Continuous Improvement Manager

Continuous Improvement ManagerLinde Advanced Material Technologies Inc.Indianapolis, IN, United StatesIn this role, you will lead and drive the deployment, execution, and sustainment of continuous improvement initiatives across manufacturing and support functions to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement. And you will coach and develop leaders and frontline teams on continuous improvement methodologies, including Daily Management, Gemba walks, Kaizen, standard work, visual management, structured problem-solving, and accountability processes. You will partner with operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, and supply chain leadership teams to identify performance gaps, prioritize improvement opportunities, and align continuous improvement initiatives with strategic business objectives and Hoshin Kanri priorities. You will facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping sessions, root cause analysis activities, and breakthrough improvement initiatives focused on driving sustainable operational performance improvements. You will lead the implementation and coaching of Daily Management systems, including KPI management, action planning, tiered accountability meetings, visual performance tracking, and escalation processes. Moreover, you will mentor and influence leaders at all levels of the organization to strengthen Lean leadership behaviors, reinforce operational discipline, and build long-term organizational capability. You will analyze operational performance metrics including OEE, throughput, labor utilization, downtime, scrap, productivity, and capacity trends to identify constraints, eliminate waste, and drive measurable business results. You will act as a change agent by promoting a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, collaboration, employee engagement, and respect for people throughout the organization. Also, you will support the rapid deployment of best practices, operational excellence initiatives, and continuous improvement standards across multiple business areas and functions. You will perform other tasks, projects, and continuous improvement initiatives as assigned based on business needs.You have a PhD with more than four (4+) years of related experience OR Master's degree (MS/MA/MBA) with 6+ years of related experience OR Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) with 8+ years of related experience OR 14+ years of directly related experience in manufacturing, operations, Lean, continuous improvement, or operational excellence environments. Demonstrated experience leading and deploying Lean operating systems, continuous improvement methodologies, operational excellence programs, or similar enterprise continuous improvement frameworks within manufacturing or industrial environments. Strong experience facilitating Kaizen events, Daily Management implementation, value stream mapping, Gemba walks, Hoshin Kanri deployment, and structured problem-solving initiatives that drive measurable operational improvements. Proven ability to coach, influence, and develop leaders and teams at all organizational levels while driving accountability, operational discipline, and sustainable Lean behaviors within a matrixed organization. Experience leading cross-functional improvement initiatives focused on improving safety, quality, delivery, cost, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience utilizing operational performance metrics including OEE, throughput, labor productivity, downtime, scrap, capacity, and cost metrics to drive business decisions and operational improvements. You have demonstrated ability to drive change management initiatives, influence without direct authority, and build alignment across operations, engineering, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and leadership teams. Foundational understanding of Lean Production System principles, including respect for people, continuous improvement (Kaizen), waste identification (Muda), and basic problem-solving, with the ability to apply these concepts to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost within one's role. And you can demonstrate leadership behaviors including humility, transparency, accountability, agility, strategic thinking, collaboration, strong communication skills, continuous learning, and the ability to challenge existing processes to drive sustainable results.Linde Advanced Material Technologies, formerly Praxair Surface Technologies, is a company that revolutionizes industries through innovative materials and surface coatings. We are leaders in advanced materials and offer metal powders, sputtering targets, and surface coatings that enhance performance across various sectors. Our strong focus on innovation is evident in our superior technologies for the aerospace, energy, semiconductor, automotive, and industrial industries.At Linde, the sky is not the limit. If you're looking to build a career where your work reaches beyond your job description and betters the people with whom you work, the communities we serve, and the world in which we all live, at Linde, your opportunities are limitless. Linde offers competitive compensation and an outstanding benefits package. Enjoy access to health, dental, disability, and life insurance, paid holidays and vacation, 401(k) matching, pension benefits, an employee discount program, and opportunities for educational and professional growth. Build your future with us while making an impact every day!