Continuous Improvement Manager

Continuous Improvement Manager

We offer a competitive salary, great benefits, and work that matters to our community.

The Organization: The Seattle Housing Authority (SHA) is a mission-driven leader in affordable housing, headquartered on Elliott Avenue West with sweeping views of Elliott Bay and the Puget Sound. With additional field offices across Seattle, we're committed to expanding housing opportunities, strengthening communities, and supporting a workplace where people grow and thrive.

The position: We're looking for a Continuous Improvement Manager to join our team! This role is perfect for someone who can lead agency-wide continuous improvement using a human-centered Lean approach to strengthen processes, systems, and culture, improving engagement, reducing waste, and increasing value to the communities we serve. We are seeking a leader who has experience leading major organizational or program changes. This position works in an office environment with periodic travel to agency properties within the Seattle city limits.

The Location: 101 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98119

The ideal candidate will have:

• 5+ years of change-leadership experience leading Lean initiatives and full-cycle improvement efforts.
• Expertise in organizational change management - from communication planning to stakeholder engagement to sustainment.
• 2+ years of senior-level management guiding teams and aligning strategic priorities.
• Lean/Continuous Improvement certifications (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen).
• Change Management certification demonstrating structured, people-centered transformation.
• Project management credentials supporting disciplined planning and execution.
• Human-centered design training to elevate user experience and service delivery.

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences, Engineering, Human Services, or related field required; OR may substitute an additional four years of relevant work experience for the required degree.

What will you do?

• Lead Lean strategy by serving as the agency's go-to expert guiding cross-functional teams and embedding continuous improvement into everyday work.
• Champion a human-centered Lean culture by modeling curiosity, influencing mindsets, and inspiring organization-wide commitment to better ways of working.
• Guide organizational change by building readiness, engaging stakeholders, and helping teams confidently adopt new processes and behaviors.
• Coach leaders and staff in Lean thinking and facilitate structured improvement activities that deliver measurable, meaningful results.
• Partner with leaders across all levels to uncover opportunities, align priorities, and drive cultural and operational transformation.
• Develop and mentor the CI team to deliver high-impact improvements and strengthen organizational capability.
• Build agency-wide capability by designing and delivering training that deepens Lean thinking, problem-solving, and change leadership skills.
• Analyze processes and design solutions that address root causes and elevate performance and service delivery.
• Strengthen performance systems by developing, interpreting, and applying metrics and quality indicators.
• Stay ahead of Lean trends and bring fresh insights to enhance the agency's improvement strategies.
• Contribute to agency goals by shaping work plans, performance measures, and service-delivery improvements that advance SHA's mission.
• Promote a safe workplace by following all safety and health rules, standards, and procedures.
• Engage fully in learning by attending required training and meetings to stay aligned and informed.
• Support additional needs by performing related duties that contribute to team and agency success.
• Travel outside Seattle and Washington state for conferences and meetings.

For additional information on the job, please see the full job description.

How to Apply: To apply, complete the online NeoGov application by clicking the Apply button in the upper right-hand corner of this posting.

Application Tips:

1. Update the Work Experience and Education sections with your most current information. Note: SHA does not accept external attachments such as resumes or cover letters.
2. Complete the Agency-Wide questions. Even if you've applied to SHA before, please review and update your responses.
3. Respond to any Supplemental Questions, if applicable.

Why Should You Apply?

• Our Culture: SHA offers a supportive, energetic workplace where collaboration and growth thrive. Our talented team has helped make us a nationally recognized leader in affordable housing and community development.
• Competitive Salary
• Comprehensive Benefits
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS)
• Generous paid leave and holidays
• Work-Life Balance
• Reasonable hours
• Professional Development
• On-the-job training and growth opportunities

Our Commitment to Equity

SHA values your unique background and perspective - we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every listed qualification. Learn more in our diversity and application equity statement.