Head of Continuous Improvement

Safran; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Early Friday finish

Profit share & pay review

25 days holiday

Bank holidays option to buy/sell

Pension matched to 8%

Health cash plan

Cycle and tech purchase schemes

Professional training & mentoring

Onsite facilities

Family-friendly policies

Job summary

Safran Gloucester site is seeking a Head of Continuous Improvement to lead site-wide CI and transformation programmes, coaching senior leaders on QRQC and best practice. A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt with a proven track record in manufacturing transformation is required.

The role offers an inclusive environment, development opportunities, and a strong focus on delivering sustainable improvements. Join Safran to drive excellence in aerospace, defence and space, with a collaborative culture and a

Qualifications

• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certified.
• Proven experience leading large-scale transformation in manufacturing/industrial environments.
• Strong coaching and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead site-wide Continuous Improvement and transformation programmes.
• Coach and influence the Senior Leadership Team on QRQC and CI best practice.
• Drive organisational change initiatives and embed sustainable improvements.
• Lead Kaizen events, workshops, recovery planning activities, and complex problem-solving.
• Develop and standardise CI frameworks, processes, tools, and benchmarks.
• Build capability through Lean Six Sigma coaching and mentoring.
• Support and develop Green Belt and Black Belt practitioners.
• Monitor and report project performance, milestones, risks and benefits realisation.
• Create cross-functional engagement frameworks that drive collaboration and CI.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Master Black Belt

Organisational Change

Leadership

Process Excellence

Change Management

Project Management

Business Transformation

Education

Lean Six Sigma Black Belt

Master Black Belt

Job description

Head of Continuous Improvement

Gloucester Site-Based Skills: Lean Six Sigma, Master Black Belt, Organisational Change, Leadership, Process Excellence, Change Management, Project Management, Business Transformation.

Safran Landing Systems are a global leader in aircraft landing and braking systems, from commercial and business travel to military and defence fleets. Our expertise cover the entire life cycle of our products from end-to-end; Design, Engineering & Manufacturing, through to Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO). Looking after the people who make Safran great is our priority.

We offer a range of flexible benefits designed to support you-both in and out of work, including:

• Early finish on Fridays


• Competitive salary, annual profit share bonus and pay review


• 25 days' holiday


• bank holidays (option to buy/sell)


• Up to 8% employer matched pension scheme and life assurance


• Health cash plan, cycle and tech purchase schemes


• Professional development, ongoing training, mentoring


• Onsite amenities: parking, restaurant, bicycle storage, showers


• Family-friendly and accessible workplace policies

At Safran, excellence is a journey - and we'd love you to be a part of it. As a trusted global leader in aerospace, defence, and space, we are proud to be a company where diversity, innovation, and opportunity come together to shape a sustainable future where we can all succeed together through a shared vision. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our Quality team as a Head of Continuous Improvement at our Gloucester site. At Safran, we understand that diversity and inclusion make teams stronger and more effective, and as an organisation, we are committed to fair and equitable employment practices for everyone. We also know that some candidates may be put off applying for jobs where they don't meet 100% of the criteria outlined in the advert, however, we encourage anybody to apply if you can demonstrate a variety of skills and experience relevant to the requirements of this role. Please let us know if you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to the application or hiring process that may better facilitate your participation.

Your Role

• Leading site-wide Continuous Improvement and transformation programmes.


• Coaching and influencing the Senior Leadership Team on QRQC and CI best practice.


• Driving organisational change initiatives and embedding sustainable improvements.


• Leading Kaizen events, workshops, business recovery planning activities, and complex problem-solving initiatives.


• Developing and standardising CI frameworks, processes, tools, and benchmarks.


• Building capability across the organisation through Lean Six Sigma coaching and mentoring.


• Supporting and developing Green Belt and Black Belt practitioners.


• Monitoring and reporting project performance, milestones, risks, and benefits realisation.


• Creating cross-functional engagement frameworks that drive collaboration and continuous improvement.

What You'll Bring

Essential

• Lean Sigma Black Belt certified


• Proven experience leading large-scale organisational transformation, operational excellence, or continuous improvement programmes within a complex manufacturing, engineering, or industrial environment


• Strong coaching and leadership skills

Desirable

• Technical/Engineering background beneficial

Why Safran?

A global presence : Be part of a global aerospace, defence & space business with over 100,000 Colleagues, across 300 sites in 30 countries.

Inclusive & empowering environment : We celebrate our differences and believe they make us stronger. We know that a fulfilling work environment is a key driver for innovative ideas and team success.

Innovation at the core : Join our mission to decarbonise aerospace and make the world a safer place. Your ambitions can take us further.

Mobility & training opportunities : We can support your ambitions with training, development, a personalised career plan and mobility opportunities. If you have big dreams, we'll support you to make them a reality.

A culture of excellence : Join a team that values collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement. Whatever your background, together we aim for excellence.

Get involved: We also have a number of groups and forums across our sites that you can get involved with, including Women at Safran, Diversity at Safran, Sports Clubs, STEM ambassadors, Employee Forum, Charity Partnerships and Wellbeing Programs.