Continuous Improvement Manager

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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. For more information, visit

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.

1. 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.

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.

4. 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 highly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–7+ years of…