Continuous Improvement Manager, Lean Transformation

Reports to
Senior Director, Strategic Projects

Position Scope

This is an individual contributor leadership role with cross functional and multi-site influence. The manager title reflects accountability for the Lean transformation roadmap, improvement portfolio, management system, and organizational capability. It does not require direct reports.

Job Purpose

The Continuous Improvement Manager, Lean Transformation leads the development and deployment of the BTS Lean management system. Working directly with plant and functional leaders, this role builds problem solving capability, leads high value improvement initiatives, and establishes daily management practices that produce sustainable gains in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, working capital, capacity, and customer value. Success is measured through sustained operating performance and Finance validated EBITDA improvement, not activity alone.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the BTS Lean transformation roadmap aligned with company strategy, operating priorities, and customer needs.
• Build and manage a focused portfolio of improvement initiatives with approved baselines, clear ownership, milestones, expected operating results, and Finance validated benefits.
• Lead selected high impact projects using the appropriate Lean, manufacturing engineering, and structured problem solving methods.
• Establish daily management systems, visual measures, tiered accountability, leader standard work, and escalation routines in targeted areas.
• Coach leaders and colleagues to identify abnormalities, determine root causes, implement countermeasures, maintain standards, and continue improving.
• Analyze value streams, flow, cycle time, labor, quality loss, scrap, inventory, capacity, space, equipment utilization, and cost to identify and quantify opportunities.
• Partner with Finance to distinguish and validate recurring savings, cost avoidance, working capital, capacity creation, revenue enablement, and one time benefits.
• Support value stream design, new product introduction, PFMEA, material flow, layout, capital planning, automation, ergonomics, and training systems where Lean analysis adds value.
• Build internal capability through practical coaching, learning by doing, and development of Lean leaders at multiple levels.
• Conduct sustainment reviews, verify results, and transfer ownership to the appropriate operating leader.
• Provide clear monthly reporting on results, financial impact, operating impact, sustainment, barriers, and leadership decisions required.
• Model BTS values through humility, respect, courage, high standards, disciplined follow through, and commitment to helping colleagues thrive.

Measures of Success

• Finance validated recurring EBITDA improvement and recognized cost reduction.
• Sustained improvement in selected safety, quality, delivery, productivity, scrap, lead time, inventory, capacity, and customer measures.
• Priority initiatives completed on time with realized and sustained benefits.
• Daily management and leader standard work consistently operating in targeted areas.
• Leaders and colleagues independently using structured problem solving and maintaining standards.
• Improvement ownership transferred to operating leaders without regression.
• Accurate and transparent benefit reporting without double counting.

Required Qualifications

• Seven or more years of progressive experience in manufacturing, operations, industrial engineering, or continuous improvement.
• At least three years leading Lean transformation or major cross functional improvement initiatives.
• Documented success delivering sustained operating results and recurring financial benefits validated by Finance.
• Strong capability in daily management, standard work, visual management, value stream mapping, flow, pull, root cause analysis, A3 or equivalent problem solving, 5S, changeover reduction, error proofing, and sustainment.
• Financial literacy related to labor, scrap, overhead, inventory, capacity, margin, cash, and capital.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, communication, and influence across all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated shop floor credibility and willingness to spend substantial time where the work is performed.
• Strong analytical capability using Excel and operational data.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, supply chain, business, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct operations or plant leadership experience.
• Experience in high mix discrete manufacturing, sheet metal fabrication, welding, assembly, HVAC, or engineered products.
• Experience deploying a company Lean or operational excellence system across multiple sites.
• Power BI, ERP or MES reporting, Minitab, process mapping, and capital analysis capability.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Black Belt, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience rebuilding a Lean effort after prior initiatives lost momentum.

Leadership Behaviors

• Leads with humility and respect while maintaining high standards and accountability.
• Listens deeply and builds trust with the people closest to the work.
• Uses facts, direct observation, and financial logic rather than assumptions.
• Challenges established practices constructively and persists through resistance.
• Develops others instead of becoming the permanent problem solver.
• Balances urgency with disciplined learning and sustainment.
• Communicates clearly with production colleagues, technical professionals, executives, and the Board.