ABOUT THE ROLEThe Continuous Improvement Manager will lead the site's continuous improvement initiatives designed to eliminate non-value-added activities while improving operational excellence. This position ensures existing processes maintain a high level of performance while continuously reviewing and refining those processes. This individual will be responsible for the establishment of an operational excellence culture throughout all plant operations with emphasis on sustainable development. This role will also champion the adoption & utilization of Tenneco's internal resources related to continuous improvement standards & initiatives.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIESBe accountable and ensure Tenneco's internal CI standards (P3) are utilized to implement processes that meet or exceed company goals:
- Manage and identify continuous improvement projects
- Map site processes and perform process analysis to identify bottlenecks and recommend appropriate adjustments
- Lead cross-functional project teams to implement change and drive continuous improvement through Kaizen events and other plant workshops
- Use appropriate problem-solving tools to provide rapid improvement with sustainable results.
- Plan budget and manage costs related to operational excellence initiatives.
- Directly supervise, train, and mentor full-time continuous improvement assigned resources to support site efforts
- Build project plans for continuous improvement initiatives, resources, timelines, and critical paths
- Own Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, and Morale (SQDCP) for all distribution center functions
- Serve as the site P3 / Continuous Improvement leader, accountable for meeting CI productivity, cost, and operating-system maturity targets
- Lead and govern the CI pipeline and Wave initiatives, ensuring projects progress through stage gates, barriers are removed, and value is delivered and sustained
- Execute and enforce CI Leader Standard Work, including daily floor walks, production and P3 board reviews, 5S audits, weekly CI Gemba walks, and monthly Wave savings validation
- Drive performance management using standardized P3 KPIs, dashboards, and tiered accountability meetings to ensure operational discipline and transparency
- Develop and coach managers and supervisors in Leader Standard Work, structured problem solving, and continuous improvement practices
- Build and sustain a CI culture where improvement is embedded into daily operations, not driven only by events or projects
- Ensure standardization and compliance through developed SOPs, training, audits, and operating system requirements
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Engineering, EHS, IT, HR, and Finance to align labor strategy, automation, systems, and cost transformation initiatives
JOB REQUIREMENTS- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
- Minimum 5+ years' experience in operations required.
- Experience in a Continuous Improvement function.
- Must have thorough understanding of cycle time reduction, waste reduction, yield improvement, productivity and throughput improvement.
- Hands-on experience using Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement methods (LEAN, TPM, Six Sigma, TQM).
- Previous experience developing, maintaining, and implementing 5S standards
- Proven leadership skills to coach and lead teams to fully deliver chartered objectives and projects.
- Green Belt and/or PMP certification highly preferred.
- Advanced Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerBI, etc.) required
We don't want average. We want exceptional. We want someone who's hungry to build, unafraid to challenge, and bold enough to lead with empathy, speed, and precision. Sound like you? Let us know. 
