Director of Continuous Improvement - Chicago

$90K — $130K *
Transportation
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum seven years experience in operations or continuous improvement required.
  • At least three years of hands-on people leadership experience necessary.
  • Preferred experience in transportation or multi-site operations.
  • Required Lean or continuous improvement experience with proven track record.

Responsibilities

  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives by identifying opportunities and implementing solutions.
  • Own projects from problem definition to sustainment of improvements and accountability for outcomes.
  • Deliver validated cost savings and operational improvements for the organization.
  • Embed standard work practices and drive their adoption across locations.
  • Manage and coach continuous improvement resources with hands-on guidance and mentorship.
  • Collaborate with Regional Senior Vice Presidents to align improvement efforts with goals.
  • Apply Lean problem-solving methods to real operational challenges.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to make measurable impacts on operational improvements.
  • Hands-on leadership role in a family-oriented environment.
  • Support and mentoring for professional development.
  • Alignment of improvement efforts with organizational goals.
Full Job Description
DS Bus Lines Inc.

Position Overview:

The Director of Continuous Improvement is a hands-on, working leader responsible for delivering measurable, sustained operational improvements across an assigned region. This is a player‑coach role focused on execution, adoption, and results

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead and execute high-impact continuous improvement initiatives byidentifyingopportunities, implementing solutions, and ensuring measurable, sustained results are achieved across the assigned region.

  • Take ownership of projects from theinitialproblem definition stage through to the successful sustainment of improvements, maintainingaccountability for outcomes throughout the entire lifecycle.

  • Deliver validated cost savings and operational improvements, ensuring that all changes produce tangible financial and performance benefits for the organization.

  • Embed standard work practices and drive the adoption of these processes across multiple locations, promoting consistency and reliability in operations.

  • Manage and coach continuous improvement resources byprovidinghands-on guidance, mentoring, and support to ensure effective execution of initiatives while remainingactively involved in the work.

  • Collaborate directly with Regional Senior Vice Presidents and operators to align improvement efforts with regional goals and operational needs.

  • Apply Lean problem-solving methods to addressreal operationalchallenges, implementing proven techniques to drive efficiency and effectiveness.

  • Track results, adoption, and sustainability of process changes, monitoring progress to ensure that improvements aremaintainedand continue to deliver value over time.

  • Perform other duties as assignedto support organization goals. 

Success Measures: 

  • Validated financial savings

  • Improvement in businessobjectives(i.e.safety, reliability, labor efficiency)

  • Sustained adoption ofprocess changes

  • Reduced operational variability

 
 
Qualifications: 

  • A minimum of seven years of experience in operations or continuous improvement (CI) is required. This background demonstrates a strong understanding of operational processes and improvement methodologies. 

  • Candidates must possess at least three years of hands-on people leadership experience. This includes direct management, coaching, and development of team members within an operational or CI setting. 

  • Experience in transportation or multi-site operations is preferred. Familiarity with these environments supports effective execution of improvement initiatives across multiple locations or within logistics operations. 

  • Lean or CI experience is required. Candidates should have a proven track record applying Lean methodologies or continuous improvement practices to drive operational excellence. 

 

Role Philosophy: 
This role exists to get results. The Director, Operational Standards is expected to be present in the operation, own outcomes, and deliver real value every day. 

 

Soft skills Competencies: 

  • Strong verbal, written and presentation skills. 

  • Decision Making, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving 

  • Time -Management and Organizational skills 

  • Adaptability 

The Company believes that each of our employees makes a significant contribution to the success of the organization and our clients. This position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but an employee’s contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. It is the Company’s expectation that each employee will help whenever necessary to ensure the success of the organization’s endeavors. 

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