Continuous Improvement Manager

Job Description

Job Description

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager is responsible for driving a step change in business performance through the deployment of operational excellence principles, systems, and tools. This role serves as a key business partner to site leadership, leading the strategy and execution of continuous improvement initiatives across the facility.

Key Responsibilities

• Business Partnership & Strategy
• Act as a strategic business partner to site leadership to identify opportunities for operational and financial performance improvement.
• Analyze current processes, workflows, and systems to identify inefficiencies and develop improvement strategies that drive measurable results.
• Operational Excellence & VITAL Ownership
• Lead the deployment, sustainment, and continuous evolution of the VITAL Operating System at the site.
• Ensure alignment with enterprise CI standards, tools, and methodologies through close collaboration with the Director of Continuous Improvement.
• Project Leadership & Execution
• Identify, prioritize, and lead high-impact CI projects and initiatives that deliver quality, operational, financial, and customer satisfaction improvements.
• Drive successful execution of projects from concept through implementation and sustainment.
• Frameworks & Capability Building
• Establish and deploy structured CI frameworks, governance, and standard work across the organization.
• Build organizational capability by training, coaching, developing and mentoring employees at all levels in CI methodologies and tools.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, finance, safety and other functions to enhance productivity and drive cross-functional improvements.
• Facilitate workshops, kaizen events, training and problem-solving sessions.
• Performance & Analytics
• Utilize data-driven methodologies to identify root causes, track performance, and validate improvement outcomes.
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure CI effectiveness.
• Continuous Learning & Best Practices
• Stay current with industry trends, tools, and best practices in continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Drive standardization and sharing of best practices across the organization.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience delivering measurable, step-change improvements in business or operational performance.
• Proven hands-on experience with continuous improvement tools and methodologies (e.g., Lean, Theory of Constraints, Kaizen), with relevant certifications preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence across multiple levels of the organization.
• Strong understanding of operational excellence principles across manufacturing or industrial environments.
• Analytical, data-driven approach to problem solving with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong numerical and analytical capability.
• Project Management certification preferred, but not required, or a strong project management background.
• Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or Black Belt) is a plus.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related technical discipline preferred.

Salary: $95,000-$142,000

Barnes Aerospace offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; a Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions for eligible medical plan participants; flexible spending accounts (FSAs); a 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions; life and disability insurance; and paid vacation and holidays. Additional offerings include an employee assistance program (EAP), wellness programs, tuition reimbursement, employee discounts, voluntary accident and critical illness coverage, pet insurance, and work-life support resources. Benefits are subject to applicable plan terms and eligibility requirements, which may vary based on employment status, position, and location.

This job position may include access to controlled information or technology subject to U.S. export control laws. If an applicant does not meet the definition of a “U.S. Person” (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and those granted U.S. asylum or refugee status), the Company may be required to obtain an export control license. If the position for which you applied involves access to controlled information or technology subject to U.S. export control laws, then any offer is also contingent on verification of appropriate documentation for the Company to assess whether an export license will be required to employ you in that role, and if it is determined that an export license is required, the offer is also contingent on the Company’s determination, in its sole discretion, whether a license application and ongoing administration is prudent under the project’s contract parameters and whether an export license can be successfully obtained after you can start.