Continuous Improvement Leader - Thermatech

Howmet Aerospace; Whitehall Township (MI); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace is seeking a Continuous Improvement Leader to drive operational excellence at Plant 4, supporting the Thermatech Coatings and Titanium Ingot businesses. The role requires leading CI projects, coaching teams, and delivering measurable throughput, cost, and inventory gains.

The ideal candidate will bring strong Lean/TPS knowledge, an ability to teach rigorous methods, and a track record of driving sustainable improvements across complex manufacturing environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 3 years experience in leading CI projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States; no visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Implements standard operational excellence methods and tools to deliver throughput, productivity, cost, and inventory improvements.
• Supports Plant 4 in Thermatech Coatings and Titanium Ingot businesses.
• Leads improvement initiatives, provides guidance, and drives adoption with internal partners.
• Manages projects and events efficiently, maximizing resource allocation under time pressure.
• Creates compelling business cases and measures success based on business performance.

Skills

CI leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering or related

Tools

Microsoft Office

Toyota Production System

Job description

Responsibilities

The Continuous Improvement Leader is an expert in continuous improvement processes who teaches and facilitates implementation of standard operational excellence methods and tools to deliver results in throughput, productivity, cost, and inventory and delivery performance.

This position will be located in Plant 4, supporting the Thermatech Coatings and Titanium Ingot businesses.

Job Roles include:

• Improvement agent--provides expertise and guidance while contributing substantively to implementation and solutions; serves with both strategic and tactical implementation assistance; listens well to ensure the right interventions occur; maintains focus as an internal partner versus outside observer
• Sustainability support--understands plant and enterprise level strategy and prioritizes accordingly; creates follow up plans, support and accountability to ensure adoption and independent implementation
• Educational implementer--conducts planned events and responds to operational needs to create efficiencies that support strategies; enables next steps for the business and creates virtuous cycles of feedback and performance at a local level; manages projects and events efficiently and maximizes allocation of resources under time pressure
• Business acumen--creates compelling business case for events and interventions; understands and communicates the “why” behind efforts; measures success based on business performance
• Analysis and synthesis--seeks first to listen and understand; determines root cause with contributions from others; translates based on observation and input; technical expert in ABS
• Influence--compels others without direct authority; provides business case and data-driven justification for events; appreciates the use of other leaders’ resources and people, holds those things in trust; creates a favorable brand for ABS and CI
• Creativity and innovation--challenges the status quo; networks internally to gather information; offers ideas and potential solutions based on observation and direct feedback from operators and supervisors
• Strategic perspective--driven to improve the plant to improve the business; prioritizes based on hoshin and collaboration with other leaders; identifies areas of greatest potential return and adds value at the decision making level; evaluates effectiveness of events and interventions based on performance metrics in addition to CI and ABS metrics; thinks about the business as it will be in the future when deciding what to do today

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum 3 years experience in leading CI projects in a manufacturing environment
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Supply Chain Logistics or related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of three years’ experience in a Continuous Improvement role.
• Demonstrated ability to lead managers and employees to drive major change initiatives with diverse groups.
• Solid understanding of ABS and/or Toyota Production System and be able to teach/coach and mentor others.
• Proven results facilitating continuous improvement activity
• Strong computer and relationship skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Ability to speak and present effectively to personnel at all levels of the organization
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Lean manufacturing experience in aerospace, defense, or automotive industry.
• Hoshin framework, TPM/OEE, 5S, Kaizen, visual factory management, work design and A3 thinking and improvement plans improvement atmosphere.

About Us

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. Our primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structural parts and forged wheels. With $8.3 Billion in revenue in 2025, our products play a crucial role in enabling fuel efficiency and lightweighting, contributing to our customers’ success and making a positive impact on the world. To learn more about the way Howmet Aerospace Inc. is advancing the sustainability of our customers, markets, and communities where we operate, review the 2025 Environmental Social and Governance report at www.howmet.com/esg-report . Follow: LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube .

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Howmet is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

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