Continuous Improvement Director

States Manufacturing Corporation; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 50% travel

Job summary

Forgent Power seeks a seasoned Continuous Improvement Director to drive Lean transformation across the company. You will partner with senior leadership to define strategy, lead value stream analyses, and orchestrate Kaizen events to raise efficiency and profitability.

You will coach executives and teams in Lean thinking, deliver targeted training, and build organizational capability through standard work, visual management, and robust metrics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years experience in operations leadership.
• 10+ years of Lean transformation, continuous improvement, or operational excellence roles.
• Lean Six Sigma Black belt or equivalent certification preferred.
• Proven track record coaching leaders and teams through enterprise-level Lean initiatives.
• Experience driving transformational change in both operations and back-office environments.

Responsibilities

• Lean Strategy & Implementation: design and execute Lean transformation roadmaps; lead value stream analyses, Kaizen events, and continuous improvement initiatives across departments.
• Coaching & Capability Building: coach leaders and frontline teams on Lean thinking; develop and deliver training on Lean tools; mentor Lean champions.
• Process Improvement & Performance Management: identify opportunities; support KPIs and dashboards; monitor progress and ensure corrective actions.
• Change Management & Culture Development: promote a culture of continuous improvement; develop Lean immersion programs; collaborate on operating system development; facilitate cross-functional alignment.

Skills

Lean principles

Coaching & training

Change management

Data-driven improvement

Strategy & leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

5S

A3 problem solving

Value stream mapping

Kanban

PDCA

Root cause analysis

Job description

Description

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Director is responsible for enhancing organizational efficiency, productivity, and profitability. They lead strategic initiatives to eliminate waste and optimize operational performance using methodologies like Lean and Six Sigma.

Key Responsibilities

• Lean Strategy & Implementation: Partner with senior leadership to design and execute Lean transformation roadmaps aligned with business goals. Lead value stream analyses, Kaizen events, and continuous improvement initiatives across departments. Facilitate the development of standard work, visual management systems, and flow optimization.
• Coaching & Capability Building: Coach leaders and frontline teams on Lean thinking, problem-solving, and daily management practices. Develop and deliver training programs on Lean tools (5S, A3, VSM, Kanban, PDCA, root cause analysis, etc.). Mentor internal Lean champions to build organizational capability and ensure sustainability.
• Process Improvement & Performance Management: Conduct assessments to identify improvement opportunities and eliminate waste. Support the creation of KPIs and dashboards that measure process performance and Lean maturity. Monitor progress and ensure corrective actions are implemented to achieve target outcomes.
• Change Management & Culture Development: Promote a culture of continuous improvement, respect for people, and collaborative problem-solving. Develop program for Lean immersion across the company. Collaborate with peers to develop and implement the operating system for the company. Facilitate cross-functional alignment and remove barriers to transformation. Communicate successes, lessons learned, and best practices across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 15+ years experience in operations leadership
• 10+ years of experience in Lean transformation, continuous improvement, or operational excellence roles.
• Lean Six Sigma Black belt or equivalent Lean certification preferred.
• Proven track record coaching leaders and teams through enterprise-level Lean initiatives.
• Experience driving transformational change in both operations and back-office environments.

Additional skills

• Deep knowledge of Lean principles, tools, and methodologies (Lean certification preferred).
• Strong facilitation, coaching, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to influence at all levels and navigate complex organizational environments.
• Analytical thinking with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Strong project management and change-management capabilities.

*Up to 50% travel.

Disclaimer

The statements above are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or skills required. Forgent Power reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description as needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Forgent Power is an equal opportunity employer.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected class.

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