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. The specialist ensures that process changes are evaluated, governed, implemented, and embedded into standard work with minimal disruption and maximum value realization.

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 Lean, Kaizen, and project-driven initiatives
• Ability to work effectively across functional boundaries
• Experience in MOC, operational governance, or regulated environments
• Experience in utilities or operations-heavy environments

Benefits

We offer competitive pay and comprehensive benefits that provide flexibility, choice, and support to our employees when they need it most. These benefits include medical/dental/vision coverage, paid time off, and more.

Pay

Competitive compensation package is offered based on experience and qualifications.

Schedule

This role is available on a hybrid basis in Little Rock, Fort Smith, or Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Portland, Maine. We will also consider candidates in Texas who are able to work remotely.