Director of Continuous Improvement

Company Description

We are a family of scientists, farmers, and pioneers working toward the development of a modern, global industry. Our core value of Innovative Creativity is why Abstrax Tech, Inc. is a leading innovator of the sensorial experiences that shape the cannabis industry. We specialize in ingredient, processing, and formulation science, focusing on terpene research and its applications in flavor profiles, fragrance, and the discovery of new valuable molecules. Abstrax collaborates with established manufacturers to help advance the industry, working closely with some of the largest and fastest-growing brands to develop custom formulations for products like vape pens, concentrates, topicals, tinctures, alcohol, and more.

Role Description

We are seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Director of Continuous Improvement to lead operational excellence across our manufacturing, supply chain, and broader business operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this senior leader will own the company's continuous improvement strategy and roadmap, build and lead a high-performing CI function, and partner with the executive team to drive measurable improvements in throughput, quality, cost, and scalability within a fast-paced food, flavor, ingredient, and manufacturing environment.

The ideal candidate brings a strong engineering and manufacturing background combined with deep, proven expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and large-scale operational transformation. This individual will work cross-functionally with Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, R&D, Facilities, and Finance leadership to deliver enterprise-level results, mentor leaders across the organization, and embed a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

This is a highly visible executive-track role intended to strengthen organizational leadership bench strength and support the company's continued operational growth, scalability, and maturity.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership & Continuous Improvement Vision

• Own and execute the enterprise continuous improvement strategy and multi-year operational excellence roadmap in partnership with the COO and executive leadership team.
• Establish the company's CI operating model, governance framework, and prioritization process to align improvement initiatives with business strategy and financial objectives.
• Build, lead, and develop the continuous improvement function, including hiring, mentoring, and managing CI managers, engineers, and analysts.
• Serve as the executive sponsor for major operational transformation initiatives, ensuring alignment, resourcing, and accountability across functions.
• Present CI strategy, performance, and business impact to executive leadership and the board as needed.

Lean Manufacturing & Operational Excellence

• Lead and oversee Lean Manufacturing deployment across manufacturing, warehousing, supply chain, and support operations.
• Drive enterprise-wide operational efficiency improvements focused on throughput, waste reduction, labor optimization, inventory reduction, and process flow.
• Champion Kaizen events, value stream mapping, root cause analysis, and process improvement workshops at the strategic and tactical level.
• Establish, own, and report on enterprise KPIs, dashboards, and operational scorecards that measure performance, productivity, and the business impact of CI initiatives.
• Standardize operational processes and develop sustainable management systems to support long-term scalability and operational maturity.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and direct corrective actions to improve efficiency, capacity utilization, and operational reliability.
• Lead initiatives to reduce downtime, improve OEE, and increase operational reliability across all production assets.
• Improve manufacturing flow, material movement, warehouse organization, and production scheduling at the enterprise level.

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Business Partnership

• Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing maturity of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.
• Partner with executive leadership to improve inventory management, demand forecasting, and operational planning.
• Translate operational performance data into executive-level insights and recommendations that inform capital, hiring, and strategic decisions.

Quality, Problem Solving & Risk Management

• Lead structured problem-solving programs using methodologies such as DMAIC, 5 Why, Fishbone Analysis, A3 Problem Solving, and CAPA systems.
• Partner closely with Quality and Manufacturing leadership to reduce defects, deviations, and recurring operational issues at a systemic level.
• Establish escalation processes and standardized workflows for operational and quality-related events across the organization.
• Develop and oversee operational risk management practices to protect throughput, quality, and customer commitments.

Cross-Functional & Executive Leadership

• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, R&D, Quality, Facilities, Supply Chain, and Finance leadership to execute strategic operational initiatives.
• Influence and align executive and senior leadership through data-driven decision-making, operational analysis, and clear business cases.
• Lead change management efforts associated with process improvements, organizational redesign, and operational transformation initiatives.
• Mentor and develop operational leaders, managers, and supervisors in Lean principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and continuous improvement practices.
• Build the company's CI talent pipeline through coaching, training programs, and certification pathways.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline. Master's degree or MBA preferred.
• Experience — Required
• 10 years of progressive experience in Continuous Improvement, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, or Operational Excellence, including 5 years in a senior leadership or director-level role.
• Demonstrated experience building, leading, and scaling continuous improvement functions or programs within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong industry experience within food manufacturing, flavor, ingredient, beverage, nutraceutical, fragrance, chemical, or related process manufacturing industries.
• Experience leading operations in fast-paced manufacturing environments with multiple product lines and significant operational complexity.
• Proven track record implementing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives at scale with measurable, sustained business impact (financial savings, throughput gains, quality improvements, etc.).
• Experience presenting to and influencing executive leadership and ownership.

Required Skills & Certifications

• Lean Manufacturing expertise required.
• Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification required (or equivalent demonstrated experience leading Black Belt-level initiatives).
• Strong engineering, analytical, and financial-modeling background.
• Deep, hands-on experience with: Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Root Cause Analysis, KPI development, process mapping, SOP development, and warehouse and manufacturing flow optimization.
• Strong ERP and manufacturing systems understanding.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities; proficiency with BI tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) a plus.
• Excellent executive communication, presentation, and leadership skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and influence at every level of the organization, from operators to the C-suite.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating within food safety, cGMP, FDA, or similarly regulated environments.
• Experience leading facility expansions, operational scaling, greenfield builds, or major manufacturing redesigns.
• Strong familiarity with mature S&OP processes and integrated business planning.
• Experience with automation, process engineering, MES, or manufacturing system integration.
• Experience in high-growth, private equity-backed, or founder-led organizations.