Manager, Continuous Improvement

LifeLabs; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeLabs, a leading provider of laboratory diagnostics in Canada, seeks a Manager of Continuous Improvement for a 13-month contract role. This position involves leading Lean initiatives, enhancing operational processes, and developing team capabilities. Join a committed team focused on empowering healthier Canadians through innovative diagnostic practices.

Benefits

Employee Group Benefits

Retirement Savings Plan

Vacation and Wellness Days

Professional development reimbursement

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in a similar managerial role.
• Proven strategic direction and team management capabilities.
• Experience in deploying Lean tools and methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Manage development and deployment of Lean tools to enhance employee skills.
• Establish Continuous Improvement Roadmaps for quantifiable improvements.
• Facilitate process improvements through training and coaching.

Skills

Lean concepts

Change leadership

Team coaching

Education

University degree in Engineering, Business, Science or equivalent

Job description

Manager, Continuous Improvement- Temporary (13-months contract)

100 International Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 6J6, Canada

Job Description

Posted Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 4:00 AM

For over 50 years, LifeLabs has beenCanada’s leading provider of laboratory diagnostic information and digital health connectivity systems, enabling patients and healthcare practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor and prevent disease. We are passionate about empowering healthier Canadians through accessible, accurate, and innovative diagnostic services.

We are committed innovators, operatingCanada'sfirst commercial genetics lab, and the country's largest online patient portal, with more than 8 million Canadians receiving their results online.More than112 million laboratory tests come through LifeLabs’ laboratories annually, and our team of more than 6,000 passionate, caring, and diverse professionals works together as one to provide high quality testing and results that Canadians can trust.

We know that behind every lab requisition, sample being tested, or investment in technology is an individual and their family counting on us. At LifeLabs, you can make a meaningful impact on Canadians’ lives every day.

Our teams are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to be recognized as one of Canada’s Best Employers, reflecting our deep commitment to our core values of caring, agility, teamwork, and a customer-centered approach. As part of this commitment, LifeLabs prioritizes the ongoing development of our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program to better serve the needs of our diverse workforce and the communities we serve. We continue to take steps to challenge ourselves to act with courage and integrity, and to create an environment where people can be their true selves.

These values are not just words on a page, they guide our actions and decisions every day and have come to define our team culture.

Status: Temporary, Full time
Schedule:Monday – Friday
Additional Requirements:NA
Number of positions:1
Start Date:ASAP
End Date:13 months upon start date
Internal Application Deadline: 3 July 2025

This vacancy is for an existing position.

This role is a full time one-year contract and is located at our Ontario office, 100 International Blvd, there will be some travel required, both within and outside the province.

At LifeLabs, we are focused on our vision of building a healthier Canada! We are the largest community diagnostics laboratory in Canada with over 350 collection centres, 21 laboratories and service over 19 million patients each year.

Caring, Agile, Customer Driven, One Team - We live our values every day in what we do to help our patients and healthcare providers. With over 5,000 employees, we all make a difference and that’s why our people are so important to us.

This is an exciting time to join our LifeLabs team, grow your career with us and support numerous business initiatives, innovations, best practice and business development opportunities.

As the Manager Continuous Improvement you will collaborate with Operations and Support Group teams, to build operational robustness by supporting and facilitating the delivery of sustainable improvements. The Manager will develop and deploy Lean tools and methodologies to build LifeLabs capability to drive continuous improvement through employee engagement, and ensure the proper application of standardized process improvement across all CI initiatives.

This role is a full time one-year contract and is located at our Ontario office, 100 International Blvd, there will be some travel required, both within and outside the province.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the development and deployment of Lean tools and methodologies that will raise the skills and knowledge of LifeLabs employees
• Establish Continuous Improvement Roadmaps that will deliver significant and quantifiable improvements in various areas
• Provide training on necessary Lean tools and concepts to ensure effective deployment of Lean initiatives
• Facilitate continuous improvement of existing processes through RCIP and non-RCIP initiatives
• Provide coaching that will enable achievement of business results by identifying and eliminating waste and also promote the development of continuous improvement culture
• Capture and quantify objective and subjective benefits of continuous improvement activities
• Help deploy the Operations Management Process across Operations and other key LifeLabs departments
• Optimise workflows using tools such as Value Stream mapping and Standardised Work
• Provide input to development of CI Business plan by understanding internal business objectives, benchmarking external best practices, and identifying improvement opportunities.

Requirements:

• University degree in Engineering, Business, Science or equivalent
• At least 5-7 years of experience in a similar role
• Proven ability to take strategic direction and objectives and develop and deploy supporting tactical plans, then providing direction and overall team management to execute the plans.
• Strong change leadership experience in a high volume, highly complex product/services mix environment with a passion for making significant improvements.
• Thorough knowledge of Lean concepts and tools, such as Value Added and Non-value Added Work, Work Flow, JIT, Jidoka, Visual Management, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, Standardized Work, Single Piece Flow, Quality at Source, Poka-Yoke and Problem Solving and minimum of 5 years of experience deploying the concepts and tools to drive improvements.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in leading and facilitating teams to implement new technologies or Continuous Improvement initiatives, such as kaizens, with a proven track record of delivering tangible benefits to the organization.
• Related experience in Lean with a proven track record of Lean deployment and driving improvements in a multisite environment. Proven ability to provide organizational excellence, guidance and tools to drive positive change. Six Sigma experience also an asset.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with demonstrated experience in coaching and motivating teams and individuals, without direct authority, to perform at a high level.
• Good understanding of EHS and experience of related Regulatory Compliance

LifeLabs’ compensation programs are commensurate based on the role, skill, effort, responsibility and working conditions, irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, beliefs, age or any other personal characteristics. Pay programs are communicated regularly in an accessible and transparent manner.

LifeLabs is also proud to offer resources, opportunities, as well as a collaborative and supportive environment that enables our team members to thrive.

In addition to a competitive compensation package, LifeLabs provides a comprehensive total rewards program, specific to the job position. Your package may include:

• Employee Group Benefits: Competitive coverage for employees and their families to support their overall health and wellness needs, including Extended Health Care, Dental Care, and Life Insurance.
• Retirement Savings Plan
• Vacation and Wellness Days
• Employee Wellness and Giving Programs: Our award winning mental, physical and financial wellness programs aim to address the comprehensive well-being of our team members, including resources like the Employee & Family Assistance Program, financial planning tools, and employee recognition initiatives.
• Professional development and membership reimbursement, access to preferred rates and discount programs, including WorkPerks, Home and Auto Insurance, Costco Membership, etc., and optional health-related benefits.

In accordance with LifeLabs’ Accessibility Policy , and the applicable Accessibility Acts within the provinces we operate in, accommodations are available by request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process. For a confidential inquiry or to request an accommodation, please contact your recruiter or email [e-mail] .

Vaccinations are highly encouraged at LifeLabs’. Vaccinations and/or immunization screening may be mandatory for selected employees if regulated by provincial or regional governments, or through employer-led vaccination policies in the facilities we service. Please ensure you ask if this position requires the successful candidate to be vaccinated or undergo immunization screening.

Ready to empower healthier Canadians? Apply today!

100 International Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 6J6, Canada