Continuous Improvement Engineer lll

GAF Materials Corp.; Georgia; On-site; USD 92,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Vacation benefits

Job summary

GAF is seeking a Continuous Improvement Engineer III to drive operational excellence across one or more plant facilities. You will report to the Plant Manager with a dotted line to the Director of the GAF Business System, leading Lean initiatives to maximize efficiencies and optimize products, systems, operations, and processes.

You will champion continuous improvement culture, mentor cross-functional teams, and lead Kaizen events, using data-driven analysis to push sustained performance gains

Qualifications

• 8+ years in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or applied experience.
• Advanced problem-solving and strategic planning capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean manufacturing deployment across a high-velocity production setting.
• Coach cross-functional teams in root-cause analysis and problem solving.
• Drive Kaizen events and secure buy-in for CI initiatives.
• Analyze operational metrics and report progress to leadership.
• Ensure conformance to GAF Business System standards.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen events

Cross-functional leadership

Data analysis

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Engineering/Operations

H.S. Diploma or GED

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At GAF, we cover more than just buildings. We cover each other. Under this roof, you will have the tools and resources you need to grow and develop in your career. You will experience our incredible culture and will be empowered to support your teammates, your customers, and especially your community. Under this roof, we define the future while leading the present through our deep well of experience and our responsibility to the future to drive improvements and innovation in our products. We are GAF. And under this roof, we protect what matters most.

About GAF - Newton, Kansas Newton is a vibrant Kansas community founded in 1871 on a spirit of work, from its earliest days as a railroad, agriculture and cattle drive hub. With a population of about 20,000, Newton and neighboring North Newton features an active arts community, three National Historic Districts, a variety of museums, trails, restaurants, shops and attractions, Bethel College, award winning school districts, a championship golf course, first-class convention center and many other amenities. This collaborative region is close to dynamic Wichita and may be the next best place for you to call home, in GAF’s newest “Field of Dreams!” New Plant, New Opportunities If you haven’t been part of a greenfield startup, now is your chance. GAF is the North American leader in residential roofing materials. We are honored to be constructing our newest shingle manufacturing facility in Newton KS and hiring is underway as we build our initial plant leadership team. Due to our investment in training and the development of employees, you will have the opportunity to travel to our other locations, engage with peers, support the hiring of plant staff and participate in the design and construction of the facility. Expect your first years to be rewarding and challenging with an amazing team fully supporting you. You will wear many hats during the construction and commissioning phases of the project, and ease into your steady role over time.

Job Summary

The Continuous Improvement (CI) Engineer III is the strategic driver of operational excellence, orchestrating the integration of continuous improvement methodologies across one or multiple plant facilities. Reporting directly to the Plant Manager with a dotted line to the Director of the GAF Business System, this role holds overarching accountability for maximizing efficiencies and optimizing the plant's products, systems, operations, and processes. The successful candidate possesses proven expertise in Lean, leveraging this robust background to champion high-impact projects, mentor cross-functional teams, and aggressively drive continuous improvement initiatives throughout the facility.

Essential Duties

• Lead the deployment of Lean manufacturing principles across a high-velocity production environment, driving measurable, data-backed gains in safety, quality, customer delivery, cost management, and employee engagement.
• Serve as a decisive organizational change agent, orchestrating Kaizen events and achieving critical business objectives through advanced facilitation, coaching, and influence, without relying on direct supervisory authority.
• Champion a sustainable, facility-wide continuous improvement culture by actively engaging cross-functional personnel and developing site capabilities through the integration of hands‑on project execution and targeted training across all operational and support teams.
• Analyze operational metrics to pinpoint optimization trends and opportunities, transparently reporting progress to business leaders while ensuring all initiatives rigorously align with GAF Business System standards and yield sustainable, long-term results.
• Execute comprehensive operational gap assessments, driving strict site-wide conformance to GAF Business System standards and implementing robust countermeasures to bridge identified performance deficits.
• Spearhead the development and deployment of process optimization and quality enhancement programs, championing the adoption of a continuous improvement culture across the facility.
• Drive targeted Kaizen initiatives that yield sustainable operational gains, systematically packaging and deploying these successful frameworks across the plant network.
• Serve as a continuous improvement mentor, elevating organizational capability by coaching cross-functional teams in both foundational and advanced root‑cause analysis and problem‑solving frameworks.
• Forge strategic partnerships with cross‑organizational manufacturing leadership, driving alignment and securing essential buy‑in for continuous improvement initiatives
• Perform other job duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• H.S. Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required
• 8+ years experience in an industrial manufacturing environment
• Demonstrated expertise in executing continuous improvement initiatives as well as improvement systems
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and/or Google Suite
• Lean Six Sigma certification or applied experience
• Outstanding leadership, organizational, and accountability skills, essential for steering continuous improvement initiatives from conception to sustained process.
• Advanced problem-solving and strategic planning capabilities, coupled with data-driven decision-making and a proven ability to cultivate high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to drive operational excellence by influencing and coaching employees through dynamic leadership and the practical, hands‑on application of Lean methodologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills within all facets of the organization
• Proven ability to inspire, empower, and positively influence cross‑functional teams to achieve targeted business outcomes.
• Exceptional presentation skills with the agility to tailor communication across all levels, from delivering hands‑on floor training to presenting strategic updates to executive leadership.
• Solid understanding of Statistical Process control and other advanced statistical tools
• Self‑motivated with strong project management acumen, adept at meeting strict deadlines by effectively coordinating and guiding personnel outside of direct reporting lines.

