Director of Continuous Improvement

MUST BE BASED IN GREATER CHICAGO AREA with 30% travel to manufacturing facilities across the United States

We are seeking an experienced Continuous Improvement Director to drive operational excellence across multiple manufacturing facilities throughout the United States.

This is a high-impact, highly visible role responsible for deploying Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and performance management methodologies across a multi-site manufacturing network.

Working closely with General Managers, plant leadership teams, automation resources, and cross-functional stakeholders, you will identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve productivity and quality, optimize labor, and strengthen overall operational performance.

The ideal candidate is a proven Lean leader and change agent who can influence across multiple facilities, coach leadership teams, and establish sustainable systems that deliver measurable business results.

This is a remote position with travel (30%) to manufacturing locations nationwide.

• Partner with General Managers and site leadership teams to assess operational performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement
  .
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, process improvement workshops, and structured problem-solving activities.
• Partner with automation resources to identify opportunities where process improvements and automation can increase productivity and reduce labor requirements.
• Develop and execute site-specific operational improvement roadmaps.
• Drive standardization of best practices, work methods, and operating processes across multiple facilities.
• Analyze operational data and KPIs to identify trends, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities.
• Coach and mentor plant leadership teams on Lean principles, problem-solving methodologies, and continuous improvement tools.
• Implement and sustain Lean systems, including 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen
  , and related methodologies.
• Establish measurable improvement targets and track project results.
• Lead cross-functional teams through improvement initiatives and ensure improvements are sustained over time.
• Promote a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Identify successful improvements and support their replication across multiple manufacturing locations.
• Ensure improvement initiatives align with safety, quality, and operational objectives.
• Prepare and present progress updates, project results, and performance metrics to senior leadership.

• Strong expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and influence without direct authority.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and workshop leadership skills.
• Ability to coach plant leaders and frontline teams through process and cultural transformation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor productivity, quality systems, and operational metrics.
• Experience developing and implementing sustainable operating systems.
• Strong project management and prioritization skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Power BI, and data analysis tools.
• Ability and willingness to travel extensively to support multiple manufacturing facilities.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, Lean, or continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean…