Continuous Improvement Specialist III - Industrial Engineering, PCGS (Santa Ana, CA)

PSA

$102K — $120K *
Manufacturing & Automotive
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field; or equivalent experience
  • Minimum of 4 years related experience or advanced degree with limited experience
  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred; required within a defined period if not already obtained
  • Developing expertise in continuous improvement, analytics, and business operations
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to moderately complex business operations
  • Proficient in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)
  • Effective communication skills for preparing analyses, reports, and presentations

Responsibilities

  • Lead analysis of business processes using Value Stream Mapping (VSM), DMAIC, and related methodologies to identify inefficiencies
  • Independently execute continuous improvement initiatives, adapting methodologies and recommending data-driven solutions
  • Plan and facilitate improvement events (e.g., Kaizen workshops), coordinating cross-functional participation and documenting outcomes
  • Develop, refine, and maintain standard work, SOPs, and process documentation for consistent operations
  • Define and refine KPIs and analyze operational and financial data to evaluate trends and productivity
  • Prepare dashboards and business cases to support leadership decision-making
  • Provide consultative guidance on process design and improvement strategies

Benefits

  • Health Insurance: Eligible for Medical, Dental, and Vision
  • Additional Benefits: Fertility, commuter, and educational assistance benefits
  • 401(K) Matching Plan: Competitive matching plan for financial goals
  • Vacation: Eligible for flexible time-off
  • Holiday Pay: Ten company paid holidays
  • Employee Discounts: Discounts on select grading services
  • Flexible Hours: Opportunities for flexible schedules
  • Fun Working Environment: Participation in celebrations and team building activities
Full Job Description

We’re looking for a Continuous Improvement Specialist III to drive operational excellence culture by leading improvement efforts that strengthen how the organization operates for our brand, PCGS. Building on established continuous improvement skills, you will independently manage moderate scope initiatives, analyze process and performance data, and recommend practical solutions that improve efficiency, quality, cost effectiveness, and risk control. You will apply professional judgment within established guidelines and play an active role in improving and sustaining enterprise processes and performance standards.

You’ll report to the Senior Manager, Continuous Improvement and work onsite from our Santa Ana, California office with occasional travel (3-4 times per year).

Onsite Requirement:

This role requires you to be onsite in the office 5 days per week.

What You’ll Do:

Continuous Improvement & Business Operations:

  • Lead analysis of end-to-end business processes using Value Stream Mapping (VSM), DMAIC, and related methodologies to identify inefficiencies, risks, and improvement opportunities across functions

  • Independently execute assigned continuous improvement initiatives, determining appropriate analytical methods, adapting standard approaches as needed, and recommending sustainable, data-driven solutions

  • Plan and facilitate structured improvement events (e.g., Kaizen workshops), including defining scope, coordinating cross-functional participation, and documenting outcomes and controls to improve safety, quality, service, cost and people engagement

  • Develop, refine, and maintain standard work, SOPs, and process documentation to support consistent operating practices, compliance, and performance improvement

Data Analysis & Decision Support:

  • Define and refine KPIs and performance measurement frameworks; analyze operational and financial data to evaluate trends, improvement results, capacity, and productivity

  • Prepare dashboards, analyses, business cases, and ROI estimates that support leadership decision-making and prioritization

  • Perform workflow, timebased, and process analyses to inform optimization recommendations and support planning activities

Advisory, Judgment & Planning:

  • Provide professional, consultative guidance to managers on process design, improvement strategies, and operational controls

  • Exercise judgment within established policies and procedures to prioritize improvement opportunities, interpret results, and recommend courses of action aligned with organizational goals

  • Support planning, tracking, and reporting of improvement initiatives, including timelines, resource needs, and budget inputs for assigned work

Collaboration & Communication:

  • Build productive working relationships with operational teams, support functions, and external vendors to resolve issues and implement improvement solutions

  • Communicate complex analytical findings clearly and concisely to non-technical audiences, including leaders and cross-functional stakeholders

  • Contribute to capability building by supporting training materials, best practice documentation, and knowledge sharing related to continuous improvement methodologies

Who You Are:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field; or equivalent professional experience

  • A minimum of 4 years of related experience, or an advanced degree with limited professional experience

  • Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification preferred; required within a defined period if not already obtained

  • Applies developing professional expertise in continuous improvement, analytics, and business operations to resolve a variety of operational issues

  • Exercises discretion and independent judgment within defined procedures to address problems of moderate scope and recommend improvements

  • Works with minimal day-to-day supervision; receives general direction on new or complex assignments, with work reviewed for quality, effectiveness, and alignment with objectives

  • Strong analytical and problem solving skills applied to moderately complex business operations

  • Proficiency in data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Power BI, Tableau)

  • Ability to exercise professional judgment and provide standard advisory recommendations within established frameworks

  • Effective written and verbal communication skills for preparing analyses, reports, and presentations

Salary Range:

The salary range for this position is $102,000 - $120,000. Actual compensation on this range varies based on a variety of non-discriminatory factors, including location, job level, experience, and skill set. 

Reasons To Join Us:

  • Health Insurance: All full-time employees are eligible to enroll in Medical, Dental, and Vision

  • Additional Benefits: Full-time employees are eligible for fertility, commuter, and educational assistance benefits

  • 401(K) Matching Plan: We are proud to offer a competitive 401k matching plan to our employees to support their future financial goals

  • Vacation: All salaried employees are eligible for flexible time-off

  • Holiday Pay: All regular, full-time employees are eligible for ten company paid holidays

  • Employee Discounts: Employees receive discounts on select grading services for approved submissions

  • Flexible Hours: Many of our teams offer flexible schedules with varying shifts and will work with you to accommodate your needs

  • Fun Working Environment: Our team members are invited to participate in celebrations, holiday events, and team building activities

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

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