
• Improves standard operating procedures, workflows, and visual management practices used to manage and sustain improvement activity.

> Leadership

• Leads with compassion, respect, honesty, and accountability while upholding Orenco's core values.
• Communicates effectively with leaders, project sponsors, process owners, and cross-functional teams.
• Facilitates teams in removing barriers, reducing silos, and solving problems using structured Lean/Six Sigma methods.
• Builds organizational capability by coaching employees and leaders on problem solving, root cause analysis, standard work, visual management, and sustainment practices.

> Planning

• Develops annual and multi-year improvement plans aligned with operational priorities, business objectives, quality goals, and productivity targets.
• Uses data analysis, process mapping, value stream mapping, Gemba observations, Pareto analysis, and related tools to identify high-value opportunities.
• Prioritizes opportunities based on customer impact, quality risk, productivity gain, financial benefit, resource needs, implementation complexity, and strategic alignment.
• Partners with leaders to define project charters, success measures, milestones, owners, resources, and sustainment plans.
• Stays current with emerging Lean/Six Sigma practices, automation, digital tools, analytics, artificial intelligence, and operational excellence trends that may improve business performance.

> Project Management

• Manages the productivity and continual improvement project portfolio from opportunity identification through implementation, financial validation, and sustainment.
• Leads and facilitates cross-functional improvement projects using Lean/Six Sigma methods such as DMAIC, PDCA, Kaizen, 5S, standard work, mistake proofing, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, and visual management.
• Ensures projects have clear business cases, defined owners, measurable targets, realistic timelines, documented control plans, and transparent status reporting.

> Continual Improvement / Operational Excellence

• Improves operational performance by identifying and reducing waste, variation, defects, rework, downtime, excess motion, waiting, overproduction, inventory, transportation, and processing inefficiencies.
• Partners with Quality and Operations to improve first-pass yield, process capability, product quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Develops and supports standard work, visual controls, daily management systems, tiered accountability processes, and performance metrics that sustain improvement gains.
• Facilitates root cause analysis and corrective action using tools such as 5 Why, fishbone diagrams, FMEA, control plans, process capability analysis, and statistical problem solving.
• Provides Lean/Six Sigma training, mentoring, and facilitation for employees, supervisors, managers, and project teams.

> Reporting

• Reports productivity, quality improvement, project execution, validated savings, cost avoidance, and portfolio health metrics through regular leadership updates.
• Ensures project dashboards, financial validation records, benefit tracking, and sustainment documentation are accurate, current, and available to stakeholders.
• Work is generally performed during manufacturing business hours; however, this position may occasionally require work outside business hours to support department and business needs. Occasional extended hours may be required.
• Regular, consistent, and predictable attendance is required.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, operations management, industrial technology, quality, supply chain, or related field. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification preferred.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• Five or more years of experience leading continuous improvement, operational excellence, Lean/Six Sigma, productivity, quality, manufacturing, supply chain, or operations improvement initiatives. History of progressive responsibility preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to apply Lean/Six Sigma methodology and improvement tools in business or operations environments.
• Experience managing a portfolio of productivity, quality, cost reduction, or process improvement projects.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to develop business cases and partner with Finance to validate savings, cost avoidance, and productivity impacts.
• Proficient in data analysis, project management, Microsoft Office Suite, and the ability to learn new systems, reporting tools, and analytics platforms quickly.
• Strong facilitation, training, coaching, communication, change management, organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while maintaining focus on measurable results.
• Ability to stay current with emerging trends in Lean/Six Sigma, operational excellence, automation, digital transformation, analytics, and productivity improvement.
• Ability to use sound judgment and follow through in problem-solving and decision-making processes.
• Must be willing and able to travel when business needs require. Must be able to comply with current travel regulations and guidelines of airlines and destination locations.
• Must be able to meet and maintain Orenco's approved driver criteria; a valid driver's license, satisfactory driving record, current insurance on personal vehicle if used for business, and meet company insurability requirements.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT:

Cell phone

Computer

General office equipment

Vehicle

Project management, reporting, and data analysis tools

Lean/Six Sigma training and facilitation materials

Visual management and process improvement tools

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Primarily office environment with regular work sessions in manufacturing, production, warehouse, and other operational environments to observe processes, facilitate improvement events, validate performance, and coach teams. Indoor/outdoor production environments may include some limited exposure to chemicals, paints, and solvent fumes that are generated during the manufacturing processes. Travel requirements may include operation of a motor vehicle, airplane travel, and overnight stays in temporary lodging. May require the ability to visit project sites that are situated on a variety of developed and undeveloped terrain/locations. Includes exposure to outside weather conditions and occasional exposure to dust, other outside elements, and wastewater that may require the proper use of personal protective equipment including but not limited to gloves.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Regular job duties include seeing, speaking, hearing, reading, writing, legible handwriting, keyboarding, and prolonged periods of sitting, including extended time viewing a computer screen. Intermittent physical activity includes, but is not limited to, touching, holding, grasping, pushing, pulling, reaching above shoulders and below knees, low back bending, twisting, turning, kneeling, crawling, stooping, squatting, standing, walking, and climbing stairs and ladders. Unassisted light lifting and/or carrying of under 20 lbs. is required. May also include occasional unassisted lifting and/or carrying of up to 50 lbs.; lifting and/or carrying over 50 lbs. must be assisted. Operation of a motor vehicle and/or airplane travel may be required. Travel needs are determined by the department supervisory staff based on business need, required skill base, and assigned job tasks and responsibilities. Travel may require the ability to visit project sites that are situated on a variety of developed and undeveloped terrain/locations.