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Continuous Improvement Manager

Location: Laurel, MS Area

Compensation: Up to $140,000 + Annual Bonus

Industry: Manufacturing / Industrial

Position Type: Full-Time, Direct Hire

Position Overview

A growing manufacturing organization in the Laurel, Mississippi area is seeking an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager to lead Lean transformation and operational excellence initiatives across the facility.

This is a highly visible, hands-on, plant-floor-focused position for someone who enjoys identifying problems, working directly with manufacturing teams, and implementing sustainable improvements. Rather than spending the majority of the day behind a desk, this individual will be actively engaged on the production floor conducting time studies, analyzing processes, facilitating improvement events, and partnering with cross-functional teams.

The primary focus of this role is Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement. The successful candidate will have experience leading Lean initiatives and driving measurable improvements in safety, quality, productivity, delivery, and cost.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.
• Spend significant time on the manufacturing floor identifying waste, bottlenecks, constraints, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Conduct time studies, process observations, data analysis, and performance evaluations to identify improvement opportunities.
• Plan and facilitate Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping sessions, Gemba walks, root cause analysis, and structured problem-solving activities.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, Supply Chain, and other departments to improve manufacturing performance.
• Analyze operational KPIs including OEE, throughput, downtime, labor utilization, productivity, scrap, capacity, quality, and cost.
• Develop and implement solutions designed to improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and overall operational performance.
• Establish and strengthen Daily Management systems, including KPI tracking, visual management, tiered accountability, action planning, and escalation processes.
• Coach manufacturing leaders and frontline employees on Lean principles, standard work, waste elimination, problem-solving, and continuous improvement practices.
• Promote Lean leadership behaviors and help develop a culture of accountability, employee engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support the development and standardization of best practices across manufacturing and support functions.
• Lead project-based improvement initiatives from problem identification through implementation, measurement, and sustainment.
• Influence and drive organizational change across departments, including situations where direct reporting authority does not exist.
• Help build the facility's Continuous Improvement function as the organization continues to develop its operational excellence capabilities.
• Potentially provide leadership and development to additional Continuous Improvement personnel as the team grows.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, Operational Excellence, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading Lean transformation or operational excellence initiatives within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean methodologies and tools, including:
• Kaizen
• Value Stream Mapping
• Gemba
• Standard Work
• Daily Management
• Visual Management
• Waste Reduction
• Root Cause Analysis
• Structured Problem Solving
• Continuous Flow / Process Optimization
• Experience using manufacturing data and performance metrics to identify constraints and drive measurable improvements.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional improvement projects involving Operations, Engineering, Quality, Maintenance, and Supply Chain.
• Ability to coach, influence, and gain buy-in from employees and leaders at multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong analytical, communication, facilitation, and project leadership skills.
• Comfortable working extensively on the manufacturing floor in a hands-on environment.
• Experience within automotive, aerospace, or another complex manufacturing environment is highly desirable.
• Previous experience leading Lean or Continuous Improvement programs is strongly preferred.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and extensive relevant manufacturing/Continuous Improvement experience.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate is not someone who simply understands Lean terminology. We are looking for an individual who has actually implemented Lean principles on the manufacturing floor and can point to measurable improvements they have helped deliver.

This person should be comfortable walking into a production area, observing a process, analyzing the data, identifying what is limiting performance, and working alongside the appropriate teams to develop and implement a better process.

While Six Sigma knowledge can be beneficial, this position is primarily focused on practical Lean manufacturing and operational improvement experience.

Leadership & Culture

This organization operates with a high degree of autonomy and does not believe in micromanagement. The Continuous Improvement Manager will have the opportunity to take ownership of projects, influence how Continuous Improvement is deployed across the facility, and work directly with leadership to drive meaningful operational change.

The organization also offers the resources and career opportunities associated with a much larger global enterprise while maintaining the feel and accessibility of a smaller operating environment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary up to $140,000, depending on experience
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits package
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Career development and advancement opportunities within a large global organization

Interview Process

The anticipated interview process includes an initial candidate review, a virtual interview with the hiring manager, and a final onsite interview.

All inquiries and candidate information will be handled confidentially.