Continuous Improvement Manager

Apera; California; On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Apera in California is seeking a hands-on Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational excellence in a manufacturing setting. You will deploy Lean Manufacturing, CI, and performance-management practices to boost safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

You will partner with plant leadership to identify and execute improvement opportunities, standardize best practices, and lead cross-functional teams through impactful initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
• 7+ years of manufacturing/operations experience in Lean or continuous improvement.
• Experience leading Lean transformations and facilitating Kaizen events.
• Experience working with plant leadership and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead Lean initiatives to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, and structured problem-solving activities.
• Develop and execute site improvement roadmaps and standard work processes.
• Coach leaders and frontline teams on Lean principles and problem-solving methodologies.
• Analyze KPI data to identify trends, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.

Skills

Lean Manufacturing

Continuous Improvement

Change Management

Cross-functional Leadership

Project Management

Data Analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

Power BI

Microsoft Office

Job description

Continuous Improvement Manager

We are seeking an experienced Continuous Improvement Manager to drive operational excellence and continuous improvement initiatives within a manufacturing environment.

This role will lead the deployment of Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, and performance management methodologies to improve safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and employee engagement.

Working closely with plant leadership and cross-functional teams, you will identify opportunities to reduce waste, improve processes, increase productivity, and establish sustainable systems that deliver measurable business results.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on change agent with strong Lean expertise, analytical capabilities, and the ability to coach and influence leaders and frontline teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with site leadership to evaluate operational performance and identify improvement opportunities.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee engagement.
• Facilitate Kaizen events, value stream mapping, process improvement workshops, and structured problem‑solving activities.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and automation to increase productivity and reduce labor requirements.
• Develop and execute site‑specific operational improvement roadmaps.
• Drive standardization of best practices, processes, and work methods.
• Analyze operational data and KPIs to identify trends, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Coach and mentor plant leaders and employees on Lean principles and problem‑solving methodologies.
• Implement and sustain Lean systems, including 5S, Standard Work, Visual Management, Kaizen, and related practices.
• Establish measurable improvement targets and track project performance and results.
• Lead cross‑functional teams through improvement initiatives and ensure gains are sustained.
• Promote a culture of accountability, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure improvement initiatives support safety, quality, and operational objectives.
• Prepare and present project updates, performance metrics, and results to senior leadership.

What You Bring

• Strong expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change and influence without direct authority.
• Exceptional communication, collaboration, and relationship‑building skills.
• Effective project management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to coach leaders and frontline employees through process and cultural transformation.
• Experience developing and implementing sustainable operating systems.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Power BI, and data analysis tools.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, Lean, or continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated success leading Lean transformation or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience facilitating Kaizen events and process improvement projects.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, labor productivity, quality systems, and operational metrics.
• Experience working directly with plant leadership and cross‑functional teams.
• Ability to travel occasionally as required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in multi‑site manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting automation initiatives.
• Experience implementing operational management systems and KPI scorecards.
• Previous leadership or management experience.\

Compensation

The anticipated salary range for this position is $130,000–$150,000 annually.