CI Manager

Maker’s Pride, LLC; Carol Stream, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

401(k) plan

Wellness program

Job summary

Maker's Pride is seeking a CI Manager to drive sustainable process improvements in a Carol Stream facility. You will lead week-long Kaizen events, coach facilitators, and develop action plans across departments while applying Lean tools and SAP to improve throughput and cost savings.

The role requires hands-on leadership, the ability to influence without authority, and a strong problem-solving mindset, with a focus on safety, quality, delivery, and morale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred but work equivalent experience accepted.
• 2–3 years in Continuous Improvement and 1–2 years in manufacturing preferred.
• Sponsorship for work authorization is not available.

Responsibilities

• Leads, facilitates, and coaches Kaizen events to drive improvements.
• Develops and executes improvement action plans across the site.
• Uses SAP tools to understand plant needs and drives cost savings.
• Coaches RCA and Lean change throughout the facility to improve throughput.
• Works with customers, suppliers, and all management levels to manage projects.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Leadership

Problem solving

Change management

Autonomy

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

SAP

HPS tools

MS Office Suite

Excel

PowerPoint (PP)

Job description

Carol Stream, 720 Center Ave, Carol Stream, Illinois, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, September 3, 2026 at 5:00 AM

Job Summary:

The CI Manager is responsible for driving sustainable Process Improvements in the facility by delivering breakthrough results in Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale. The CI Manager works closely with plant leadership, Regional CI, and department employees to achieve results. This position requires strong technical, Lean Manufacturing, and hands-on leadership skills to drive cultural change in the plant.

Job Duties: Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Leads, facilitates, and coaches full week Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements
• Coach Point Kaizen facilitators through prework, the event, and sustainment
• Works closely with Plant CI team and CI Champions to:
• Develop and execute improvement action plans
• Executes and improves Center lining, SMED, and other various heatmaps to drive improvement within the facility
• Build an employee engaged work environment
• Provide and teach CI tools to CI and Non-CI employees
• Ability to perform theory of constraints analysis, identify the constraint, and implement practical and effective solutions to improving throughput
• Establishes and drives productivity pipeline roadmaps across departments and facility
• Tracks and analyzes the CI initiatives including driving the cost savings program for the site to meet annual cost savings target.
• Working knowledge of P&L/financial acumen to course correct CI plans based on weekly financial and P&L results as needed, identify cost savings, and to track effectiveness of lean activities
• Understands and drives the use of SAP tools to understand the needs of the plant
• Responsible for implementing and coaching HPS tools to improve all areas of plants
• Build cultural Lean change throughout the plant
• Leverage resources and share best practices across multiple plants when possible
• Facilitate and coach RCA tools and methodology to drive waste out of the process
• Work with customers, suppliers and all levels of management staff
• Responsible for managing multiple projects concurrently
• Ensure the facility implements and maintains Continuous Improvement initiatives
• Knowledge and experience with SAP
• The CI Manager should possess extensive technical skills and hands‑on experience in continuous improvement manufacturing activities
• Bias for action, change agent, challenging the status quo to drive to operations excellence
• Strong will to drive change and influence without authority
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and the ability to work with autonomy.
• Must be accurate, detail‑oriented and maintain the utmost confidentiality.

Ability To:

Ability to effectively present information to employees, top management, public groups and/or board of directors.

Ability to define problems, collect and calculate data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram and/or schedule form.

Ability to work well with others in stressful situations and meet deadlines as necessary.

Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment, while at the same time making sound decisions.

Must have a strong will to drive change and sustain. Proficiency In:

MS Office Suite, Excel, and PP Work Environment:

Maintain harmonious working relations with employees from all departments.

Maintain harmonious working relations with management from all levels.

Communicate effectively with all employees and management.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to use and reach throughout the day; hands, fingers, arms, stand, walk, climb and/or balance approximately.

Ability to see, hear and talk.

Ability to work in light to moderate noise levels.

Ability to work across multiple shifts

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree preferred but work equivalent work experience will be accepted.

2 (two) – 3 (three) years’ experience in the Continuous Improvement

1 (one) – 2 (two) years’ in a manufacturing environment, preferred

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are legally authorized to work in the location to which they apply.

The pay range for this full-time, salaried position is $97,210 - $145,814/year. Individual base pay depends on work location and additional factors such as experience, job-related skills, and relevant education or training. The position is eligible for a discretionary annual incentive based on company and individual performance. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, 401k and wellness benefits beginning on the first day of employment.

This information is provided per the relevant state and local pay transparency laws for the location in which this position will be performed. Base pay information is based on market location.

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Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Carol Stream, 720 Center Ave, Carol Stream, Illinois, United States of America