Continuous Improvement Manager

About the Company

Alkegen brings together two of the world’s leading specialty materials companies to create one new, innovation-driven leader focused on battery technologies, filtration media, and specialty insulation and sealing materials. Through global reach and breakthrough inventions, we’re delivering products that enable the world to breathe easier, live greener, and go further than ever before. With over 60 manufacturing facilities and a global workforce of over 9,000 experienced professionals, Alkegen is uniquely positioned to help customers impact the environment in meaningful ways. We offer a range of dynamic career opportunities with globe-spanning reach for production operators, engineers, technicians, specialists, sales professionals, and leaders.

About the Role

The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for creating value by leading and driving Continuous Improvement (CI) initiatives. This role utilizes CI principles to support financial, business, and leadership developmental goals for the Tonawanda sites. The position reports to the Plant Manager with dotted-line responsibility to the Global CI Manager. The role involves frequent collaboration with all Plant Management teams and building a network with other plants to share and develop best practices.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Plant Manager and site leadership to define, prioritize, and execute a clear CI roadmap aligned to business and financial targets, including the 3.5% (COGS) annual cost-out goal.
• Lead multi-disciplinary teams through structured improvement cycles using DMAIC, A3, or 8D problem-solving methodologies.
• Identify systemic performance gaps, quantify financial impact, and ensure corrective actions are embedded and sustained.
• Own and maintain the site value stream map, identifying and reducing waste, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies across all processes.
• Incorporate Six Sigma principles to reduce process variation and improve capability.
• Deliver measurable, verified improvements in OEE, waste, and operating cost.
• Support capital investment projects to ensure operational efficiency and risk reduction are considered from concept through execution.
• Analyze performance data to identify trends and systemic issues; lead root cause elimination and standardization activities.
• Support the annual budget process by translating CI project gains into quantifiable savings and operational efficiencies.
• Ensure all CI activities are documented, reviewed, and validated through robust financial and operational tracking.
• Build CI capability across all levels of the organization by coaching leaders, engineers, and operators in Lean and problem-solving tools.
• Facilitate practical 5S leadership and hands-on kaizen events that drive immediate and visible improvements.
• Promote a positive improvement culture where ownership, continuous learning, and accountability are embedded in daily work.
• Act as a visible role model for continuous improvement behaviors and collaboration across departments and sites.
• Support alignment with the Global CI framework by sharing best practices, metrics, and success stories across the network.
• Ensure consistent application of CI tools and methodologies (5 Whys, Fishbone, Pareto, FMEA, SMED, etc.) across the site.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, Maintenance, Quality, and Operations to sustain standardized processes and drive problem-solving maturity.

Cultural Expectations

• Act as a champion of improvement and accountability.
• Lead by example in collaboration, openness, and respect.
• Encourage innovation and experimentation while maintaining process discipline.
• Foster a learning culture that celebrates success and drives reflection on failure.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field.
• Minimum of five years’ experience in manufacturing or operations, including at least two years leading CI or Lean programs.
• Formal training and practical application of Lean principles with demonstrated impact.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional problem-solving teams and deliver quantifiable savings.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and influencing skills with the ability to engage all levels of the organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher) is a strong plus.
• Experience leading multi-site CI or Operational Excellence initiatives.
• Familiarity with digital/AI tools for process monitoring and predictive maintenance.
• Advanced data analysis and visualization skills (Power BI, Minitab, Excel).

Pay

$108,682 - $133,644.00 annually. Pay offered may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package may also include other elements dependent on the position offered.

Benefits

Details of participation in benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment.