CI Manager

About the role

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for driving Lean manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives across the organization. This role partners closely with plant leadership and cross-functional teams to identify improvement opportunities, eliminate waste, enhance process reliability, improve productivity, and drive sustainable business results. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong analytical and problem-solving skills who can successfully implement continuous improvement strategies while developing a culture of operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity performance.
• Facilitate Lean events, Kaizen workshops, root cause analysis activities, and problem-solving sessions to drive measurable operational improvements.
• Partner with plant leadership to identify improvement opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and execute action plans.
• Conduct Gemba walks and operational assessments to identify process gaps, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities.
• Develop, implement, and sustain standardized work, visual management systems, and operational best practices.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and utilize data analysis to evaluate performance, identify trends, and support decision-making.
• Track and communicate project outcomes, including productivity gains, cost savings, quality improvements, and operational efficiencies.
• Support the development of continuous improvement capabilities through coaching, training, and mentoring employees at all levels of the organization.
• Benchmark industry best practices and introduce effective methodologies to improve operational performance.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and sustainability of improvement initiatives.
• Drive a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Manage and develop direct reports, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and succession planning.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, continuous improvement, or operational excellence.
• Proven experience leading Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of Lean principles, Kaizen methodologies, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Experience facilitating cross-functional teams and influencing stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage operational data to drive decision-making.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong project management, organizational, and execution capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience within HVAC, industrial equipment, engineered products, or related manufacturing industries.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or equivalent Continuous Improvement training.
• Experience implementing operational excellence programs across manufacturing operations.
• Prior leadership experience managing and developing teams.

Work environment

• Combination of office and manufacturing floor environments.
• Frequent interaction with manufacturing operations and production personnel.
• Regular plant floor presence requiring the use of appropriate PPE.
• Exposure to noise, moving equipment, and varying temperatures in production environments.
• Occasional travel to support multiple facilities, suppliers, or operational initiatives.
• Ability to stand, walk, and conduct on-site observations for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 20 pounds occasionally.

Success measures

• Improvement in safety, quality, delivery, and productivity metrics.
• Reduction of waste and operational inefficiencies.
• Successful execution and sustainability of Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives.
• Increased employee engagement and adoption of continuous improvement practices.
• Achievement of measurable cost savings and operational performance improvements.