Continuous Improvement Lead

About Us:
Afinitas, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a global leader in equipment, forming systems, and essential accessory products that support transportation, water, and utility precast concrete infrastructure worldwide. We provide industry-leading production equipment; highly engineered formwork; and a broad portfolio of precast concrete, electrical, and construction accessories, along with structural products and systems designed for bridge, highway, and heavy construction applications. Afinitas is part of BW Forsyth Partners, LLC, the investment group of global manufacturing and engineering consulting firm Barry-Wehmiller, a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members, united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

Barry-Wehmiller is a diversified global supplier of engineering consulting and manufacturing technology for the packaging, corrugating, sheeting and paper-converting industries. By blending people-centric leadership with disciplined operational strategies and purpose-driven growth, Barry-Wehmiller has become a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

Job Description:

The Continuous Improvement Leader is a strategic change agent responsible for advancing and sustaining a culture of operational excellence across the organization. This role collaborates with cross-functional teams to identify, lead, and implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean principles and Barry Wehmiller Continuous Improvement methodologies. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver with strong leadership and coaching capabilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBLITIES

• Champion and coach global best practices in Lean, Continuous Improvement, and Operational Excellence across the business.
• Apply Lean methodologies and tools to identify inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and enhance productivity and quality.
• Plan, execute, and evaluate improvement projects using the Plan-Do-Check-Adjust (PDCA) cycle.
• Facilitate Kaizen and other CI events, such as 7S, TPM, setup reduction, and value stream/process mapping.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define project goals, scope, deliverables, risks, and success metrics.
• Drive team member buy in and engagement through thoughtful change management planning and execution
• Lead improvement initiatives from concept through execution, ensuring timely and successful outcomes.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs), dashboards, and visual management tools to support data-driven decisions.
• Guide cross-functional teams in root cause analysis and develop actionable recommendations for performance improvement.
• Support standardization efforts by documenting processes, deliverables, and best practices.
• Deliver training and coaching on Lean tools, principles, and problem-solving techniques to team members at all levels, ensuring knowledge transfer so team members can apply skills independently
• Promote and embed a continuous improvement mindset throughout the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading Lean and continuous improvement initiatives in a manufacturing or business environment.
• Proven track record of implementing successful process improvement projects.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or Project Management methodologies; certifications such as Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt or PMP are preferred.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong ability to drive change by gaining buy in and engagement of employees
• Demonstrated ability to lead without authority and influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong knowledge of metal manufacturing processes (ie: cutting, welding, assembly and machining), material logistics, manufacturing engineering and quality as well as good understanding of the interface with other support function processes
• Demonstrated ability to understand and use financial data and analysis in problem solving
• Promotion of team spirit and lean mindset development while providing coaching to various levels of team members through the Change Management process

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• During the first year(s), this position involves regular travel - typically three days per week to regional office located within a few hours' drive.
• This is an office position that spends significant time in a manufacturing facility. The employee must be fit to use stairs/walk/stand for 4+ hours a day, hold valid driver's license and current passport, be able to travel by plane, correctly wear and use any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required by the manufacturing location.

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At Barry-Wehmiller we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. We know that our differences often can bring about innovation, excellence and meaningful work-therefore, people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.


Company:
Afinitas