Continuous Improvement Manager

Lineage; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k retirement plan

Annual bonus eligibility

Paid time off

Job summary

Lineage seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead lean initiatives across multiple warehouses. You will mentor teams, drive Kaizen events, and develop a regional Lean capability that elevates safety, quality, delivery, and efficiency. The role combines coaching, data-driven problem solving, and a roadmap for site maturity.

Travel up to 75% within the region is expected as you partner with VP and GM leaders to deliver sustainable improvements and a strong culture of continuous learning.

Qualifications

• Degree in Logistics, Operations Management, Lean Manufacturing, or related field.
• 7-10 years of Lean experience in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, or a combination with increasing responsibility.
• Ability to provide direction, implementation, and continuous improvement of lean systems across a portfolio of warehouses.
• Willingness to travel a minimum of 75% of the time within the region.
• Capability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and focus coaching where opportunities exist.

Responsibilities

• Mentors, coaches, and trains at all levels to build problem solvers using lean principles.
• Facilitates Lean activities across sites including kaizen, training, standardization, value-stream mapping, and roadmap development.
• Builds people capability by tracking Lean certifications and applied training.
• Develops regional leaders in understanding and using Lean Principles.
• Regularly reviews lean performance with leadership to set expectations and drive next steps.

Skills

Lean principles

Cross-functional leadership

Warehouse knowledge

Safety program experience

Data analysis

MS Office

Sigma

Claude/AI

Education

Degree in Logistics/Operations Lean

Tools

LinOS

Easy Metrics

Job description

• Claude/AI

The Continuous Improvement Manager reports through the Lean/Operational Excellence organization and partners with RVPs, Directors, and Sites General Managers to drive sustainable continuous improvement across a portfolio of warehouses. This role is responsible for building a culture of problem solving, operational excellence, and lean capability that advances safety, quality, delivery, cost, growth, and morale. Using a balanced approach that combines hard operational results with the quality of how those results are achieved, the CI Manager prioritizes coaching, tracks progression, and provides clear next steps across sites of varying size and maturity. Initiatives are executed through people development, high-quality A3 problem-solving, daily small improvements, lean reviews, value stream mapping, kaizen, waste elimination, and other lean leadership methods.

Essential Functions

• Mentors, coaches, and trains at all levels to build an army of problem solvers who use lean principles in daily decision-making
• Uses multiple components (results metrics, site maturity reviews, A3 quality, small improvements, and development activity) to assess current condition, identify gaps, and prioritize coaching across the region
• Facilitates Lean activities across sites, including kaizen, training, standardization, value-stream mapping, and Continuous Improvement Roadmap development, while emphasizing high-quality A3 problem-solving and daily small improvements
• Builds people capability by tracking and coaching toward Lean certifications, problem-solving ownership, and applied training
• Develops Regional Vice Presidents and site General Managers in their understanding and use of Lean Principles
• Communicates company goals, strategies, and vision while aligning site and regional lean activity to increasing levels of maturity and company-wide targets
• Facilitates quality systems, continuous process improvement, and safety initiatives using lean thinking, with special attention to how process maturity supports results in TIR, metrics, and operational excellence
• Advances company metrics (safety, quality, delivery, cost, growth, and morale) by combining results performance with the quality of problem-solving, daily improvement, and development activity
• Develops, models, and coaches lean applications and problem-solving discipline across GMs, operations managers, team leads, and team members
• Regularly reviews lean performance with regional and site leadership using assessing methods, category heatmaps, and question-level gaps to set expectations, provide feedback, and drive next steps
• Leads development of Continuous Improvement Roadmaps that support both individual site needs and regional priorities, ensuring every site can contribute regardless of size or prior lean exposure
• Drives - and is measured in part on - site Total Labor/Throughput Pallet and Turn Times results versus goal for each supported building (with targets tiered by site maturity).
• Strategic project deployments: Provides support for Lineage’s Operational Strategy and strategic deployments, including LinOS and Easy Metrics, and the pursuit of Just-In-Time.
• Supports regional and site requests within scope, prioritizing against opportunities and goals.

Qualifications

• Degree in Logistics, Operations Management, Lean Manufacturing, or related field required
• 7-10 years of Lean experience in logistics, warehousing, manufacturing, or a combination of these with increasing levels of contribution and responsibility; experience supporting multiple sites preferred
• Ability to provide direction, implementation, and continuous improvement of lean systems across a portfolio of warehouses
• Willingness to travel a minimum of 75% of the time within the region
• Capability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and focus coaching effort where site- and region-level reviews and heatmaps show the greatest opportunity

Skills

• Lean knowledge (problem-solving, standard work, visual management, pull, flow, quality)
• Collaborating with other regional leaders across all aspects of the business
• Warehouse Management and Transportation Knowledge
• Safety & Security
• Safety Program Experience and Oversight
• Business Management Skills
• Planning – Strategic and Tactical
• Quality Management System Knowledge
• Data analysis and Excel proficiency for score models, trackers, and heatmaps
• Microsoft Office – Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Visio, Access, Project
• Sigma
• Claude/AI

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands or fingers, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The duties of this job are performed in both an office environment and a warehouse environment, thereby experiencing some minor to moderate level of noise due to warehouse equipment. Also, exposure to extreme temperature variations is expected while in the warehouse. Position may require extended hours to meet customer needs. Travel will be required at a minimum of 75% of the time within the region. Job location to be determined based on the needed support.

Why Lineage?

This is an excellent position to begin your career path within Lineage! Success in this role enables greater responsibilities and promotions! A career at Lineage starts with learning about our business and how each team member plays a part each and every day to satisfy our customers’ requirements. Beyond that, you’ll help us grow and learn on our journey to be the very best employer in our industry. We’ll ask you for your opinion and ensure we do our part to keep you developing and engaged as we grow our business. Working at Lineage is energizing and enjoyable. We value respect and care about our team members.

Lineage is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and is committed to compliance with all federal, state, and local laws that prohibit workplace discrimination and unlawful harassment and retaliation. Lineage will not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability or any other protected status under federal, state and local law.

Benefits

• Lineage provides safe, stable, reliable work environments, medical, dental, and basic life and disability insurance benefits, 401k retirement plan, paid time off, annual bonus eligibility, and a minimum of 7 holidays throughout the calendar year.