Director of Continuous Improvement

Downers Grove, 3333 Finley Rd, Downers Grove, Illinois, United States of America

The Director, Continuous Improvement is a strategic leader responsible for defining, advancing, and sustaining enterprise‑wide continuous improvement initiatives across assigned platforms. This role partners closely with Plant and Functional Leadership to embed a high‑performance culture grounded in Lean, Agile, and data‑driven decision‑making. The Director drives the execution and long‑term sustainment of the Maker’s Pride Performance System, ensuring consistent application across manufacturing and support functions.

By leading large‑scale transformation initiatives and developing internal capabilities, the Director enhances safety performance, improves first‑pass quality, reduces waste and customer complaints, and increases overall operational efficiency and throughput. The role is instrumental in building organizational capability, strengthening leadership pipelines, and accelerating results through disciplined execution, effective coaching, and standardization of best practices.

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and execute strategic initiatives aligned to operational excellence and business objectives
• Lead the deployment, standardization, and sustainment of the Maker’s Pride Performance System across all production and non‑production areas
• Design, implement, and continuously improve tools, systems, and processes that enable scalable continuous improvement across the organization
• Lead and oversee large‑scale, cross‑functional improvement initiatives to ensure successful execution and measurable results
• Coach and develop CI leaders and teams to effectively plan, execute, and sustain improvement projects and kaizen events
• Identify and develop high‑potential talent; provide coaching, mentoring, and career development support to build future leadership capability
• Champion Lean and Agile methodologies, driving adoption and cultural integration at all levels of the organization
• Influence and drive cultural transformation by embedding continuous improvement principles into daily operations and leadership behaviors
• Partner with Operations and CI teams to develop and deliver improvement pipelines and financial savings targets
• Drive data‑driven decision‑making through improved utilization and standardization of SAP and other systems
• Promote collaboration, structured problem‑solving, and strategic thinking to deliver sustainable business outcomes
• Manage multiple concurrent projects while ensuring alignment, prioritization, and resource optimization
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders across all levels, including executive leadership, to provide updates, insights, and recommendations

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field required
• Experience:
  • 10+ years of progressive experience in Continuous Improvement, Lean Manufacturing, or Operational Excellence
  • Minimum of 4 years in a manufacturing environment strongly preferred
  • Food manufacturing experience a plus
  • Demonstrated experience leading large‑scale transformation initiatives and cross‑functional projects
• Certifications: Lean, Six Sigma, or Kaizen certification preferred
• Skills:
  • Deep expertise in Lean, Agile, and continuous improvement methodologies;
    Six Sigma knowledge a plus
  • Strong project and program management capabilities, with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization
  • Advanced problem‑solving skills with a structured, data‑driven approach
  • Strong financial acumen, including understanding of P&L, cost drivers, and performance metrics
  • Experience leveraging SAP and other systems to drive standardization and decision‑making (preferred)
  • High level of attention to detail, professionalism, and ability to manage confidential information
  • Ability to work autonomously while building strong cross‑functional relationships
  • Demonstrated ability to drive change, influence culture, and sustain results in a fast‑paced environment
• Travel: Travel 50%–75% to support plant…