CI Manager

Maker's Pride; Geneva (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Maker's Pride is seeking a CI Manager to drive sustainable process improvements across the facility, delivering breakthrough results in safety, quality, delivery, cost and morale. The role partners with plant leadership, Regional CI and department teams to build hands-on leadership and cultural change, leveraging Lean methods and SAP tools to optimize operations and cost savings.

Responsibilities include leading weekly Kaizen events, coaching facilitators, developing action plans, and building

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; equivalent work experience accepted.
• 2–3 years’ experience in Continuous Improvement.
• 1–2 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads, facilitates, and coaches full week Kaizen events to drive sustainable improvements.
• Coaches Point Kaizen facilitators through prework, the event, and sustainment.
• Develops and executes improvement action plans; builds an employee engaged work environment.
• Tracks and analyzes CI initiatives and drives cost savings for the site.
• Ability to perform theory of constraints analysis to improve throughput.
• Establishes and drives productivity roadmaps across departments and facility.
• Collaborates with customers, suppliers and all levels of management.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Problem Solving

Communication

Autonomy

Change agent

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

SAP

MS Office Suite

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

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 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

Required Competencies & Knowledge

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.

Proficiency In:

MS Office Suite, Excel, And PP Work Environment

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

Maker's Pride is an Equal Opportunity Employer.