Continuous Improvement Manager

Shape your career at Alcoa, where every employee is a work-shaper, team-shaper, idea-shaper, and world-shaper. This role at Alcoa Massena Operations focuses on advancing operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives across the site.

About The Role

• Lead the deployment and sustainability of Lean Manufacturing systems and continuous improvement initiatives across Production, Maintenance, EHS, Procurement, Human Resources, and other support organizations.
• Partner with leaders and employees to identify opportunities that improve safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost performance.
• Facilitate improvement projects from concept through implementation, ensuring alignment with site objectives and measurable business value.
• Lead initiatives focused on process optimization, cost reduction, operational effectiveness, industrial engineering studies, and business planning activities.
• Develop, coach, and mentor employees and leaders in continuous improvement tools and methodologies, fostering a culture of accountability and problem-solving.
• Facilitate structured problem-solving efforts using A3 methodology, standardized work, root cause analysis, and other Lean principles.
• Drive organizational change initiatives to improve customer-supplier connections, eliminate waste, and increase operational efficiency.
• Track, validate, and document business improvements and savings through established reporting systems and performance metrics.
• Support the development of annual operating plans, performance targets, and departmental budgets in partnership with site leadership.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and change agent, helping teams adopt and sustain best practices across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 4-6+ years of experience leading process improvement, operational excellence, continuous improvement, Lean Manufacturing, or related initiatives.
• Strong understanding of budget development, implementation, and performance management processes.
• Demonstrated experience implementing Lean Manufacturing principles and driving measurable operational improvements.
• Excellent facilitation, coaching, and change management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with the ability to translate data into actionable improvements.
• Ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization without direct authority.
• Proven success leading cross-functional teams and driving results in complex environments.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous leadership experience within a manufacturing, industrial, metals, mining, chemicals, or heavy industrial environment.
• Formal training or certification in Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Experience leading large-scale organizational change initiatives.
• Knowledge of industrial production processes and value stream optimization.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation packages, including pay-for-performance variable pay, recognition, and rewards programs.
• Flexible spending accounts and generous employer contribution to the HSA.
• 401(k) with employer match up to 6%, additional employer retirement income contribution (no vesting period), and a non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
• 15 vacation days prorated in the first year based on hire date.

Alcoa has been chosen as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces 2023 by Newsweek.

Pay

Base Salary: 127,200 - 190,600 USD annually. Total rewards packages, including base salary and bonus eligibility, apply to U.S.-based applicants only. Actual salaries will vary based on qualifications, skills, and competencies.

About the Location

Our Massena facility in New York State, established in 1902, is home to the longest continuously operating smelter in the world. Located on the St. Lawrence River, Massena is the center for commercial, industrial, and manufacturing success in St. Lawrence County. The area offers a caring sense of community, affordable cost of living, and low-cost locally supplied energy. Nearby are four public and private universities, and within a two-hour drive are Montreal and Ottawa, Canada, as well as the Adirondacks and Lake Placid.