CI Manager — Lean, Kaizen & OEE Champion (Equity Options)

The Judge Group; Bend (OR); On-site; USD 115,000 - 155,000; Full time

Job summary

The Judge Group in Bend, OR is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational excellence across manufacturing operations. You will establish a long-term CI roadmap and lead day-to-day shop-floor optimizations using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to deliver SQDCM improvements.

Reporting to plant leadership, you will coach operators and engineers, advance tools like VSM, 5S, SMED, and A3 problem solving, and partner with EHS, Quality, and Maintenance to sustain safe, cost-effective

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a high-volume or complex manufacturing environment with a proven track record of quantifiable cost, throughput, and scrap improvements.
• B.S. in Engineering, Operations, or related technical field; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt required.
• Deep hands-on proficiency with VSM, 5S/Visual Factory, TPM, Root Cause Corrective Action (5-Whys, Fishbone, 8D), Kanban, and Setup Reduction (SMED).
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in ERP/MES software and statistical process control (SPC).
• Hands-on, floor-first leader who builds trust with shop-floor operators while effectively presenting performance data to plant executives.

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 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.

Skills

Lean Six Sigma

Kaizen

OEE improvements

Shop-floor leadership

Change agent mindset

Education

B.S. in Engineering/Operations

Tools

ERP/MES

SPC

5S/Visual Factory

VSM

SMED

A3 problem-solving

Job description

The Judge Group in Bend, OR is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational excellence across manufacturing operations. You will establish a long-term CI roadmap and lead day-to-day shop-floor optimizations using Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen to deliver SQDCM improvements.

Reporting to plant leadership, you will coach operators and engineers, advance tools like VSM, 5S, SMED, and A3 problem solving, and partner with EHS, Quality, and Maintenance to sustain safe, cost-effective