Continuous Improvement Manager

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for driving a step change in business performance through the deployment of operational excellence principles, systems, and tools. This role serves as a key business partner to site leadership, leading the strategy and execution of continuous improvement initiatives across the facility. Key Responsibilities Business Partnership & Strategy Act as a strategic business partner to site leadership to identify opportunities for operational and financial performance improvement. Analyze current processes, workflows, and systems to identify inefficiencies and develop improvement strategies that drive measurable results. Operational Excellence & VITAL Ownership Lead the deployment, sustainment, and continuous evolution of the VITAL Operating System at the site. Ensure alignment with enterprise CI standards, tools, and methodologies through close collaboration with the Director of Continuous Improvement. Identify, prioritize, and lead high-impact CI projects and initiatives that deliver quality, operational, financial, and customer satisfaction improvements. Drive successful execution of projects from concept through implementation and sustainment. Frameworks & Capability Building Establish and deploy structured CI frameworks, governance, and standard work across the organization. Build organizational capability by training, coaching, developing and mentoring employees at all levels in CI methodologies and tools. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, finance, safety and other functions to enhance productivity and drive cross-functional improvements. Facilitate workshops, kaizen events, training and problem-solving sessions. Performance & Analytics Utilize data-driven methodologies to identify root causes, track performance, and validate improvement outcomes. Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure CI effectiveness. Stay current with industry trends, tools, and best practices in continuous improvement and operational excellence. Drive standardization and sharing of best practices across the organization. Qualifications Minimum of 5+ years of experience delivering measurable, step-change improvements in business or operational performance. Proven hands-on experience with continuous improvement tools and methodologies (e.g., Lean, Theory of Constraints, Kaizen), with relevant certifications preferred. Demonstrated ability to lead and influence across multiple levels of the organization. Strong understanding of operational excellence principles across manufacturing or industrial environments. Analytical, data-driven approach to problem solving with strong attention to detail. Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills. Strong numerical and analytical capability. Project Management certification preferred, but not required, or a strong project management background. Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) is a plus. Education Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related technical discipline preferred. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor. #J-18808-Ljbffr Barnes Group Inc.