Continuous Improvement Specialist

Summary

In this role, you will partner with departments or customer accounts to co-develop a long-term Continuous Improvement (Lean and Six Sigma) vision and build the tactical strategy deployment plans to achieve it. You will co-facilitate hands-on CI initiatives, champion the adoption of Lean/Six Sigma tools, and drive organizational capability. Working under minimal supervision, you will actively engage in co-facilitation and use post-activity reflection to continuously sharpen your skills.

Detailed Description

Performs tasks such as, but not limited to, the following:

Strategic Alignment & Governance

• Drive the execution of CI goals and performance enhancement strategies across both operational and corporate support functions.
• Support the implementation, compliance, and measurement of the organization’s Systematic CI Framework Standards.
• Active participant in the site/functional CI Committee and leadership Gemba ("go and see") walks.

Workshop Facilitation & Culture Building

• Lead or co-facilitate process-oriented CI workshops and Kaizen events.
• Partner closely with area owners to spark new improvement ideas, scale best practices cross-departmentally, and foster a robust CI culture.
• Leverage established Reward and Recognition programs to engage and motivate teams.

Training & Capability Development

• Deliver internal certifications including "CI for Employees" and "CI for Leadership."
• Provide ad-hoc external support as needed, which may include delivering training or co-facilitating Kaizens across global support functions, other network sites, or external partner organizations.
• Actively work toward achieving your internal or external Lean Green Belt and Six Sigma Green Belt certifications.

Knowledge/Skills/Competencies

Experience & Qualifications

• 5 to 8 years of relevant professional experience with a proven background in Continuous Improvement and your team's specific functional area.
• Practical experience applying Lean methodologies within manufacturing or corporate office environments.
• Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.

Technical Skills & Domain Knowledge

• Demonstrated ability to deliver introductory training, co-facilitate Kaizen events, conduct advanced training, and achieve measurable business outcomes using CI tools.
• Hands-on experience leading Kaizens utilizing at least 3 distinct tools (e.g., SMED/Fast Change-over, Cell Design, Value Stream Mapping, 5S).
• Solid understanding of manufacturing/production operations and frontline operator responsibilities.
• Strong awareness of project management frameworks and the human side of change management.
• Proficient with personal computers and standard Windows applications.

Core Behavioral Skills

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and navigate fluid, fast-changing deadlines through excellent time management and planning.
• A highly proactive, results-oriented approach to systemic problem-solving.
• Exceptional communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills, with the ability to influence without direct authority.
• High degree of initiative, flexibility, and a strong commitment to continuous self-reflection and growth.

Notes

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees are held accountable for all duties of the job. Job duties and the % of time identified for any function are subject to change at any time.