Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence Manager

5579 Airbus Belfast Limited; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit share

Pension

Share options

36 hour week

Flexible hours

Friday half-day off

Job summary

Airbus Belfast Limited is seeking a Professional for a full-time Continuous Improvement leadership role in Belfast. You will drive maturity across the line, co-lead governance of Tactical Implementation Plans, and define roadmaps with operational teams.

The role involves leading a team of CI experts and partnering with the Head of Production for deployment. The position requires 5+ years in Lean/Six Sigma, strong leadership, and experience coaching across levels, with a focus on Kaizen and VSM

Qualifications

• 5+ years driving Lean / Six Sigma on an industrial site.
• Leadership experience coaching and mentoring direct reports.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement maturity across the line and with units; co-lead Tactical Implementation Plan governance.
• Define the CI roadmap for operational modules and secure the resource plan.
• Manage a team of CI Experts and align deployment with Production leadership.
• Develop CI competence through coaching and knowledge transfer.
• Run improvement initiatives and facilitate Kaizen, Hoshin Kanri, and Value Stream Mapping.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Leadership

Kaizen

VSM

Education

HNC to Bachelor's Degree in Business/Engineering/Operations Management

Job description

Job Description

SECURITY CLEARANCE: You will be subject to BPSS and Export Control checks (including a criminal record check).

TRAVEL REQUIRED: Some travel within UK and international.

LOCATION: Belfast

GRADE: L2

TYPE: Full time

WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU

Financial Reward: Competitive salary, annual profit share, contributory pension, share options

Work / Life Balance: 36 hour week, flexible working around core hours and Friday afternoons off, flexible working

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE TEAM

Accountable for continuous improvement maturity across the line, Business Area, and unit (shared with operational teams); co-lead governance and steering of the Tactical Implementation Plan while reporting maturity scores.

Define and align the continuous improvement roadmap for each operational module, securing the resource plan (driver model) and facilitating Tactical Implementation Plans with operational teams.

Manage a team of Continuous Improvement Experts and Agents on content, partnering with the Head of Production / Unit Leader for deployment and implementing alignment routines.

Develop continuous improvement competence across the line—from operators to senior management and functional teams—through knowledge transfer, coaching, and on-the-job training for first-line and middle management.

Run improvement initiatives and facilitate key workshops, including Kaizen, Hoshin Kanri, and Value Stream Mapping (VSM).

Act as the local focal point for continuous improvement standards, leading self-assessments, participating in management Gemba walks to provide structured feedback, and capturing user satisfaction testimonies.

• * Includes all associated official digital solutions (MES, Smart SQCDP, etc.)

Key focus

ABOUT YOU

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that sufficient detail is provided to demonstrate how they meet essential job criteria, as this alone will be used for vetting purposes.

• Essential HNC up to a Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, or Operations Management 5+ years driving Lean / Six Sigma implementation on an industrial site Leadership - Track record coaching and mentoring direct reports and facilitating Kaizen / VSM
• Desirable: Certified Lean / Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt

Closing date: 16th of November 2026 Please note that meeting the mandatory criteria listed above guarantees consideration for the role, but does not ensure progression to the interview stage. In the event of a high volume of qualified applications, the selection panel reserves the right to shortlist and progress candidates who additionally meet one or more of the preferential (desirable) criteria.

HOW WE CAN SUPPORT YOU

Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need and we'll always do our best to accommodate your request. Please let us know if you need us to make any adjustments for the selection process – you can share this with your Talent Acquisition Partner if you are invited to interview. Examples may include (but not exclusive to) accessible facilities; auxiliary aids; room layout, etc. Any information disclosed will be treated in the strictest confidence.

As a Disability Confident Employer, Airbus UK will offer an interview to any applicant that considers themselves to have a disability or long-term condition under the Equality Act 2010 and meets the minimum criteria of the role (as set out in the job advert). To 'opt in', just select the option during your application submission and your application will be considered accordingly.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company's success, reputation and sustainable growth.

Company: Airbus Belfast Limited Employment Type: Permanent ------- Experience Level: Professional Job Family: Leadership

Airbus is committed to achieving workforce diversity and creating an inclusive working environment.

We welcome all applications irrespective of social and cultural background, age, gender, disability, sexual orientation or religious belief.

Airbus is, and always has been, committed to equal opportunities for all.

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