CI Manager

Maker’s Pride, LLC; Front Royal (VA); On-site; USD 86,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker’s Pride, LLC in Front Royal, Virginia, is seeking a CI Manager to lead continuous improvement initiatives across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and morale. This role demands hands-on leadership, strong Lean manufacturing skills, and the ability to drive cultural change in the plant.

Responsibilities include leading week-long Kaizen events, coaching CI champions, developing action plans, and collaborating with plant leadership, SAP, and finance to deliver sustained gains in throughput and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business or Operations.
• 2+ years in Continuous Improvement leadership.
• 2+ years’ leadership in a manufacturing environment; food/beverage a plus.
• Six Sigma Green Belt or higher preferred.
• Experience with center lining and SMED required.
• Problem-solving using 5 Why, Fishbone, Kaizen or A3s.

Responsibilities

• Lead Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements.
• Coach facilitators through prework, the event and sustainment.
• Develop and execute improvement action plans.
• Execute Center lining, SMED and heatmaps to drive plant improvements.
• Build an engaged, problem-solving workforce.
• Track CI initiatives and cost-savings targets; collaborate with SAP and finance.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Kaizen

Root Cause Analysis

SAP

P&L awareness

MS Office / Excel

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

SAP

PowerPoint

Job description

Front Royal, 200 Baker Plaza, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, August 6, 2026 at 4:00 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 reports into the Plant Manager and 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:

• 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.


• Write routine reports and correspondence.


• 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.


• 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 and with management from all levels.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Engineering, Business or Operations.


• 2 or more years’ experience in the Continuous Improvement leadership.


• 2 or more years’ of leadership experience working in a manufacturing environment, with food or beverage manufacturing a plus.


• Training background or experience.


• Six Sigma background, either a Green Belt or higher is preferred.


• Experience with center lining and SMED is required.


• Problem-solving using 5 Why, Fishbone, Kaizen or A3’s is needed.


• Ideal to have knowledge of P&L or financial acumen.


• Experience leading projects is a requirement.

No relocation is available for this opportunity.

The pay range for this full-time, salaried position is $85,788 - $137,025/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.

#LI-MA1 #LI-Onsite

Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Front Royal, 200 Baker Plaza, Front Royal, Virginia, United States of America