Continuous Improvement Manager

Wenger Corporation; Owatonna (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

9 Paid Holidays

Generous Profit Sharing

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Spending Accounts (HSA, FSA, DCFSA)

Company Paid Short-term and Long-term/

Job summary

Wenger Corporation in Owatonna, MN seeks a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead Lean Office and enterprise CI initiatives, translating priorities into sustained performance improvements across functions.

The role partners with Operations to apply corporate CI standards and build internal capability, focusing on faster, more accurate, and consistent experiences for customers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• 5–7 years leadership experience.
• 3 years implementing CI systems/tools.
• Travel up to 25% to other facilities.
• Direct-line leadership with CI tool success.
• Strong project/program management experience.
• Written and verbal communication skills including training sessions.
• Proficiency with MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Owning and facilitating the enterprise operating cadence through the Work Excellence methodology, establishing standard review routines and connecting business priorities, performance measures, and action plans across functions.
• Leading Lean Office and cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives in partnership with functional leaders, aligning efforts to Corporate CI goals, business outcomes, and the customer experience.
• Analyzing and improving workflows using process mapping, SIPOC, value stream mapping, standard work, error-proofing, root cause analysis, A3 thinking, kaizen events, and rapid improvement workshops.
• Serving as the Corporate CI representative within Operations improvement initiatives, aligning work to enterprise standards and translating applicable methods and lessons learned between manufacturing and office environments.
• Maintaining the Corporate CI toolkit, enterprise playbook, and knowledge base, ensuring process maps, project charters, A3 forms, Work Excellence worksheets, standard work, and other methodology outputs are documented and accessible.
• Establishing project baselines, measure before-and-after performance, and monitor sustained results at 30-, 60-, and 90-day intervals to confirm gains and identify areas requiring additional support.
• Building organizational capability by delivering CI and Lean Office training, coaching cross-functional team members on practical application, and facilitating onboarding on Corporate CI standards and tools.

Skills

Leadership

CI Tools

Project Management

Communication

MS Office

Training & Coaching

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Lean tools (A3, Kaizen, VSM)

Job description

Wenger Corporation is a privately held, leading manufacturer of high-quality music education, performing arts and athletic products. As an innovator, Wenger Corporation knows that great ideas can come from the fresh perspective of a new employee. So we embrace the unique skills and expertise you bring to the table. We skip the micro-management and bureaucracy found in many organizations, and we create an environment of trust and autonomy that gives you the freedom to make decisions, use your talents and make your mark. A company that lets you do what you do best and gives you the freedom to get even better. That is Wenger Corporation.

Our team in Owatonna, MN is seeking a Continuous Improvement Manager to lead Lean Office and Business Process Optimization across Wenger Corporation. This position owns and drives the enterprise operating cadence through the Work Excellence methodology, establishing the routines and measures needed to translate priorities into sustained results. This position will partner with Operations to apply and sustain Corporate CI methodology standards and ensure a unified, enterprise-wide improvement system building internal capability so process improvements are owned, documented, and sustained by the business-and felt by the customer through faster, more accurate, and more consistent experiences.

At a minimum you'll need:

• Bachelor of Science or equivalent work experience
• Five to seven (5-7) years relevant leadership experience
• Three (3) years of successful implementation / execution in continuous improvement systems and tools to achieve results
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to other facilities and job sites
• Demonstrated leadership in a direct line function successfully achieving performance with CI tools
• Proven strong project and program management experience
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills including developing and leading adult training sessions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite of products

It'd be great if you also have:

• Certifications in Lean Leadership and associated tools (A3, Kaizen, VSM, TPM, six sigma, etc.)
• Experience with analysis and identification of improvement areas and approaches through lean methods, statistical analysis, or Six Sigma techniques
• Change management experience leading and planning the various stages of transformational and transitional change

As the Continuous Improvement Manager a typical day might include:

• Owning and facilitating the enterprise operating cadence through the Work Excellence methodology, establishing standard review routines and connecting business priorities, performance measures, and action plans across functions.
• Leading Lean Office and cross-functional continuous improvement initiatives in partnership with functional leaders, aligning efforts to Corporate CI goals, business outcomes, and the customer experience.
• Analyzing and improving workflows using process mapping, SIPOC, value stream mapping, standard work, error-proofing, root cause analysis, A3 thinking, kaizen events, and rapid improvement workshops.
• Serving as the Corporate CI representative within Operations improvement initiatives, aligning work to enterprise standards and translating applicable methods and lessons learned between manufacturing and office environments.
• Maintaining the Corporate CI toolkit, enterprise playbook, and knowledge base, ensuring process maps, project charters, A3 forms, Work Excellence worksheets, standard work, and other methodology outputs are documented and accessible.
• Establishing project baselines, measure before-and-after performance, and monitor sustained results at 30-, 60-, and 90-day intervals to confirm gains and identify areas requiring additional support.
• Building organizational capability by delivering CI and Lean Office training, coaching cross-functional team members on practical application, and facilitating onboarding on Corporate CI standards and tools.

Benefit offerings include:

• Paid Time Off
• 9 Paid Holidays
• Generous Profit Sharing
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Spending Accounts HSA, FSA, DCFSA
• Company Paid Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan with Company Match
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program

Put your passion to work in an exciting, rewarding industry that inspires innovation today!

Wenger Corporation is an Equal Opportunity / Aff…

All Qualified Candidates are Encouraged to Apply