Continuous Improvement Manager

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, Timber Tech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and Stru Xure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

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The Continuous Improvement Manager serves as the plant’s senior process management expert, driving site-wide cultural and operational transformation. This critical leadership role is responsible for executing strategy deployment, leading comprehensive change management initiatives, and institutionalizing structured problem-solving. The position directly manages three key functional areas—the Quality Lab team
, the Continuous Improvement team
, and the Raw Material team
—while actively fostering the next generation of talent through the mentorship of Engineering Development Programs (EDPs) and interns.

• Strategic Leadership & Strategy Deployment
• Align Plant Operations:
  Operationalize corporate objectives at the plant level using strategy deployment methodologies (e.g., Hoshin Kanri).
• Roadmap Development:
  Establish, execute, and sustain a comprehensive, multi-year plant continuous improvement roadmap aligned with business priorities.
• Cross-Functional Synergy:
  Act as the plant's senior process management expert, advising the plant leadership team on operational efficiency, resource allocation, and organizational design.
• Team Leadership & People Management

Directly lead, develop, and manage performance for three critical plant departments:

• Continuous Improvement Team:
  Oversee Lean Engineers/Specialists executing Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), A3’s, and problem solving.
• Quality Lab Team:
  Partner with quality leaders to ensure rigorous testing, strict compliance, and the integration of Built-In-Quality (BIQ) principles.
• Raw Material Team:
  Guide the team in optimizing raw material variability, reducing raw material waste, streamlining inbound supply chains and ensuring environmental compliance

Culture Transformation:
Serve as the primary change agent for the facility, driving a culture of sustainable continuous improvement.

Methodology Deployment:
Train, coach, and audit teams on problem solving and continuous improvement tools, including Kanban, Standard Work, and visual management.

Financial Impact:
Identify, prioritize, and execute cost-reduction projects that deliver measurable financial and operational outcomes.

Structured Problem Solving:
Root Cause Analysis:
Lead cross-functional teams through complex, high-stakes structured problem-solving initiatives using DMAIC, A3, and 8D methodologies.

KPI Management:
Establish and monitor plant-level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to proactively flag variations and implement preventative actions.

EDP

Coaching:

Formally mentor participants in the Engineering Development Program (EDP), guiding their technical projects and rotational growth.

Internship Program:
Oversee the plant's operational internship program, ensuring meaningful project exposure and a robust pipeline for future talent.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical discipline. A Master’s degree or MBA is…