Continuous Improvement Manager

James Hardie; Florida; On-site; USD 109,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Day-one health coverage

401(k) with 6% match

Bonus eligibility

Paid time off

Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP)

Parental leave / wellness programs

Job summary

James Hardie seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead site-wide process transformation. You will drive strategy deployment, oversee Lean initiatives, and manage three key departments: Continuous Improvement, Quality Lab, and Raw Material, while mentoring engineers and interns.

The role requires 5–7+ years in manufacturing, a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and strong leadership to partner with plant leadership for optimization, waste reduction, and sustainable improvement with a competitive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related technical discipline; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• 5–7+ years in manufacturing/heavy industrial plant with proven Lean transformation experience.
• Minimum 3 years of direct people management leading multi-disciplinary teams.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt required; Prosci or Change Management certification desirable.
• Deep expertise in Lean principles: VSM, Kaizen, 5S, SMED, TPM, and Kanban.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle), data analysis tools (Minitab), and project management frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Strategy Deployment at the plant.
• Align Operations with corporate objectives using strategy deployment (e.g., Hoshin Kanri).
• Develop and sustain a multi-year continuous improvement roadmap.
• Advise leadership on efficiency, resource allocation, and organizational design.
• Directly lead three departments: Continuous Improvement, Quality Lab, and Raw Material.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

VSM

Kaizen

Kanban

5S

SMED

TPM

Leadership

Strategy deployment

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related technical discipline

Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

Oracle

Minitab

Job description

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com.

Summary

The Continuous Improvement Manager serves as the plant’s senior process management expert, driving site-wide cultural and operational transformation. This critical leadership role is responsible for executing strategy deployment, leading comprehensive change management initiatives, and institutionalizing structured problem-solving. The position directly manages three key functional areas—the Quality Lab team, the Continuous Improvement team, and the Raw Material team—while actively fostering the next generation of talent through the mentorship of Engineering Development Programs (EDPs) and interns.

What You’ll Do

• Strategic Leadership & Strategy Deployment
• Align Plant Operations: Operationalize corporate objectives at the plant level using strategy deployment methodologies (e.g., Hoshin Kanri).
• Roadmap Development: Establish, execute, and sustain a comprehensive, multi-year plant continuous improvement roadmap aligned with business priorities.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Act as the plant's senior process management expert, advising the plant leadership team on operational efficiency, resource allocation, and organizational design.
• Team Leadership & People Management

Directly lead, develop, and manage performance for three critical plant departments:

• Continuous Improvement Team: Oversee Lean Engineers/Specialists executing Kaizen events, Value Stream Mapping (VSM), A3’s, and problem solving.
• Quality Lab Team: Partner with quality leaders to ensure rigorous testing, strict compliance, and the integration of Built-In-Quality (BIQ) principles.
• Raw Material Team: Guide the team in optimizing raw material variability, reducing raw material waste, streamlining inbound supply chains and ensuring environmental compliance

Change Management & Continuous Improvement

Culture Transformation: Serve as the primary change agent for the facility, driving a culture of sustainable continuous improvement.

Methodology Deployment: Train, coach, and audit teams on problem solving and continuous improvement tools, including Kanban, Standard Work, and visual management.

Financial Impact: Identify, prioritize, and execute cost-reduction projects that deliver measurable financial and operational outcomes.

Structured Problem Solving: Root Cause Analysis: Lead cross-functional teams through complex, high-stakes structured problem-solving initiatives using DMAIC, A3, and 8D methodologies.

KPI Management: Establish and monitor plant-level Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to proactively flag variations and implement preventative actions.

Talent Development & Mentorship

EDP Coaching: Formally mentor participants in the Engineering Development Program (EDP), guiding their technical projects and rotational growth.

Internship Program: Oversee the plant's operational internship program, ensuring meaningful project exposure and a robust pipeline for future talent.

What You’ll Bring

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related technical discipline. A Master’s degree or MBA is highly preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of 5–7+ years of experience in a manufacturing or heavy industrial plant environment, with a proven track record in process improvement and Lean transformations.
• Leadership: Minimum of 3 years of direct people-management experience leading multi-disciplinary technical teams.
• Certifications: Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt certification required. Prosci or equivalent Change Management certification is highly desirable.
• Methodologies: Deep expertise in Lean manufacturing principles (e.g., VSM, Kaizen, 5S, SMED, TPM, Kanban).
• Systems: Proficiency with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle), data analysis software (e.g., Minitab), and project management frameworks.

What You’ll Receive

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $108,800K to $135,900K. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Compensation: competitive salary and bonus eligibility
• Insurance: day-one health coverage medical, dental, vision, life insurance
• Paid Time Off: vacation and company holidays
• Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match
• Investments: Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP)
• Work-Life Balance: parental leave, wellness programs
• Purpose. Impact. Community: Sustainability Initiatives | James Hardie

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.

James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.