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

LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services; Toronto; On-site; CAD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare diagnostics provider in Toronto is seeking a Manager, Continuous Improvement on a temporary contract. The role focuses on leading improvement projects, deploying Lean methodologies, and enhancing operational performance. Candidates should have 5-7 years’ experience and a relevant university degree. Strong change leadership and analytical skills are essential. This is a full-time position within a dynamic team dedicated to advancing healthcare in Canada.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Employee Group Benefits

Professional development reimbursement

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in a similar role.
• Proven ability to lead continuous improvement projects.
• Strong understanding of Lean concepts and tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate improvement projects to enhance performance.
• Manage and deploy Lean tools and methodologies.
• Train staff in Lean / Six Sigma principles.

Skills

Lean methodology

Change leadership

Data analysis

Interpersonal skills

Coaching and mentoring

Education

University degree in Engineering, Business, or Science

Tools

Lean Six Sigma tools

Value Stream Mapping

Job description

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

For over 50 years, LifeLabs has been Canada’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, operating Canada's first commercial genetics lab, and the country's largest online patient portal, with more than 8 million Canadians receiving their results online. More than 112 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.

Manager, Continuous Improvement

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 : 4 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, Toronto, ON location. 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

Key Responsibilities

Continuous Improvement

• Lead and facilitate continuous improvement projects to enhance performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
• Manage the development and deployment of Lean tools and methodologies that will raise the skills and knowledge of LifeLabs employees
• Build CI capabilities by training and mentoring staff at all levels in Lean / Six Sigma principles and problem-solving methods.
• Analyze data and business processes to identify inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and areas for cost reduction or productivity improvement.
• Collaborate with functional leaders to develop and maintain a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure impact and progress of CI initiatives.
• Support change management efforts and ensure stakeholder alignment and buy-in for process changes.
• Lead or support kaizen events, value stream mapping sessions, and root cause analysis workshops.

Enhancement Request Management

Serve as the primary point of contact for all system enhancement and feature requests.

Collaborate with stakeholders to gather, document, and clarify enhancement needs and user stories.

Maintain a centralized backlog and tracking system for all enhancement and feature requests.

Prioritization & Planning

Facilitate prioritization sessions with stakeholders using data-driven frameworks (e.g., RICE, impact / effort).

Align feature development with strategic business objectives, capacity constraints, and technical dependencies.

Partner with product owners and development leads to scope features and assess feasibility and complexity.

Requirements

University degree in Engineering, Business, Science or equivalent

At least 5-7 years of experience in a similar role

Has access to a vehicle and valid driver’s license

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!

Seniority level

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Employment type

Contract

Job function

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

Hospitals and Health Care

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