Continuous Improvement/Senior Change Agent

Be a part of our mission! As a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable, and efficient climate solutions for buildings, homes and transportation, it's our responsibility to put the planet first. For us at Trane Technologies, and through our businesses including Trane® and Thermo King, sustainability is not just how we do business—it is our business. Do you dare to look at the world's challenges and see impactful possibilities? Do you want to contribute to making a better future?

About the role

Trane Technologies is seeking a Continuous Improvement/Senior Change Agent in Grand Rapids, MI to lead and accelerate Lean transformation across site operations. This role is instrumental in driving a culture of continuous improvement by embedding Lean principles, disciplines, and tools into daily business practices. The ideal candidate will be a strategic change leader who can influence all levels of the organization, develop team capability, and deliver measurable gains in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost. The work is on-site (5 days).

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive value stream analyses to evaluate current operational performance, identify process inefficiencies, and define a future-state vision that improves flow, effectiveness, and overall business results.
• Review existing and proposed procedures, workflows, and controls to identify barriers to performance, uncover improvement opportunities, and create actionable plans that support successful change implementation.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of Lean improvement events, including Kaizen events, Blitz events, Rapid Improvement Events (RIEs), and Just Do It (JDI) activities, with a focus on eliminating waste and improving productivity, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Train, coach, and support Team Leaders, Supervisors, and Management through daily engagement, team meetings, and Gemba walks, reinforcing effective problem-solving behaviors and the application of foundational Lean methodologies.
• Promote and develop understanding of key Lean concepts such as flow, pull/on-demand production, zero defects, standardized work, and visual management to ensure these principles are consistently applied throughout the organization.
• Partner closely with the Sr. Value Stream Coach, Site Leader, Department Managers, and Supervisors to address challenges during implementation and sustainment phases, ensuring improvement initiatives remain aligned with operational and business objectives.
• Serve as a backup to the Sr. Value Stream Coach when needed, providing leadership continuity and ongoing support for site-wide continuous improvement efforts.

Requirements

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Lean manufacturing, operational excellence, or continuous improvement, with demonstrated success managing, training, coaching, and developing others in Lean tools, principles, and methodologies.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with employees at all levels, from frontline team members to senior leadership.
• Demonstrated leadership capability with the ability to energize, motivate, and influence teams while serving as a positive and credible change agent.
• Demonstrated success facilitating at least 30 Kaizen or Blitz events using a structured methodology, with a strong track record of delivering measurable improvements in operational and financial performance.

Qualifications

Associate or Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering or a related field preferred; equivalent education, training, and relevant work experience will be considered in lieu of a formal degree.

Pay

Annual base salary range: $97,406.66 - $135,834.99. This is a salaried role with incentive eligibility. The actual compensation will depend on factors such as seniority, merit, geographic location, education, experience, travel requirements, and union designation.

Benefits

• Benefits kick in on day one for you and your family, including health insurance and holistic wellness programs with generous incentives.
• Family-building benefits including fertility coverage and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
• 401K match up to 6%, plus an additional 2% core contribution (total up to 8% company contribution).
• Paid time off including 15 vacation days, 9 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, sick leave, and additional options to support volunteer and parental leave.
• Educational and training opportunities through company programs, along with tuition assistance and student debt support.

Note: Benefit offerings may vary depending on Collective Bargaining Agreements and local/state regulations. This role is designated as safety-sensitive and may require additional drug screening.