Continuous Improvement Manager

haecareers; Cordele (GA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Helena Industries (HI) seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead the facility's CI transformation, set vision and priorities, and coach a cross-functional team toward measurable gains. Responsibilities include training plans, development goals, and coordinating with cross-functional teams.

You will balance strategic direction with hands-on coaching, data‑driven problem solving, and disciplined execution while aligning improvements with enterprise goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial technology or related field is required.
• Ten years of CI/Lean/Manufacturing/Process Engineering experience required.
• Leadership experience is required.

Responsibilities

• Develops and leads CI training and coaching plans for direct reports and the broader organization.
• Identifies priorities and coaches teams on improvement projects aligned with enterprise CI vision.
• Develops routines that guide personnel through change and monitors process constraints.
• Coaches teams on root cause analysis, countermeasures, and sustaining standard operations.
• Creates transformation plans for CI culture and sets annual development goals for staff.
• Collaborates with plant engineering to identify equipment solutions and optimize operations.
• Ensures safety and ergonomics with EHS, and maintains cross-functional collaboration.

Skills

Leadership

Lean/Six Sigma

Standard work/TWI

Statistical tools

Change management

Team coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

Tools

Minitab

Microsoft Office

Job description

WHO WE ARE

This position is with Helena Industries (HI). HI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC and provides production and distribution solutions to customers across a wide variety of industries. HI is one of the largest chemical toll manufacturers in the U.S. and our clients include many household name brands and large retailers.

ABOUT THE JOB

The Continuous Improvement Manager leads the transformation of a facility's CI culture by setting the vision, priorities, and operating rhythm that drive measurable performance gains. The position guides and develops a team while partnering across all functions to deliver improvements aligned with enterprise goals. Success in this role comes from balancing strategic direction with hands‑on coaching, data‑driven problem solving, and disciplined execution. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced CI professional who enjoys building systems, developing people, and making a lasting operational impact.

WHAT YOUR DAY WILL LOOK LIKE

• Develops and manages training and coaching plans for direct reports and the broader organization to support Continuous Improvement (CI) principles and routines.
• Identifies, sets priorities and coaches team on improvement projects aligned to the enterprise-wide CI vision aligned with hoshin goals.
• Develops, identifies and executes routines/ practices that successfully guide personnel through change.
• Coaches team to identify process constraints and monitors performance, performs root cause analysis, trouble shoots deviations and implements countermeasures to restore standard operations.
• Creates vision and transformation plan for a Continuous Improvement culture throughout the facility.
• Sets and aligns annual development goals and progression plans for direct reports.
• Creates and maintains a management process to effectively prioritize tasks and workload.
• Develops team to identify and apply relevant statistical analysis.
• Coaches and facilitates lean workshops and investigations.
• Coordinates with Environmental, Healthy & Safety (EHS) on risk assessments, safety issues and ergonomics.
• Aligns cross functionally the priority of work and task assignments and ensure collaboration with cross functional teams.
• Assigns, trains and coaches team on the validation of new products and processes using work standards, process capability studies, statistical analysis, etc. and ensures collaboration with plant engineering.
• Collaborates with the plant engineering team to identify and prioritize equipment solutions to optimize operations.
• Manages other team members.
• May be required to drive a company vehicle.
• Provides excellent customer service to all internal and external customers.
• Other work-related duties as assigned by your leader.
• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Follows all company policies and procedures.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, industrial technology or related field is required.
• Ten years of work experience in Continuous Improvement (CI), Lean, Manufacturing Engineering or Process Engineering are required.
• Leadership experience is required.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Proven ability to lead and manage team activities aligned to strategic goals.
• Demonstrated mastery of standard work, TWI-Job Relations, TWI-Job Instruction and coaching for scientific thinking.
• Proven enterprise lean mastery, system design and coaching.
• Demonstrated mastery and training others on advanced lean/ six sigma and statistical tools.
• Established strength in creating a clear vision and developing a strategic plan.
• Ability to shape and reinforce a positive organizational culture aligned with core values and strategy.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple enterprise-wide projects at one time.
• Experience with Minitab is preferred.
• Knowledge/experience with process programming, control strategies and instrumentation is a plus.
• Computer skills including working knowledge of Microsoft Office are required.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time in hot or cold temperatures.
• Travel by various means up to 15% of the time is required.
• Must be able to work at elevated heights up to 50 ft.