Job Description: The Continuous Improvement Manager is responsible for coaching and mentoring plant and operations leadership to achieve business objectives through the development and execution of strategies that strengthen the MasterBrand Production System (MPS). This role drives measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance by deploying lean manufacturing principles, leading change initiatives, and implementing best practices across the MasterBrand operations network. The position requires strong project management capabilities, hands-on leadership, and the ability to facilitate kaizen events, training workshops, and successful site hand-offs.
Responsibilities- Serve as a champion of the MasterBrand Production System (MPS), providing hands-on support and training to ensure effective implementation.
- Lead the deployment of proven best practices across plants and divisions, ensuring alignment with lean manufacturing principles.
- Partner with plant leadership and Continuous Improvement teams to plan, facilitate, and execute strategic initiatives, kaizen events, and other lean activities.
- Coach and develop plant leaders in lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and structured problem-solving methodologies.
- Ensure successful execution and sustainment of Future State plans through disciplined follow-up with operations teams.
- Support safety, quality, delivery, and cost initiatives by developing clear, actionable, and measurable improvement plans.
- Champion a strong safety culture through visible leadership, site-specific safety plans, and targeted MBCI initiatives.
- Identify and implement new technologies, equipment, systems, and process improvements that enhance the MBCI manufacturing platform and deliver maximum return on investment.
Key Competencies- Plans and Aligns: Effectively prioritizes work and resources to meet commitments aligned with organizational objectives.
- Drives Vision and Purpose: Communicates a compelling vision and strategy that motivates others to take action.
- Instills Trust: Builds credibility through integrity, transparency, and authentic leadership.
- Builds Effective Teams and Engagement: Develops high-performing teams by leveraging diverse skills and perspectives while fostering a culture of engagement and accountability.
- Drives Results: Consistently delivers strong outcomes, even in challenging or ambiguous environments.
- Ensures Accountability: Holds self and others accountable for meeting commitments and achieving results.
- Interpersonal Savvy: Builds strong relationships across all levels, functions, cultures, and geographic locations.
- Decision Quality: Makes sound, timely decisions, even with incomplete or imperfect information
Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business or a related required
- 3+ years of continuous improvement experience required
- Leadership experience in a manufacturing organization preferred
- Strong track record for transforming organizations - building the team, managing change, streamlining processes and driving safety, quality, delivery and cost improvements
- Demonstrated highly developed problem solving and project management skills
- Experience with facilitation and coaching change management principles and demonstrated ability to drive and manage the change process
- Strong lean manufacturing experience
