Continuous Improvement Manager

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

For more information please visit www.akzonobel.com

© 2026 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

Job Purpose

The Continuous Improvement Manager II (CIM) role is responsible for championing, developing and sustaining a culture of continuous improvement (CI) and Subject Matter Expert in methodologies/activities (Lean, Six Sigman, ALPS) across all areas of multiple sites or large site with a strong focus on manufacturing and operations. The CI manager will direct the work and manage the process engineers, project engineers, CI Specialist, and trainer. Define, prepare waste and loss analysis to coach and execute projects, in line with business needs and project (DMAIC/PDCA) and team management methods and techniques, in order to deliver projects according to objectives. Train, coach, support, Lead Practitioners, Advanced Practitioners, Practitioners and Sponsors. Train; develop Site Leaders in the CI Curriculum and in use/execution of Lean Tools, Process Confirmation, Gemba Walks, Coaching the coach, and Root Cause Analysis.

Key Respnsibilities

• Direct the work and manage the process engineers, project engineers, CI Specialist, and trainer
• Delivers projects (DMAIC) and products within the appropriate timeframe, budget, and defined project standards and objectives
• Measured on project team engagement, development, and enablement
• Handles all monthly T4 Reports (ALPS, CI Project status, etc.)
• Ensures high quality and easy accessibility of CIM network (relations management)
• Measured on number of trained Lead Practitioners, Advanced Practitioners, Practitioners, and Sponsors
• Manages the CI Specialist
• Responsible for deployment of key Lean philosophies like A3 and Hoshin
• Develops data driven projects utilizing tools like VSM, Ishikawa, SPC, Heijunka, SIPOC Diagram, boxplot and FMEA
• Perform Hazard Studies (PHAPro proficiency)
  
  

Key Activities

• Project Initiation (Improvement Projects) : Identify and analyze movement needs in a strong relation with the Site Director, stakeholders, and linkages to other project scope and objectives with Sponsor.
• Project scope and objectives must be clear, attainable, and approved by the Sponsor.
• Project Plan : Formulate the project plan, determine the budget and required resources, clarify role and involvement level of team members and acquire approval from Sponsor.
• Project plan, budget and required resources must be approved, clearly understood and direct project activities.
• Project Execution : Coach and coordinate with project leads to monitor and drive project activities, toll gate reviews, manage project risks, issues, changes and resources and take corrective actions when necessary.
• Timely delivery of milestones
• Project Delivery & Closure : Evaluate and close project, identify and analyze lessons learned, archive project documents and hand over project to process owner and/or line manager.
• Completion of project objectives, realization of deliverables, continuous improvement of project management skills and acceptance of end product by Sponsor/process owner
• Build Organizational Capabilities : Develop and expand local capabilities in applying continuous improvement tools and methods and promote a structure problem solving approach. Train and coach Lead/Advanced Practitioners, Sponsors. Train and develop Site Leaders in the CI curriculum and in use/exécution of Lean Tools, Process Confirmation, Gemba Walks, Coaching the coach, and Root Cause Analysis.
• Measured by capable and engaged project teams and process owners. Capable Site Leaders in coaching and developing employees.
• Site Performance : Support and challenge the workforce and local MT in direction setting, prioritization (timing, resources, and sequence of actions) and implementation of improvement activities.
• Improving KPI’s
• Improvement Portfolio Management : Identify, validate, initiate, and drive new improvement opportunities, manage the improvement project funnel. Run own improvement projects delivering value to the organization.
• Project scope and objectives are clear, attainable, and approved by the Sponsor
• ALPS Deployment : Lead/support the local ALPS implementation and maintenance Network within the AkzoNobel CI Community
• Sustainable framework for improvements transferring insights and best practices
• Capex Plan Control: Budget and execution accuracy for Ranger and not Ranger projects
• Contractor Management
• FEL3 and FEL2 company selection and management
• Manages capital projects with budget of 6M$ per year
  
  

Level of Autonomy

• High degree of autonomy for executing projects from start to finish and will decide which information and/or decisions needs to be brought to the attention of the site management team.
• Makes decisions based on budget and financial spend / assist in Capital expenditures and process work.
  
  

Job Requirements

• 5-10 years of relevant work experience with process engineering, project engineering, continuous improvement and coatings manufacturing.
• Bachelor degree required Engineering- Chemical, process, etc.
• CI Expert with 6 years of experience in continuous improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, TPM
• Strong technical background with experience on project in explosive atmosphere areas and high automation
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and coaching skills, influencing, entrepreneurship, result oriented, negotiation, content experience
• Project management capabilities (DMAIC/Lean)
• Relevant language skills
• Experience in different business units/disciplines/region preferred
• Strong change agent at both management and shop floor levels
• Broad and/or specialized knowledge of the own functional discipline, strategy, policies, and standards
• Strong statistics knowledge and Minitab proficiency
  
  

Benefits/Rewards

The salary range for these skills is: $119,000 to $140,000. This is the range that we in good faith anticipate relying on when setting wages for this position. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range. This salary range may also be modified in the future.

This role eligible for an annual bonus target of 15%, based on individual and company performance.

Benefits:

• Medical insurance with HSA
• Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D benefits
• Annual bonus
• 401K retirement savings with 6% company match
• Generous vacation, personal and holiday pay
• Paid Parental leave
• Hybrid work for most exempt roles
• Active Diversity & Inclusion Networks
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Career growth opportunities
• Employee referral bonus
  
  

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.