Continuous Improvement Leader

Title : Continuous Improvement Leader

Compensation : $130,000–$185,000 base + annual bonus

Location : Detroit or Lansing Michigan

Relocation assistance is available.

We’re a leading manufacturing organization seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader to drive enterprise‑wide operational excellence across multiple facilities. This role is central to advancing Lean maturity, leading high‑impact Kaizen events, and building a culture of structured problem‑solving and continuous improvement at both the plant and corporate levels. It offers strong visibility, cross‑functional influence, and a long‑term path toward broader operational leadership.

What You’ll Do

• Lead high‑impact Kaizen events that improve productivity, quality, cost, and operational performance
• Develop and mentor employees in Lean tools, structured problem‑solving, and daily management systems
• Build and execute 30‑, 60‑, and 90‑day sustainment plans to ensure improvements remain embedded
• Conduct post‑Kaizen audits, reinforce standard work, and ensure long‑term adherence to best practices
• Facilitate hands‑on training workshops to strengthen Lean capability across all levels of the organization
• Partner with plant and corporate leadership to identify, prioritize, and execute improvement initiatives
• Use analytics and data insights to guide decision‑making and elevate operational performance
• Serve as a subject matter expert in Lean methodologies including:
• Daily Management
• 6S
• Value Stream Mapping
• Transactional Process Improvement
• A3, 8D, DMAIC, and root‑cause frameworks
• Gemba walks
• Flow, pull systems, and Kanban
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through audits, coaching, and consistent engagement
• Drive organizational transformation by embedding CI principles into daily operations and leadership routines

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field (MBA preferred)
• 8+ years leading Kaizen events and CI initiatives with measurable operational results
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing or assembly environments
• Proven ability to coach and mentor leaders and employees in Lean and CI methodologies
• Expert‑level knowledge of Lean tools, structured problem‑solving, and prioritization techniques
• Strong sustainment capability with experience managing 30‑, 60‑, and 90‑day follow‑through plans
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and coaching skills with the ability to influence at all levels
• Demonstrated success driving cultural transformation and building CI maturity across an organization

Bonus Points

• Experience supporting multi‑site CI deployment - Deployment at both plant and operations level
• Background in automotive, high‑volume manufacturing, or complex assembly environments (JIT)
• Prior involvement in enterprise‑level Lean strategy or operational excellence programs

What’s In It for You

Full benefits package (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD/STD, 401k with company match) and more.

#J-18808-Ljbffr