Continuous Improvement Specialist II, Industrial Engineering (Santa Ana, CA)

Continuous Improvement Specialist II Location: SantaAna, California (onsite, 5 days per week, occasional travel). Working directly under the Senior Manager, Continuous Improvement. What You’ll Do Lead analysis of end‑to‑end business processes using Value Stream Mapping (VSM), DMAIC, and related methodologies to identify inefficiencies, risks, and improvement opportunities across functions. Independently execute assigned continuous improvement initiatives, determining appropriate analytical methods, adapting standard approaches as needed, and recommending sustainable, data‑driven solutions. Plan and facilitate structured improvement events (e.g., Kaizen workshops), including defining scope, coordinating cross‑functional participation, and documenting outcomes and controls to improve safety, quality, service, cost and people engagement. Develop, refine, and maintain standard work, SOPs, and process documentation to support consistent operating practices, compliance, and performance improvement. Define and refine KPIs and performance measurement frameworks; analyze operational and financial data to evaluate trends, improvement results, capacity, and productivity. Prepare dashboards, analyses, business cases, and ROI estimates that support leadership decision‑making and prioritization. Perform workflow, time‑based, and process analyses to inform optimization recommendations and support planning activities. Provide professional, consultative guidance to managers on process design, improvement strategies, and operational controls. Exercise judgment within established policies and procedures to prioritize improvement opportunities, interpret results, and recommend courses of action aligned with organizational goals. Support planning, tracking, and reporting of improvement initiatives, including timelines, resource needs, and budget inputs for assigned work. Build productive working relationships with operational teams, support functions, and external vendors to resolve issues and implement improvement solutions. Communicate complex analytical findings clearly and concisely to non‑technical audiences, including leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders. Contribute to capability building by supporting training materials, best practice documentation, and knowledge sharing related to continuous improvement methodologies. Who You Are Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience. Typically requires a minimum of 2 years of related experience, or an advanced degree with limited professional experience. Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred; required within a defined period if not already obtained. Applied professional expertise in continuous improvement, analytics, and business operations to resolve a variety of operational issues. Exercise discretion and independent judgment within defined procedures to address problems of moderate scope and recommend improvements. Works with minimal day‑to‑day supervision; receives general direction on new or complex assignments, with work reviewed for quality, effectiveness, and alignment with objectives. Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills applied to moderately complex business operations. Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, PowerBI, Tableau). Ability to exercise professional judgment and provide standard advisory recommendations within established frameworks. Effective written and verbal communication skills for preparing analyses, reports, and presentations. Salary Annual base salary range: $79,000 – $93,000, varying by location, experience, and skill set. Benefits Health, dental, and vision insurance. Fertility, commuter, and educational assistance benefits. 401(k) matching plan. Flexible time‑off and holiday pay (10 paid holidays). Employee discounts on grading services. Flexible hours and supportive work environment. Equal Employment Opportunity We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law. If you require an accommodation to apply or interview with us due to a disability or special need, please email View email address on click.appcast.io. Collectors uses e‑Verify to validate your ability to work legally in the United States. If you suspect fraud in the hiring process, please reach out to View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr Collectors Universe, Inc.