Continuous Improvement Manager

Vertiv Group; Southampton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to drive a culture of CI across the region. You will identify inefficiencies, lead structured projects, coach teams on problem‑solving, and embed Lean Six Sigma practices into daily operations, acting as a trusted advisor to regional and site leadership to improve Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People (SQDCP).

You will manage improvement pipelines, facilitate Kaizen events, and mentor belt candidates while partnering with multiple functions

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification.
• 3–5+ years in CI, operational excellence or process improvement roles.
• Proven track record leading Kaizen events and Lean/DMAIC projects.

Responsibilities

• Manage a pipeline of improvement projects aligned to strategic priorities with structured action tracking.
• Apply DMAIC, PDCA, and A3 Problem Solving to define problems, measure baselines, analyse root causes, implement solutions and sustain control.
• Drive waste reduction targeting quality, cost, lead time and productivity.
• Champion CI culture across Regions, countries and functions to achieve strategic objectives.
• Lead improvement workshops, Kaizen events and Business Process Transformation projects across the region.
• Coach Green Belt and Yellow Belt candidates through the Lean Six Sigma belt certification programme.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Business/Operations Management

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Continuous Improvement Manager will drive a culture of continuous improvement across the region by identifying inefficiencies, leading structured improvement projects, coaching teams on problem-solving methodologies, and embedding Lean and Six Sigma practices into daily operations. This role acts as a trusted advisor to regional and site leadership, ensuring sustainable performance gains across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP). The successful candidate will have a strategic mindset with a hands-on approach, to optimise performance and support business growth.

Position Summary

The Continuous Improvement Manager will drive a culture of continuous improvement across the region by identifying inefficiencies, leading structured improvement projects, coaching teams on problem-solving methodologies, and embedding Lean and Six Sigma practices into daily operations. This role acts as a trusted advisor to regional and site leadership, ensuring sustainable performance gains across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People (SQDCP). The successful candidate will have a strategic mindset with a hands-on approach, to optimise performance and support business growth.

Responsibilities

• Manage a pipeline of improvement projects aligned to the strategic priorities, ensuring delivery through structured action tracking.
• Apply structured methodologies (DMAIC, PDCA, A3 Problem Solving) to define problems, measure baselines, analyse root causes, implement solutions, and sustain control.
• Drive waste reduction initiatives targeting quality, cost, lead time, and productivity improvements.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by identifying efficiency gains, standardising processes, and sharing best practices across Regions, countries and functions to achieve Strategic objectives.
• Lead and facilitate improvement initiatives across the region through improvement workshops, Kaizen events and Business Process Transformation projects.
• Support the organisations' Lean Six Sigma belt certification programme by coaching and mentoring Green Belt and Yellow Belt candidates.
• Coach local teams on performance tools, reporting standards, governance disciplines, and structured problem-solving techniques.
• Mentor employees at all levels to develop a continuous improvement mindset and embed CI into daily work routines.
• Partner with business functions (within and outside of the Services team) to ensure effective service delivery.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or a related field.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification
• 3-5+ years of experience in continuous improvement, operational excellence, or process improvement roles.
• Proven track record of leading Kaizen events, DMAIC & Lean projects, and delivering measurable results.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into action.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills - ability to engage stakeholders from front-line employees to senior executives.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in a multi-site, multi-country, or matrixed organisation.
• Project management certification (PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent).
• Experience coaching and developing Lean / Six Sigma belt candidates.
• Change management experience or certification (e.g., Prosci, ADKAR).
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage diverse teams across multiple regions.
• Excellent communication, conflict resolution and negotiation skills.

Travel Time Required

• 25%

About Us

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv's Core Principles & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities. OUR CORE PRINCIPLES: Safety. Integrity. Respect. Teamwork. Inclusion.

Our Strategic Priorities

• High-Performance Culture
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

Vertiv Behaviours

• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer-first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers’ vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks, and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 34,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to [e-mail]