Physical Demands

• Stationary Position - Frequently
• Move/Traverse - Frequently
• Stationary Position/Seated - Occasionally
• Transport/Lifting - Frequently
• Transport/Carrying - Frequently
• Exerting Force/Pushing - Frequently
• Exerting Force/Pulling - Frequently
• Ascend/Descend - Frequently
• Balancing - Occasionally
• Position Self/Stooping - Frequently
• Position Self/Kneeling - Frequently
• Position Self/Crouching - Frequently
• Position Self/Crawling - Frequently
• Reaching - Occasionally
• Handling - Occasionally
• Grasping - Frequently
• Feeling - Rarely
• Communicate/Talking - Frequently
• Communicate/Hearing - Frequently
• Repetitive Motions - Frequently
• Coordination - Frequently
• Working Conditions Extreme cold - Frequently
• Extreme heat - Frequently
• Humid - Frequently
• Wet - Frequently
• Noise - Frequently
• Hazards - Frequently
• Temperature Change - Frequently
• Vibration - Frequently
• Travel Requirements: 20%

Travel Requirements

Travel Requirements: 20% Base salary and/or rate of pay ranges listed are exclusive of fringe benefits and potential bonuses. Individual compensation offers will be determined based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to geographic location, relevant candidate experience and skill, education, and/or qualifications. Base Salary Range: $92,000-$126,500

How We Protect What Matters Most:

• We offer a wide range of health insurance options that include medical, dental, and vision for you and your family.
• Our Family‑Building benefits support the many different journeys to fertility and parenthood.
• Our robust 401K plan includes an employer match contribution with your pre‑tax and/or Roth contributions.
• Other exciting programs and perks are available to help employees achieve work‑life balance, including (but not limited to) a wellness program, free financial coaching, a referral program, and product rebates when purchased for an employee’s primary residence.
• Professional growth and development are very important to us! We offer internal training programs and courses, as well as a generous tuition reimbursement program.
• We're committed to fostering a culture that reflects our values to connect, empower, evolve, and inspire. We offer many opportunities for employees to connect with one another, including through our Employee Resource Groups who focus on education and allyship for all of our employees.

GAF complies with federal, state, and local disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR Services at 833-HR-XPERT. We believe our employees are our greatest resource. We offer competitive salary, benefits, 401k, and vacation packages for all full time permanent positions. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity on the basis of each candidate's qualifications, experience, and merit, without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. If applying for positions in the U.S., must be eligible to work in the U.S. without need for employer sponsored visa (work permit). Privacy Notice Applicant Notice With 130+ years in the industry, GAF is the leading roofing manufacturer in North America. As a member of the Standard Industries family of companies, we are also part of the largest roofing and waterproofing business in the world. Our communities help give our work meaning and the products we manufacture help protect what matters most. The shingles help to shelter the families living in the homes in our towns. The TPO helps protect what is under that hospital’s roof. In addition to quality products, we make sure they are installed by quality craftsmen and women. The full GAF portfolio of solutions is supported by an extensive national network of factory‑certified contractors. GAF continues to be the leader in quality and offers comprehensive warranty protection on its products and systems. Our success is driven by a commitment to empowering our people to deliver advanced quality and purposeful innovation and the desire to protect what matters most.