Continuous Improvement Manager

About the role

This position is responsible for applying continuous improvement methodologies, tools, and techniques to identify improvement opportunities, address complex business challenges, and lead operational excellence, business integration, and transformational improvement initiatives across Lighting Programs. Methodologies may include Lean, Six Sigma, Design Thinking, Business Process Management (BPM), and other structured improvement approaches. The incumbent is accountable for leading improvement efforts from opportunity identification through implementation, sustainment, and realization of business value.

Responsibilities

• Lead Continuous Improvement Events and Business Integration Efforts
  • Own and execute continuous improvement events and business integration efforts based on priorities established by senior leadership.
  • Engage and collaborate with stakeholders, analytical resources, and subject matter experts to understand current-state processes, define desired outcomes, identify sustainability measures, plan and facilitate events, develop transition steps from current state to future state, identify and address implementation barriers, translate discussion points into implementation strategies, support readiness efforts, track sustainment, execute follow-up actions, complete just-do-it improvements, and support check-and-adjust requirements.
• Develop Work Products and Business Integration Deliverables
  • Generate and deliver required work products, including report-outs, leadership follow-ups, readiness tactics, impact assessments, implementation materials, and other deliverables necessary to support continuous improvement, governance, and business integration requirements.
• Coach and Develop Continuous Improvement Capability
  • Coach and mentor peer teams, stakeholders, and event participants on continuous improvement concepts, tools, and application to the business model.
  • Support development of organizational capability by sharing best practices, reinforcing structured problem-solving methods, and promoting practical application of continuous improvement principles.

Qualifications

• Basic/Required Qualifications:
• Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Operations Management, Organizational Leadership, Project Management, or another related field. In lieu of degree: Associate degree with 11 years of related experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, business process management, project management, business integration, organizational effectiveness, or a related discipline.
• Required Work Experience: Minimum of 7 years of related experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, business process management, project management, business integration, organizational effectiveness, or a related discipline. Demonstrated experience applying continuous improvement methodologies to identify opportunities, address business challenges, and deliver measurable results. Experience leading cross-functional initiatives from opportunity identification through implementation, adoption, and sustainment. Proven ability to facilitate workshops, improvement events, stakeholder engagement sessions, process analysis sessions, and strategic planning activities. Experience collaborating with leaders and stakeholders across multiple organizational levels to drive alignment and achieve business objectives. Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, facilitation, and organizational capabilities. Ability to manage multiple priorities and lead complex initiatives with limited direction.
• Desired Professional Certifications or Licenses:
• Operations and AI/IT - Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification or higher
• Expert/Coach - Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification or higher

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Operational knowledge of Lighting Programs, Power Grid Operations (PGO), and related utility operations, processes, and stakeholder groups.
• Advanced certification in continuous improvement, business process management, change management, or project management, such as Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Master Black Belt, PMP, Prosci, or CBPP.
• Demonstrated experience applying continuous improvement methodologies and tools, including Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Design Thinking, Business Process Management (BPM), value stream mapping, workflow analysis, process mapping, and root cause analysis, to achieve measurable outcomes.
• Proven ability to develop business acumen through direct engagement with operations, assessment of organizational challenges, and development of practical, sustainable solutions.
• Proven ability to independently identify, prioritize, and execute actions necessary to achieve project, operational, and strategic objectives.
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality work products while managing multiple priorities and meeting established deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with stakeholders, analytical resources, and business leaders to identify and apply data analytics that support continuous improvement efforts before, during, and after implementation.
• Demonstrated ability to promote open, collaborative communication that supports engagement, alignment, accountability, and shared ownership of results.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate differing perspectives, resolve conflicting priorities, and facilitate constructive discussions that result in clear decisions and actionable plans.
• Exceptional verbal, written, presentation, and facilitation skills, including the ability to translate complex findings, recommendations, and improvement outcomes into concise, meaningful communications for audiences at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to establish a credible and engaging leadership presence while facilitating workshops, improvement events, governance meetings, and stakeholder engagement sessions.
• Experience developing governance structures, operating models, process standards, procedures, performance measures, dashboards, and reporting mechanisms to sustain improvements and monitor business outcomes.
• Experience applying data analysis and visualization tools to identify trends, support decision-making, and communicate business performance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and process modeling or business analysis tools such as Microsoft Visio, Signavio, ARIS, or similar platforms.
• Experience in utility, energy, field operations, customer operations, construction, asset management, or program management environments.