CI Manager

The Judge Group; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) retirement plan

Equity options

Job summary

The Judge Group in Bend, OR is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational excellence across all manufacturing operations. You will lead a site-wide Lean roadmap, organize Kaizen events, and coach teams in Lean tools to sustain improvements.

You will partner with EHS, Quality, and Maintenance to boost safety, reduce downtime, and lower costs while delivering measurable SQDCM outcomes for the plant leadership. A hands-on leader with data-driven communication is essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in high-volume manufacturing with measurable improvements.
• BS in Engineering, Operations, or related field; Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt.
• Deep hands-on proficiency with VSM, 5S/Visual Factory, TPM, 5-Whys/Root Cause, 8D, Kanban, SMED.
• Strong analytical skills with ERP/MES and SPC capabilities.
• Hands-on, floor-first leader who communicates data to executives.

Responsibilities

• Build and execute site-wide Lean roadmap; facilitate Kaizen events, 5S, VSM, SMED, and A3 problem-solving.
• Partner with production teams to improve OEE, reduce scrap/rework, eliminate bottlenecks, enforce Standard Work.
• Track KPIs, lead Tiered Accountability meetings, quantify COPQ, and ROI for CI projects.
• Collaborate with EHS, Quality, and Maintenance to enhance safety and compliance.
• Coach operators and engineers in Lean tools to drive bottom-up problem solving.

Skills

Lean

Six Sigma

Kaizen

VSM

5S/Visual Factory

OEE

A3 problem-solving

Education

BS in Engineering/Operations

Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

Tools

ERP/MES software

SPC analytics

Job description

Growing manufacturing company in the Bend-Redmond, OR area is seeking aContinuous Improvement (CI) Manager serves as the primary strategic and tactical catalyst for operational excellence across all manufacturing operations. Reporting directly to plant leadership, this role is responsible for establishing a long-term CI roadmap while actively leading day-to-day shop-floor optimizations. Using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen methodologies, the CI Manager systematically eliminates waste, streamlines production workflows, improves throughput, and reduces operational expenses. The ideal candidate will serve as a change agent—bridging the gap between high-level operational strategy and frontline execution—to ensure that process improvements deliver sustainable results across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale (SQDCM) metrics.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategy & Execution: Build and execute a site-wide Lean roadmap; organize and facilitate Kaizen events, 5S, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), SMED, and A3 problem-solving sessions.

• Shop-Floor Optimization: Partner with production teams to improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), reduce scrap/rework, eliminate bottlenecks, and enforce Standard Work and Visual Management.

• Metrics, Savings & Budget: Track site KPIs, lead daily Tiered Accountability meetings, and partner with Finance to quantify Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) and validate direct ROI on CI projects.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with EHS, Quality, and Maintenance to ensure process changes improve workplace safety, maintain compliance, and reduce unscheduled downtime.

• Culture & Training: Coach line operators, supervisors, and engineers in Lean tools to embed a sustainable, bottom-up problem-solving mindset across all operational shifts.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 5+ years in a high-volume or complex manufacturing environment with a proven track record of quantifiable cost, throughput, and scrap improvements.

• Education & Certifications: B.S. in Engineering, Operations, or related technical field; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt required.

• Technical Mastery: Deep hands‑on proficiency with VSM, 5S/Visual Factory, TPM, Root Cause Corrective Action (5-Whys, Fishbone, 8D), Kanban, and Setup Reduction (SMED).

• Systems & Data: Strong analytical skills with proficiency in ERP/MES software and statistical process control (SPC).

• Leadership Style: Hands‑on, floor-first leader who builds trust with shop‑floor operators while effectively presenting performance data to plant executives.

Compensation & Benefits

They offer a competitive compensation package that includes full health/wellness benefits, a 401(k) retirement plan, and equity options.