Continuous Improvement Manager

Medik8; Aylesbury; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Flexible & Hybrid working

Private Medical Insurance

Mental Health support

75% Discount + Annual Product Allow.

Annual Performance Bonus

Long Service Awards

Up-skilling support

Lunch & Learns

Flexible Career opportunities

Volunteering days

Job summary

Medik8 is seeking a seasoned Continuous Improvement Manager for its Aylesbury Innovation Centre. You will govern the CI portfolio, drive waste elimination, and scale processes across manufacturing and operations to sustain product excellence.

Key duties include leading CI frameworks with Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, and Kaizen, while collaborating with manufacturing, logistics, quality, and supply chain teams to deliver high-impact improvements and financial benefits.

Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt is essential.
• Experience driving CI in complex high-speed manufacturing (FMCG/pharma/cosmetics).
• Ability to influence and govern cross-functional change without direct line management authority.
• Deep applied expertise in Lean tools: VSM, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, OEE optimisation.
• Strong data analytics to model capacity, ROI, and present strategic insights to leaders.
• Excellent communication, coaching, and engagement across all business levels.

Responsibilities

• Strategic CI governance and leadership across manufacturing and operations.
• Architect and govern the CI framework and embed Lean principles into daily ops.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality, and Supply Chain.
• Drive high-impact CI initiatives onsite to unblock capacity and reduce waste.
• Own CI metrics reporting, capacity modelling, and ROI tracking for SLT.
• Monitor industry best practices and integrate advanced manufacturing techniques.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Manufacturing experience

Matrix leadership

Value Stream Mapping

5S

Kaizen

Kanban

OEE optimisation

Data analytics

Financial ROI analysis

Communication & coaching

Job description

Continuous Improvement Manager

At Medik8, we are pioneering the market and leading the skincare industry through science, innovation, and technological advancements. This core focus allows us to produce some of the most advanced skincare products available today.

We are seeking a highly seasoned, proactive Continuous Improvement Manager to join our team at our Aylesbury Innovation Centre. This is a senior, critical role focused on driving operational excellence across our manufacturing and wider business operations. You will govern a robust CI portfolio, strip out waste, and ensure our processes scale as flawlessly as our products perform.

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum

In more detail, your role will include:

• Strategic CI Governance & Leadership: Act as the definitive subject matter expert and strategic partner to the operational business, designing and governing the overarching CI roadmap across manufacturing and wider operations.

• Framework Implementation: Architect, implement, and govern Medik8’s CI framework, ensuring Lean Six Sigma, DMAIC, and Kaizen methodologies are embedded into daily operations.

• Cross-Functional Matrix Leadership: Serve as a visible champion for a continuous improvement culture, partnering with leaders across Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality, and Supply Chain to break down silos and empower team ownership.

• Operational Value Creation: Drive high-impact CI initiatives onsite, using a proactive 'find-it, fix-it' approach to unblock capacity, reduce waste, and optimise OEE.

• Data & Business Intelligence: Own CI metrics reporting, capacity modelling, and financial benefits tracking, translating raw data into actionable insights for the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

• Horizon Scanning: Monitor industry best practices, technological advancements, and advanced manufacturing techniques, integrating them into Medik8’s overarching operational strategy.

What We Are Looking For

Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often apply only if they meet 100% of the criteria. At Medik8, we value potential, passion, and transferable expertise. If you meet the core requirements below and feel aligned with our mission, we strongly encourage you to apply!

Essential Criteria

• Certified Expertise: A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt qualification is strictly essential.

• Manufacturing Experience: Demonstrable experience driving continuous improvement initiatives within a complex, high-speed manufacturing environment (such as FMCG, Pharmaceuticals, or Cosmetics).

• Matrix Leadership: Proven capability to influence, lead, and govern change initiatives across cross-functional teams without needing direct line-management authority.

• Technical CI Mastery: Deep applied expertise in Lean tools including Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, and OEE optimisation.

• Data & Financial Acumen: Strong analytical ability to perform capacity modelling, track financial ROI, and present clear strategic insights to executive leadership.

• Communication & Engagement: High emotional intelligence with the ability to coach, mentor, and build credibility across all business levels, from factory floor operators to the SLT.

Desirable Criteria

• Complementary qualifications in PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum, or Change Management.

• Practical experience deploying CI methodologies in environments balancing rapid innovation with strict compliance and quality standards.

Culture & Benefits

Founded in 2009 by UK scientists and brothers, we are a British, B Corp™ certified skincare brand renowned for clinical results without compromise. Our mission is to simplify the route to great skin through our pioneering CSA Philosophy®: Vitamin C plus Sunscreen by day, and Vitamin A by night. We are a team of collaborative go-givers fuelled by a purpose-driven mentality. Innovation is at our core; we pride ourselves on doing everything in-house, challenging the norm and pushing the boundaries of possibility. We work with integrity and agility, ensuring our commitment to sustainability and quality is never compromised. Above all, we believe in community. Our diverse talents work cross-functionally because we know we achieve more together. It’s just who we are!

• Wellbeing: 25 days holiday + bank holidays, Flexible & Hybrid working, Private Medical Insurance, Mental Health support.

• Rewards: 75% Discount + Annual Product Allowance, Annual Performance Bonus, Long Service Awards.

• Growth: Up-skilling support, regular Lunch & Learns, Flexible Career opportunities.

• Impact: 2 Volunteering days per year, Matched Charitable Giving Scheme.

Our BCorp Commitment to JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion)

At Medik8, we are committed to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where every individual feels respected, valued, and empowered. We believe a rich tapestry of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives fuels the innovation behind our products. Research shows many candidates only apply if they meet 100% of a job description, however, we use the "60% Rule": if you meet over 60% of the requirements and have the passion to learn the rest, we want to hear from you.

Our Inclusive Hiring Standards:

• Fair Chance Hiring: To support systemic justice, we do not request criminal record or credit checks during the application stage (unless legally required for the role).

• Blind Recruiting: We use anonymised CV screening to focus purely on your talent and reduce bias.

• Disability Confident: As a Level 2 employer, we guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum role criteria.

• Immigration Integrity: We welcome all applicants within current Home Office guidance on sponsorship and Right to Work. We never artificially manipulate role scopes or salaries to meet requirements.