Continuous Improvement Manager Manufacturing

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

Job summary

Medik8 is seeking a proactive Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational excellence at the Aylesbury Innovation Centre. The role focuses on identifying efficiencies, removing waste, and scaling processes across manufacturing and related functions.

You will lead a strategic CI program, govern frameworks (DMAIC, Kaizen, Lean), and partner with Manufacturing, Logistics, Quality, and Supply Chain to embed a culture of CI ownership. This is a high-impact, site-wide role.

Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Green Belt with proven process-improvement experience and aim for Black Belt.
• Experience driving CI in high-speed manufacturing (FMCG/pharma/cosmetics).
• Proven cross-functional influence across matrix organizations.
• Strong knowledge of Lean tools and data-informed capacity and financial benefits tracking.
• Outstanding communication and coaching to build collaborative relationships from shop floor to leadership.

Responsibilities

• Design and govern CI roadmap and portfolio across the business.
• Horizon-scan for industry practices and integrate into operational strategy.
• Architect and govern CI framework (DMAIC, Kaizen, Lean) in daily operations.
• Lead cross-functional root-cause investigations and CI reporting to SLT.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Six Sigma Green Belt

Manufacturing experience

Cross-functional influence

Lean principles

Data literacy

Communication coaching

Job description

Continuous Improvement Manager

At Medik8, we are more than ever differentiating ourselves from our competitors, pioneering the market, and leading the skincare industry. As a brand led by science, innovation and technological advancements have always been at our core. This is what makes us incomparable against the competition—producing some of the most advanced skincare on the market.

We are seeking a proactive Continuous Improvement Manager to join our team at the Aylesbury Innovation Centre. You will drive operational excellence across our manufacturing operations and wider business areas, spotting efficiencies, stripping out waste, and helping our processes scale seamlessly.
Salary £50,000 - £60,000 (Depending on experience)

Whether you are an established Six Sigma Black Belt seeking your next challenge or a driven Green Belt ready for a step up, we want to hear from you. You will bring your high-speed manufacturing or FMCG experience to make a direct impact on site.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic CI Governance & Leadership

• Act as the subject matter expert and strategic partner, designing and governing the overarching CI roadmap and portfolio of initiatives across the business.

• Horizon-scan for industry best practices, advanced manufacturing techniques, and technological advancements to integrate into Medik8’s operational strategy.

• Architect, implement, and govern the company’s CI framework, ensuring project methodologies (DMAIC, Kaizen, Lean) are consistently applied and integrated into daily operations.

Cross-Functional Matrix Leadership

• Serve as the architect and visible champion of Medik8’s continuous improvement culture within a matrixed organizational structure.

• Partner with department heads across Manufacturing, Logistics, Projects, Quality, and Supply Chain to break down silos and embed a culture of CI ownership.

• Transform complex operational challenges into shared goals, coaching and empowering operational leaders across departments.

Operational Performance & Value Creation

• Govern and execute high-impact CI initiatives across the business, maintaining a visible site presence to identify bottlenecks and lead a proactive "find-it, fix-it" mindset.

• Lead complex, cross-functional root-cause investigations focused on systemic process improvements, waste reduction, and capacity unblocking.

• Translate raw operational data into actionable business intelligence, owning CI reporting on leading indicators, financial savings, and ROI for the Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

Our Commitment to Inclusion (The 60% Rule):

Research shows that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often only apply if they meet 100% of the criteria. At Medik8, we care about potential, passion, and transferable talent. If you meet at least 60% of the essential criteria below and feel excited about this role, we strongly encourage you to apply!

Requirements

Essential Criteria (What you definitely need)

• Continuous Improvement Qualification or Practical Experience: A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, OR a Six Sigma Green Belt with demonstrable experience in process improvement and a desire to achieve Black Belt status on the job.

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

• Cross-Functional Influence: Proven track record of guiding and influencing projects across cross-functional teams within a matrix organization.

• Lean Principles & Data Literacy: Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing tools (Value Stream Mapping, 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, OEE optimization) alongside a data-informed approach to capacity modeling and financial benefits tracking.

• Communication & Coaching: Outstanding interpersonal skills with a natural ability to coach, mentor, and build collaborative relationships from the factory floor to leadership teams.

Desirable Criteria (The 'nice-to-haves')

• Complementary project management or change management certifications (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum, or formal Change Management qualifications).

• Practical exposure to cosmetics, personal care, or highly regulated production environments.

• Experience scaling operational processes during periods of rapid brand or business growth.

About us

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