Job Description:The Continuous Improvement Leader is a strategic role responsible for establishing, leading, and sustaining BW Design Group's enterprise-wide continuous improvement program. This position will drive sustainable and measurable outcomes by embedding continuous improvement principles throughout the organization, supporting the delivery of our long-term Strategic Plan, as well as near-term performance objectives, with emphasis on Operational Excellence.
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITHYou'll report to the Chief Operating Officer and be an integral part of building the future growth of BW Design Group. You'll work closely with the Transformation Director, Head Office Leadership Team, and Operational Leaders across the firm, playing a pivotal role in shaping and realizing the potential of a firm with a 30-year track record of impressive organic growth and an unmatched value proposition. This role benefits significantly from in-person collaboration with leaders at our head office in St. Louis, making this the preferred location for interested candidates.
WHAT YOU'LL DOStrategic Leadership & Program Development- Establish and lead BW Design Group's continuous improvement program, providing organizational focus to drive sustainable and measurable operational outcomes
- Define the continuous improvement framework, methodologies, and tools for BW Design Group, aligning with the organization's goal to deliver a world-class client experience. Emphasize leveraging current technology and leading with Artificial Intelligence
- Develop multi-year roadmap for continuous improvement initiatives prioritizing high-impact opportunities across Commercial Excellence, Operational Excellence, People Excellence and Head Office processes
Process Improvement & Optimization- Lead cross-functional improvement projects targeting project financial performance, productivity, and team member fulfillment
- Identify and eliminate process inefficiencies, redundancies, and waste across all business operations
Change Management & Organizational Adoption- Build organizational capability in continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, etc.), aligned with our people-first culture
- Lead change management efforts to drive adoption of standardized processes and best practices
- Facilitate cross-functional workshops and Kaizen events to solve operational challenges
- Develop and deliver training programs to build continuous improvement competencies throughout the organization
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence
Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement- Partner with Practice, Region, Market Sector, and Head Office leadership teams to understand business-specific challenges and opportunities
- Collaborate with leaders to deploy improvements locally, while maintaining enterprise standards
- Work closely with Technology/IT teams to leverage system capabilities (IFS ERP) for process automation and efficiency gains
- Engage with Project Managers, Project Executives, and delivery teams to ensure accountability for process compliance
- Provide regular reporting to Executive Leadership on improvement initiatives, outcomes, and ROI
WHAT YOU'LL BRING- Degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Operations Management, or related field
- 8+ years of experience leading continuous improvement initiatives in professional services, AEC, consulting, or manufacturing environments
- Proven track record implementing and sustaining process improvement programs that deliver measurable business results
- Demonstrated passion for leveraging technology to drive operational improvements, with specific experience implementing AI, automation, or intelligent systems
- High learning agility with demonstrated ability to quickly master new concepts, technologies, and methodologies
- Strong financial acumen to articulate link between operational plans and financial metrics and with ability to analyze data related to business objectives with a full understanding of P&L impact
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to use data to drive decisions
- Excellent project management skills with ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously
- Exceptional communication and presentation skills for all organizational levels
- Experience with change management principles and organizational development
- Proficiency with process mapping, value stream analysis, and improvement tools
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At Barry-Wehmiller we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. We know that our differences often can bring about innovation, excellence and meaningful work-therefore, people from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require reasonable accommodations during the interview process.
Company:Design Group
