Continuous Improvement Manager

About This Role

This Continuous Improvement (CI) Manager role leads strategic initiatives to optimize organizational efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance performance across all departments. The manager serves as a "change agent," combining data analysis with leadership to foster a culture of ongoing operational excellence. This position requires strong leadership skills, attention to detail, and the ability to effectively communicate with cross-functional teams, ensuring the organization remains agile, competitive, and responsive to evolving market demands.

Responsibilities

• Manage high-impact projects from inception to completion, often using lean methodologies
• Develop and execute organization-wide CI plans aligned with long-term business goals and KPIs
• Facilitate training sessions and workshops to promote continuous improvement principles and engage employees at all levels
• Collaborate with department leaders and team members to design and implement improvement initiatives that align with organizational goals
• Establish and track metrics to measure the impact of improvements, ensuring changes are sustainable and deliver measurable ROI
• Drive a culture of proactive problem-solving and continuous improvement across the organization
• Ensure company policies are adhered to and enforced equitably
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of Lean, Kaizen, Six Sigma, and 5S methodologies
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple improvement projects simultaneously
• Problem-solving ability to address issues/challenges swiftly and efficiently
• Excellent communication skills to influence stakeholders, both written and verbal
• Demonstrated ability to motivate teams
• Analytical skills to assess performance metrics and identify opportunities for process improvement

Nice to have:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, Supply Chain or related field
• Six Sigma Green/Black Belt
• 2+ years of manufacturing experience
• 4+ years of leadership experience
• Leadership skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Project Management skills
• Communication skills
• Teamwork skills
• Analytics skills

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance
• Company-paid Hospital Indemnity/Accident Insurance
• HSA – incentives for company contributions
• FSA Plans
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• Company-paid Short-term/Long-term Disability
• Paternity Leave
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Profit sharing
• Company events
• Education Reimbursement
• Boot Reimbursement
• Uniform Program
• Employee discount program

Important Details

• Physical demands: required to perform some physical exertion, regularly sit, stand, walk, kneel, and occasionally bend and move about the facility; continuously stand or walk, bend, squat, climb stairs, and lift frequently; ability to lift 30 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• Work environment: office (sit/stand), production (indoor/outdoor, all seasons); noise level is frequently loud
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) is required in designated areas: eye and face protection (safety glasses, goggles, face shields, welding shields, etc.), head protection (hard hats, bump caps, etc.), foot protection (steel-toe shoes and/or boots), hearing protection (earplugs, earmuffs, etc.)

About the Company

Putzmeister is a world-class leader in concrete pump manufacturing and support, known for innovation, reliability, and excellence. It is a global legacy that builds the future, one pour at a time.