Continuous Improvement Program Manager

Continuous Improvement Program Manager

Location: Goodyear, AZ (On-Site)
Department: Operations / Continuous Improvement
Reports To: Director, Business Unit Management
Employment Type: Full-Time | Exempt

About GTI Fabrication

GTI Fabrication is a leader in industrial modular manufacturing, serving the energy, defense, and heavy-industrial markets. With advanced facilities in Arizona and New York, GTI designs and builds containerized energy systems, modular enclosures, and structural steel platforms for mission-critical applications worldwide.

As GTI expands production capacity and operational capabilities, we are investing in Lean transformation and process optimization to increase throughput, quality, and efficiency across all business units. We are seeking a Continuous Improvement Program Manager to lead this initiative — a hands-on leader who can drive cultural change, standardization, and measurable performance improvement in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Position Overview

The Continuous Improvement Program Manager (CIPM) will be responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining Lean and continuous improvement programs across GTI’s manufacturing and operational functions.

This role will identify inefficiencies, lead Kaizen events, and coach cross-functional teams to achieve measurable improvements in productivity, quality, cost, and delivery performance. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process engineering, with proven success implementing structured improvement programs in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments like steel fabrication, assembly, or modular production.

Key Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement Leadership

• Lead the design, execution, and sustainment of GTI’s Continuous Improvement (CI) strategy and roadmap.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping sessions, and process improvement workshops across departments.
• Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production to identify waste, bottlenecks, and efficiency opportunities.
• Establish visual management systems, standard work, and performance dashboards to monitor progress.
• Train and mentor employees at all levels in Lean principles, problem-solving tools, and process optimization techniques.

Program Management & Strategy

• Build and manage a Continuous Improvement project portfolio, prioritizing initiatives that align with strategic business goals.
• Define and track KPIs — including OEE, cycle time, first-pass yield, on-time delivery, and cost-per-unit — to measure CI impact.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective action initiatives (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone) to eliminate systemic inefficiencies.
• Collaborate with leadership to integrate CI practices into new facility launches, product introductions, and automation projects.
• Support cost reduction, layout optimization, and production flow improvements across all sites.

Change Management & Culture Building

• Serve as the internal champion for Lean culture and continuous improvement adoption.
• Communicate progress and results to senior leadership, using data-driven storytelling and ROI justification.
• Build a sustainable CI framework that empowers teams to identify and implement improvements independently.
• Lead training and certification programs to build internal CI capability (Green Belt / Lean Practitioner-level development).

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 8 years of experience in manufacturing operations, process engineering, or continuous improvement roles.
• Proven experience implementing Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies in a production environment.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional process improvement projects with measurable business impact.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in data visualization and root cause problem-solving tools.
• Excellent facilitation, communication, and coaching skills; able to influence at all organizational levels.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Power BI, and ERP systems (NetSuite experience a plus).

Preferred Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt certification.
• Experience in industrial fabrication, modular manufacturing, or energy systems environments.
• Background in OEE tracking, capacity modeling, and factory layout optimization.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, AS9100, and other quality management frameworks.
• Experience implementing digital manufacturing or automation as part of CI strategy.