Continuous Improvement Specialist

Become Our New Continuous Improvement Specialist!This is a hybrid position (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the office) based out of our Maple Plain location.We are seeking a proactive and analytical Continuous Improvement Specialist to join our Customer Success organization. This role is critical to identifying and eliminating process friction, streamlining workflows, and driving efficiency for our 100-person team. The ideal candidate will help organize and prioritize improvement efforts, define system requirements, and free up team capacity to focus on strategic goals.As part of Protolabs' ProtoExcellence Business System, the role applies Lean and continuous improvement practices — a customer-value lens, structured problem solving, standard work, and daily management — to deliver measurable gains in service quality, speed, and efficiency.What You'll Do:Shadow team members to understand current workflows, identify pain points, and uncover opportunities for quick improvements ("Kaizens").Analyze the existing backlog of process issues to connect related items and identify root causes.Map current-state processes and collaborate with stakeholders to design and define ideal future-state workflows.Gather and analyze data from service systems (CRM/Salesforce, AX/ERP, eCommerce, and case/contact data) to quantify performance, size problems, and prioritize improvement opportunities.Work with team leadership to prioritize improvement initiatives based on impact and effort.Develop clear business requirements for CRM (Salesforce), AX (ERP), eCommerce, and other system enhancements, creating a prioritized backlog for the technology team.Act as a liaison between the business team and technical resources to translate needs into actionable development work.Partner directly with team members on specific projects to drive them to completion, including a sustainment plan.Perform hands-on work to help clear obstacles and build momentum for the team.Participate in — and help develop and refine — team huddles and leadership meetings to gather information, provide updates, support problem solving and escalation, and act as an extension of the leadership team.Coach and support the team in continuous improvement practices such as structured problem solving, standard work, and visual/daily management.Help foster a culture of continuous improvement by identifying improvement opportunities and demonstrating the value of process optimization.Perform other related duties as assigned.What It Takes:Education and Experience:Bachelor's degree in business, operations, industrial engineering, information systems, or a related field, or a commensurate combination of education and experience.3–5 years of continuous improvement experience, including meaningful experience in transactional, service, or office environments (not solely manufacturing).Experience in a customer success, customer service, contact-center, sales support, or operations role with a deep understanding of business processes.Proven ability in process mapping, analysis, and improvement methodologies, including customer journey mapping and/or service blueprinting.Familiarity with CRM and ERP systems (Salesforce and AX/ERP; eCommerce a plus) and the ability to define requirements for system enhancements.Data gathering and analysis capability across service systems — able to pull and interpret metrics such as SLA/response time, first-contact resolution, backlog/aging, handle time, and CSAT/NPS.Proficiency in Microsoft Office.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:An analytical mindset with the ability to "connect the dots" between disparate problems to see the larger picture.A proactive and assertive approach, with the ability to escalate issues and drive progress independently.Ability to apply Lean and continuous improvement methodologies (structured problem solving, standard work, visual/daily management) to transactional processes.Strong facilitation, coaching, and communication skills, with the ability to influence without authority across cross-functional teams.Strong organization and time management skills, with attention to detail and a devotion to eliminating variation and inconsistency in processes and systems.Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.Preferred Qualifications:Lean or Six Sigma certification (Green or Black Belt); Six Sigma is especially valuable for reducing variation in transactional processes.Change management certification or experience (e.g., Prosci / ADKAR).Business analysis credentials or Salesforce Administrator certification.Experience facilitating Kaizen events in office/service settings and applying daily management and standard work to knowledge work.Familiarity with contact-center/ticketing platforms and BI/analysis tools (Excel, Power BI, Tableau, or SQL).Voice-of-Customer (VOC) program experience.Whats In It For You:We offer a competitive salary and total rewards packageWe offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible planFlexible Spending AccountsHealth Savings Account (including employer contributions)Dental and VisionBasic and Supplemental Life InsuranceShort-Term and Long-Term DisabilityPaid caregiver leaveYou will receive at least 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours401k with company match and immediate vestEmployee Stock Purchase Program at a discounted rateMatching grants through Protolabs foundationAnd More!$104,000 - $142,000 a year Protolabs offers a competitive total rewards package, and compensation mix vary based on position, such as base wage, as well as other earnings including incentives and commissions.Proto Labs maintains ITAR-compliant operations in all of our United States based facilities. Due to ITAR regulations, this role is only open to U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) or foreign nationals granted refugee or asylee status. Individuals with temporary visas (e.g. E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, TN or OPT) are not eligible for hire in this role.Proto Labs, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity EmployerPhysical Demands:While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use a computer keyboard, monitor and mouse, telephone and printer; reach with hands, and arms, talk, see and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop or kneel and must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.Work Environment:Indoors (A/C); nonsmoking; the majority of this job function is performed in an office setting requiring normal safety precautions. However, there may be job duties that require the employee to spend time in the manufacturing areas exposed to machinery and noise; eye protection occasionally required. Occasionally works in outside weather conditions. Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.