Continuous Improvement Manager

Guided Search Partners (GSP)

Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.

We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

We’re supporting a search for a CI Manager with a paper-based manufacturing facility in Texas. This role will support continuous improvement, quality systems, training development, waste reduction, and project execution across the plant. The facility has already been trained on Lean principles and has an active waste tracking process in place. There are currently multiple active CI projects underway, with additional projects ready for this person to take ownership of.

This is a strong opportunity for someone who wants a developmental leadership role, can engage the hourly workforce, and is ready to solve problems, drive cost improvement, and add value across the operation.

You’ll support continuous improvement and quality activity with a focus on waste reduction, training, process improvement, and plant performance.

• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives across the facility
• Execute and manage Lean, Six Sigma, process improvement, and cost reduction projects
• Track and report financial validated savings through project tracking systems
• Support waste reduction, scrap reduction, vendor analysis, and make‑ready efficiency efforts
• Take ownership of queued CI projects and help drive current active projects forward
• Support the quality and continuous improvement process for the facility
• Help develop, implement, and maintain quality systems
• Support customer specifications, complaints, and compliance audits
• Support SPC development in production and quality areas
• Communicate plant quality expectations and monitor performance against objectives
• Solicit input from employees to support project success and improvement activity
• Support product safety, sanitation, GMP, and related procedures
• Participate in root cause and corrective action activity
• Support training program development and oversight
• Assist with floor audits, safety interaction, and process understanding
• Support SOP and procedure development where needed
• Help identify training requirements related to new equipment and processes

You are a hands-on continuous improvement professional who enjoys solving problems and working directly with people on the floor.

You may be a supervisor ready for the next step, an engineer looking to move into operations or quality, or a manufacturing professional who wants to grow into broader plant leadership. You understand that this role is about more than project tracking. It is about engaging the hourly workforce, improving processes, and helping the plant operate better every day.

You would do well here if you are a team player, action-oriented, flexible, and willing to do more than what is written in the job description.

• Manufacturing experience preferred
• Continuous improvement project experience
• Lean, root cause, 7 wastes, kaizen, or related methodology knowledge
• Six Sigma Black Belt certification preferred, or ability to attain certification
• Experience prioritizing, planning, tracking, executing, and documenting multiple projects
• Ability to develop, implement, and document systems for process and product control
• Quality systems experience
• SQF, AIB, or ISO experience beneficial
• SOP or procedure writing experience beneficial
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to work independently and make decisions with incomplete information
• Action-oriented mindset and ability to respond quickly to challenges
• Leadership skills and ability to motivate people
• Microsoft Office proficiency
• MINITAB, SharePoint, spreadsheet, and communication software experience preferred
• Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required
• Open to manufacturing backgrounds such as food, automotive, or other manufacturing environments

This role matters because the facility has alignment on the floor and active improvement work already underway, but needs a dedicated leader to help drive projects, reduce waste, support training, and improve processes. The CI Manager will play an important role in helping the plant strengthen performance, develop people, and build a stronger continuous improvement structure. This is a strong growth opportunity for someone who wants to learn how to add value and grow toward larger operations leadership roles.