Job Description:

The IT Continuous Improvement Leader is responsible for establishing, leading, governing and maturing the IT Continuous Improvement (ITCI) program across the global IT organization. This role serves as the functional owner of the ITCI framework, including associated governance structures, methodologies, assessment models, management systems, standards, and improvement portfolio processes.

The role partners with IT and business leaders and teams to improve services, processes, systems, governance, and ways of working through structured Continuous Improvement practices. While operational leaders retain ownership of their respective functions, the ITCI leader establishes and governs the framework through which improvement activities are identified, evaluated, prioritized, executed, measured, and sustained. The position is responsible for defining and implementing the foundational elements of the ITCI program, including governance, methodologies, management systems, assessment frameworks, capability development, program roadmaps and reporting. The role works across all IT functions to identify improvement opportunities, facilitate organizational change, and create sustainable mechanisms that embed continuous improvement into daily operations.

The ITCI Leader also serves as IT's representative within enterprise Continuous Improvement governance structures, as a member of the BW CI Steering Committee and partners with corporate Continuous Improvement leaders to ensure alignment with enterprise standards while contributing IT perspectives, priorities, and expertise to broader organizational initiatives.

Functional Ownership

The ITCI Leader serves as the designated functional owner of:

• ITCI methodologies and practices.
• ITCI governance processes.
• ITCI assessment and maturity models.
• ITCI intake, prioritization, and portfolio management processes.
• ITCI reporting, measurement, and value realization standards.
• ITCI training materials, toolkits, templates, and supporting resources.
• ITCI policies, standards, and procedural guidance.

Operational ownership of IT functions, services, processes and teams remains with designated IT leaders. The ITCI Leader owns the framework through which improvement activities are governed and executed and is accountable for maintaining the effectiveness, adoption, and ongoing maturation of the ITCI framework across the IT organization.

 Principal Duties and Responsibilities (Essential Functions):

Continuous Improvement Program Leadership (Build the System)

• Define, implement, maintain, and govern the ITCI strategy, roadmap, and operating model.
• Establish and maintain governance, methodologies, assessment frameworks, management systems, and operating standards for Continuous Improvement activities across IT.
• Develop and maintain the official framework for identifying, evaluating, prioritizing, governing, and tracking ITCI opportunities.
• Establish minimum requirements for Continuous Improvement initiatives, including intake, documentation, measurement, and reporting expectations.
• Govern the ITCI portfolio and the associated prioritization, evaluation, and benefit realization processes.
• Approve and maintain methodologies, standards, tools, templates, and guidance supporting Continuous Improvement activities.

Organizational Assessment and Improvement (Identify & Design Improvements)

• Define and maintain assessment methodologies, maturity models, evaluation criteria, and measurement approaches used to assess IT capabilities, services, and operating practices.

• Conduct enterprise-level assessments to identify improvement opportunities and organizational maturity gaps.

• Facilitate current-state and future-state analysis to define practical improvement roadmaps.

• Partner with IT leaders and teams to design and implement sustainable improvements that increase organizational effectiveness and operational maturity.

• Identify patterns, systemic issues, bottlenecks, and process variation that impact performance and service delivery.

Facilitation and Change Leadership (Help Teams Execute)

• Facilitate Kaizen events, workshops, value stream mapping sessions, root cause analyses, and other structured improvement activities.
• Lead cross-functional improvement efforts that span organizational boundaries and stakeholder groups.
• Direct the application of approved Continuous Improvement methodologies within sponsored initiatives.
• Guide teams through structured problem-solving, decision-making, and change adoption activities.
• Build alignment among stakeholders to support successful implementation and sustainment of improvements.

Capability Development (Teach and Enable)

• Establish organizational Continuous Improvement competency expectations and capability development pathways.
• Develop Continuous Improvement capability across IT leadership and staff through training, coaching, mentoring, and hands-on facilitation.
• Create, approve, and maintain Continuous Improvement toolkits, templates, methodologies, and supporting resources.
• Promote a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the IT organization.
• Develop and support a network of Continuous Improvement practitioners and advocates across IT.

Enterprise Partnership and Governance (Align/Liaison with Corp CI)

• Serve as IT's designated representative for Continuous Improvement matters within enterprise governance, steering committees, and strategic initiatives.
• Act as the liaison between IT and enterprise Continuous Improvement functions.
• Contribute to the development and maturation of enterprise Continuous Improvement standards, frameworks, and management systems.
• Establish alignment between ITCI practices and enterprise governance expectations.
• Share best practices, lessons learned, and successful improvement approaches across the enterprise.
• Exercise designated decision-making authority for ITCI methodologies, assessment models, governance practices, and portfolio management processes.

Measurement and Reporting (Demonstrate Value)

• Define and maintain maturity assessments, performance metrics, and program effectiveness measures.
• Analyze organizational and operational data to identify trends, opportunities, and areas requiring attention.
• Track and report the outcomes and realized benefits of ITCI initiatives.
• Communicate program progress, risks, recommendations, and results to leadership.

Job Specifications:

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and drive results without direct authority.
• Strong facilitation, coaching, mentoring, and organizational development skills.
• Ability to build alignment and foster collaboration across diverse stakeholders, teams, and functional areas.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including engagement with senior leadership.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and systems-thinking capabilities.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical, measurable, and Strong understanding of Continuous Improvement principles, methodologies, and tools, including Lean, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, Value Stream Mapping, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to assess organizational, process, and operational maturity and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to navigate complex, highly matrixed, decentralized, and rapidly evolving environments.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution across multiple simultaneous initiatives.
• Demonstrated change leadership skills, including the ability to influence organizational behavior, drive adoption, and sustain improvements over time.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to understand organizational priorities and align improvement efforts to measurable business outcomes.
• Experience establishing or operating within governance structures, management systems, and performance measurement frameworks.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of learning, accountability, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

  Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, Organizational Development, or related discipline and/or equivalent combinations of education and experience
• Seven (7) or more years of progressive experience leading Continuous Improvement, Operational Excellence, Process Improvement, Organizational Effectiveness, Business Transformation, or related initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience assessing organizational, process, service, or operational maturity and developing improvement strategies and roadmaps.
• Experience facilitating cross-functional improvement efforts within complex, matrixed, and decentralized organizations.
• Experience designing, implementing, and maturing governance structures, management systems, operating models, or organizational frameworks.
• Experience developing and delivering training, coaching, mentoring, or organizational capability-building programs.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change initiatives and driving measurable improvements in operational performance, service delivery, quality, efficiency, or customer experience.
• Experience partnering with leaders and stakeholders at multiple organizational levels to influence decisions, build alignment, and achieve shared outcomes.
• Experience establishing, scaling, or maturing Continuous Improvement programs, practices, or capabilities preferred.
• Experience within Information Technology, Shared Services, Operations, or similarly complex support organizations preferred.
• Working knowledge of IT Service Management (ITSM), IT governance, Agile, project delivery, or related operational disciplines preferred.
• Lean, Six Sigma, ITIL, Operational Excellence, Change Management, or similar professional certifications preferred.

Supervisory/Responsibility:

• Individual contributor with no direct reports.

Work Environment:

• This is an office position.

Travel:

• Limited travel up to 10% is expected for this position.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of the those performed in the job duties. The employee primarily sits at a desk and uses a computer for prolonged periods of time. Performing the role frequently uses close vision, speech, hearing, and dexterity to operate office equipment. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

Disclaimer:

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It’s not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this job. This job description is subject to change at any time.

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. ​

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