Continuous Improvement Manager

Job Description

Southco is looking for a Manager, Continuous Improvement to drive CI results across our Americas region and help set the standard for how we do continuous improvement company-wide. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role — you won't manage direct reports, but you'll lead the direction and consistency of CI work across our Americas facilities and partner globally with our EMEA and APAC CI teams.

You'll dive into both manufacturing and office/transactional processes — everything from the shop floor to Customer Service, HR, Engineering, Sales, and Finance — facilitating kaizen events, coaching teams through structured problem-solving, and connecting CI work directly to real financial and performance results.

What you will be doing

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• Lead CI execution across the Americas — coaching site-level CI Managers and driving measurable results in both manufacturing and office processes
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• Own and safeguard Southco's corporate CI standards, tools, and reporting so every region works from the same playbook
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• Partner with CI leaders in EMEA and APAC to keep our global CI approach consistent
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• Build and deliver CI training — Lean tools like 5S, Kaizen, SMED, Kanban, VSM, and more — to teams across the business
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• Facilitate performance scorecard reviews, root-cause analysis, and corrective action planning
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• Help shape how AI and digital tools strengthen the future of CI at Southco
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About you

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• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, or Business (required); advanced degree a plus or 8+ years of engineering experience
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• 3-5+ years of manufacturing/operations experience with progressive continuous improvement responsibility
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• Ability to work onsite at Concordville Global Headquarters 4 days a week
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• Ability to travel up to 20% internationally (including trips to Asia & Europe)
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• Hands-on experience leading Lean/Six Sigma CI work across multiple sites or functions, with real, measurable results
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• Proven ability to independently lead kaizen events and structured problem-solving (A3, 8D, DMAIC, PDCA)
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• Strong influence skills — you know how to drive results by building buy-in, not authority
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• Comfort presenting to and working with managers and directors
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• Lean/Six Sigma certification (Black Belt or Lean Master) a plus
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How will we reward you

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• Competitive base pay
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• Generous time off – starting at 3 weeks of annualized PTO (first year is prorated based on start date), 9 company holidays plus 2 floating holidays
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• 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan – Company makes automatic 2% contribution of eligible pay plus matching contributions of 50% up to the first 6% of eligible pay you contribute
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• Employee Stock Ownership Plan valued at approximately 4-6% of eligible earnings which includes dividend payments after 3 year vesting period
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• Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) beginning first day of employment; company funds a portion of HSA for high deductible health plans
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• Company paid Life & Disability Insurance including: Short term, Long Term, and Life
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• Great Tuition Reimbursement program to support undergraduate or graduate programs available to all employees
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Southco is an equal opportunity employer. Accordingly, Southco will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, veteran status, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, or other protected status recognized by state or local law.