Continuous Improvement and Safety Manager

Columbia Forest Products, Inc.; Kitchener; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Forest Products, Inc. is seeking a Continuous Improvement and Safety Manager to lead safety initiatives and drive Lean-driven improvements on-site in Canada.

The role focuses on championing a safety-first culture, conducting incident investigations, and guiding production teams to achieve safety, quality, and productivity targets. You will oversee daily operations and support daily management systems within a manufacturing environment.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in manufacturing, production supervision, or operations management.
• Demonstrated safety leadership in industrial environments.
• Experience leading teams in fast-paced production settings.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Responsibilities

• Champion safety-first culture and ensure compliance with policies and regs.
• Investigate incidents, identify root causes, implement corrective actions.
• Conduct safety audits, training, and spot checks to reinforce safe work.
• Oversee daily production to meet safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean tools (5S, standard work, A3/5-Why).
• Engage operators on the shop floor to identify improvement opportunities.
• Coach supervisors and frontline staff to improve performance and engagement.

Skills

Safety leadership

Team leadership

Problem-solving

Decision-making

Job description

Continuous Improvement and Safety Manager

Job Category: Operational Leadership

Requisition Number: CONTI004897

• Posted : August 7, 2026


• Full-Time


• On-site


• Salary : $80,000 CAD per year

Locations

Showing 1 location

Description

Key Responsibilities

The salary range for this role is 80-85k.

Safety Leadership

• Champion a safety-first culture by ensuring compliance with all safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.


• Lead incident investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions to prevent recurrence.


• Conduct regular safety audits, observations, and training to reinforce safe work practices.


• Partner with supervisors and employees to proactively identify risks and eliminate hazards.

Production & Operational Management

• Oversee daily production operations to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and productivity targets in coordination with the supervisor.


• Monitor key performance metrics (e.g., output, downtime, quality, scrap) and take action to address gaps.


• Drive consistency in work practices through adherence to standard work and operating procedures.


• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, and efficiency.


• Apply Lean tools such as 5S, standard work, problem solving (A3/5-Why), and visual management systems.


• Facilitate or participate in Kaizen events and improvement projects to optimize processes.


• Support implementation and sustainment of Daily Management Systems (DMS) and performance tracking.


• Engage directly with operators and teams on the shop floor (gemba) to identify and act on improvement opportunities.


• Lead, coach, and develop supervisors and frontline team members to strengthen performance and engagement.


• Promote accountability, teamwork, and adherence to safety and production expectations.


• Support training initiatives, including onboarding, job instruction, and skill development.


• Foster a culture of continuous learning, feedback, and improvement.

Qualifications

Required

• 3–5+ years of experience in manufacturing, production supervision, or operations management


• Demonstrated commitment to safety leadership in an industrial environment


• Experience leading teams in a fast-paced, production setting


• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills