Continuous Improvement Specialist

About the role

The Continuous Improvement Specialist plays a crucial role in enabling successful adoption and sustainment of process improvements and operational changes. This role integrates process improvement discipline into Continuous Improvement (CI), Kaizen, and project-driven initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Embed Management of Change (MOC) practices into CI, Kaizen, and process redesign efforts.
• Partner with CI leads and process owners to ensure improvements include adoption, readiness, and sustainment planning.
• Support multiple types of process change, including incremental CI improvements, project-driven changes, and regulatory or technology-enabled changes.
• Conduct structured assessments of impacts to: Process steps and workflows, Roles and responsibilities, Systems, data, and controls, Training and documentation needs.
• Identify adoption risks such as workarounds, ownership gaps, and cross-functional misalignment.
• Support process change intake, prioritization, and approval workflows.
• Ensure changes align with defined governance, risk thresholds, and decision rights.
• Help clarify ownership and accountability for process changes across functions.
• Ensure updated processes are translated into: Standard operating procedures, Job aids and visual work instructions, Training and transition materials.
• Partner with training and functional leaders to support readiness for new ways of working.
• Define adoption and sustainment indicators for process changes.
• Monitor early execution, identify breakdowns, and recommend corrective actions.
• Support reinforcement through feedback loops and PDCA cycles.
• Facilitate cross-functional working sessions focused on: Change impact assessment, Organizational alignment, Ownership and handoff planning.
• Act as a neutral facilitator focused on process clarity, execution discipline, and risk reduction.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, or related field
• 2 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, process improvement, operational excellence, and change management
• Strong understanding of process mapping, standard work, and improvement methodologies
• Ability to work effectively across functional boundaries
• Experience supporting CI, Lean, or Kaizen initiatives
• Certifications in Lean and Org Change Management
• Familiarity with MOC, operational governance, or regulated environments
• Experience partnering with PMO, IT, or transformation teams
• Background in utilities, or operations-heavy environments

Qualifications

• Process-first and systems thinking
• Risk awareness and execution discipline
• Facilitation and influence without authority
• Ability to translate improvement into sustained behavior
• Comfort working in complex, cross-functional environments

Skills

• Knowledge of process mapping, standard work, and improvement methodologies
• Experience in managing process changes
• Ability to facilitate cross-functional working sessions
• Understanding of MOC, operational governance, or regulated environments

Benefits

We offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical/dental/vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, and other perks designed to support you both at work and at home. Summit Utilities, Inc. is committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or protected veteran status.